Red Dragon Fruit - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

You might be scared of dragons, but here's a fruit that you will totally love!  Red dragon fruit is pretty and interesting not just because of its name, but also because of how it looks. Its inside and outside colours are very different from those of other fruits. But dragon fruit benefits are so many that they can't be counted. However, dragon fruit is good for you in many ways. Let's keep reading to find out more about this wonderful fruit. 

What is red dragon fruit?

Red dragon fruit is a type of cactus, and its common name comes from the names people in Southeast Asia give it: dragon scales, dragon crystal, dragon pearl fruit, or green dragon. The outside is scaly, and inside is white or red flesh with black seeds that tastes sweet and is very refreshing. 

In Hindi, it is called pitaya. It is a nutritional powerhouse with many properties that are good for your health. It also has a low number of calories, no cholesterol, and a lot of antioxidants. Since it is easy to find in the Indian market, use it to your advantage by eating it.

Ways to use red dragon fruit in diet:

All you have to do is peel off the scaly skin and cut the flesh inside into pieces, or you can use a spoon to scoop it out. You can put it in a bowl of fruit or drizzle it with honey and eat it as a quick snack. It is also often used to shake up mocktails and other drinks because its flavour goes well with many others.  

Taste of red dragon fruit: 

Dragon fruit has become popular in recent years. The Hylocereus cactus is where the fruit grows. The name "Honolulu queen" is interesting because the flower of this plant only opens at night. The link below shows the most common type of dragon fruit.

White dragon fruit has red skin with a green cap on the outside. The inside is white, and the seeds are black. Most of them have white pulp and back seeds. It is rare to see a dragon fruit with red pulp and black spots on the seeds.

The other type has a yellow skin and white pulp with black spots on the seeds. People say that the taste of this strange fruit is like a mix of kiwi and pear.

Nutrients in red dragon fruit:

Dragon fruit is good for you because it has carbs and fibre. It's better to get your sugar from fruits than from processed foods. The good bacteria in your digestive tract need the fibre in dragon fruit to stay alive and well. The high fibre content also helps with constipation. Because it has so much vitamin C, dragon fruit has more than the daily recommended amount. Vitamin C is an important nutrient and antioxidant that helps the body do a lot of things and is good for your health in many ways.

Health benefits of red dragon fruit: 

1. Cholesterol Low

Dragon fruit has very little cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats. If you eat the fruit often, it can not only help you feel better, but it can also help you keep your heart healthy in the long run. Those of you who are trying to lose weight might want to add it to your diet. Also, the seeds in the fruit are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which are very important for your health.

2. Loaded with fibre

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease are less likely to happen if you eat more fiber-rich foods (CHD). Dragon fruit is a good source of dietary fibre. Because of this, it is good for the heart and helps keep blood pressure and weight in check.

3. Antioxidant Dragon fruit has a rich, bright colour, which means it is full of phytonutrients that can give you a lot of the antioxidants you need. Free radicals can hurt your cells and even cause cancer. Antioxidants help fight these radicals. People say that a diet full of antioxidants keeps the heart healthy and the skin young.
4. Good for the heart

Because they are full of fibre and antioxidants, dragon fruits help keep the heart healthy and young. They keep the blood flowing through the body by stopping plaque from building up in the arteries.

5. Skin Care

Because it is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the strange fruit is often used in natural beauty treatments. Southeast Asian beauty practises from the past say that making a paste out of dragon fruit flesh and putting it on your face every day can help slow down the ageing process, making you look younger. People also use the paste to treat acne and sunburn.

6. Potassium-rich source

Red dragon fruit is full of important minerals, especially potassium and calcium, which help keep bones healthy. Getting enough potassium every day is very important for the way our cells, nerves, and electricity work. In other words, potassium is a very important part of keeping the water and acid balance in our bodies. If you have diabetes, eating a lot of potassium-rich foods may help keep your heart and kidneys healthy.

7. Vitamin C

Since dragon fruit is high in vitamin C, it helps boost the immune system, help the body absorb iron, make collagen, which makes our teeth healthier, and give us healthy, glowing skin. Vitamin C also makes your immune system stronger, which helps keep you from getting sick.