10 Health Benefits And Recipes Of Dragon Fruit (Pitaya)

This dragon fruit (pitaya) is a fruit which is cactus based and it comes with so many health benefits associated with itself like it lowers the risks of rise in blood sugar levels, helps in the digestion of food and other health benefits. This fruit has got its name because of the resemblance of the outer appearance of the fruit with a dragon. Many people find it difficult and they are really confused about how they should eat this fruit because of the shape and size of the fruit in particular. You just need to cut the fruit in two halves and then, you can eat the layer inside the fruit with a spoon or you can simply make a smoothie from it and drink and enjoy the taste of the fruit. 

This fruit has a very unique appearance and it is a tropical fruit which has a crunchy texture and sweet taste. The appearance of the fruit is very similar to a fire breathing dragon and this is why the name of the fruit is dragon fruit. This fruit has an enormous amount of antioxidants which plays an important role in the reduction of the risks of various medical conditions like diabetes and cancer. The benefits of this fruit makes it a must have part of your diet in your day to day life.

When you eat a piece of dragon fruit you will find that the taste of this is very similar to the combination of kiwi and pear. When you cut this fruit open for the very first time you will find that it is similar to an oreo smoothie or shake as it is completely white because of the pulp and has tiny black seeds in it. Apart from the uniqueness of the taste and appearance this fruit has high nutritional value associated with it.

This fruit is very rich in nutrients like vitamin C, E, Magnesium, Iron etc. These contents only make this fruit very beneficial for the health of a person and some of the major benefits are listed below:

1. Reduction in the risk of diabetes: There is a high amount of fibers present in this fruit which is very helpful in the maintenance of the blood sugar level and it helps the person to avoid any kind of sudden increase in the blood sugar level in those people who are suffering from the medical condition of diabetes. When you consume this fruit on a regular basis there is a good chance that you will be keeping your blood sugar level balanced and can prevent yourself from any kind of medical complications if you are a diabetic patient.
2. Reduction in the risk of cancer: This fruit also has anti cancer properties which can help you to avoid a specific type of cancer which is, colon cancer. The high levels of Vitamin C in the fruit is very helpful in boosting the immune system of your body and vitamin C is an antioxidant which keeps you away from any kind of disease like cancer, Parkinson's, diabetes, Alzheimer's etc.
3. Boosts your immunity: The high level of Vitamin C is helpful in increasing your immunity and keeping you away from any kind of medical problem and high levels of vitamin C makes you fight those infections which you are prone to get affected with. You should consume at least 200 grams or 1 cup of this fruit on a daily basis to stay healthy.
4. Helps in digestion: This fruit also helps in the growth of a good bacteria which is named as flora and it is possible only because of the presence of oligosaccharides which is a carbohydrate and this fruit is a great source of this. This bacteria is helpful in the smooth digestion and because of the high fiber content of the fruit your digestive health also improves and reduces the risk of any cardiovascular disease and cancer.
5. Good for your heart: When the dragon fruit has red coloured pulp in it, it has a substance called betalains which is useful in the reduction of bad cholesterol and the tiny seeds of the fruit contains omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids which is very good for the heart and it decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
6. Acts against aging skin: Stress can cause your skin to age faster and other factors are also responsible for this condition such as pollution, poor diet, etc. This fruit is rich in the amount of antioxidants which is helpful in the treatment of sunburn, acne and dry skin and the vitamin C present in it makes your skin brighter. To get a bright and radiant skin you can consume dragon fruit juice once a day.
7. Good for your hair: You can drink milk mixed with powdered dragon fruit, this will help you to grow thick, black and shiny hair. The fruit is a source of so many nutrients and they are present in abundant quantities in the extract powder of the fruit which helps in the reduction of hair damage which is caused due to artificial hair coloring agents and it improves your hair's texture as well (making the hair become shiny and soft). 
8. Helpful for your bones: You will be able to avoid so many kinds of joint pain, injuries and many other things if you are having good bone health and this fruit contains around 18% of magnesium and this mineral is very helpful in making your bones stronger and enhances your bone health. To achieve this you need to drink one glass of smoothie made from this dragon fruit on a daily basis.
9. Good for your eyes: This fruit contains a pigment called beta carotene which is responsible for the color of the fruit and it also prevents you from any kind of eye problem like macular degeneration or cataract. To take care of your eyes you need to eat one cup of dragon fruit every day.
10. Helpful during pregnancy: This fruit has significant amounts of folate, iron and vitamin B which makes this fruit a must eat for a pregnant woman, the vitamin B and folate present in the fruit prevents any kind of birth defects and acts as a energy booster for the pregnant women. The fetal bone development is orchestrated by the calcium content of the fruit and the magnesium content of the fruit helps the women to fight postmenopausal problems or complications.

Recipes of dragon fruit

As dragon fruit is a very beneficial fruit and is very helpful for you in so many ways and to make it easy to consume for you here are some easy to make recipes involving significant amount of dragon fruit:

• Dragon fruit shake
• Dragon fruit salad

Conclusion

You should take this dragon fruit on a daily basis as it has so many health benefits and it will surely keep you away from so many different kinds of medical problems for a longtime if you are taking this fruit regularly either in the form of a smoothie or directly as a fruit salad. But you should be aware of your allergies and consume in a very limited amount as excess of anything is dangerous and harmful for you only.