Dragon fruit is a low-calorie fruit that is high in fiber and provides a good amount of several vitamins and minerals. Its unique look and acclaimed superfood powers have made it popular in recent times.
Dragon fruit contains several antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. These include betalains, hydroxycinnamates, and flavonoids. It contains the antioxidants vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, and betalain and is high in dietary fiber. It also promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut and has immunity-boosting properties.
Since it is rich in micronutrients, let us now have a look at the ten vital health benefits of dragon fruit.
Dragon fruit is known to control diabetes. It is partly due to the fibre contained in the fruit that avoids sugar spikes. Some researchers also attribute this benefit to its ability to replace damaged pancreatic cells. The pancreas produces insulin that breaks down sugar. Hence, dragon fruit is attributed to controlling sugar.
Dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, phenolic acid, and betacyanin, which inhibit the damage by free radicals. Free radicals are the substances that cause cancer and premature ageing. One of the majorly occurring antioxidants is vitamin C which prevents chronic diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc. This is one of the major health benefits of dragon fruit.
As enunciated above, dragon fruit is a major source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent diseases and boosts your immunity. Some studies suggest eating 200 grams of dragon fruit every day to ward off diseases.
Dragon fruit contains prebiotics such as oligosaccharides which encourages the growth of good gut bacteria. These prebiotics help in the digestion of food since they reside in the lower digestive tract, where they encourage the growth of good gut bacteria. Gut bacteria help break down food by making them easily absorbed. They also provide vitamins that protect the body against various diseases
Our body contains Haemoglobin (Hb) which is an iron-rich cell. These Hb cells help in transporting oxygen from the heart to other body parts. Dragon fruits are a rich source of iron and hence aid in the manufacture of haemoglobin.
The dragon fruit with red-coloured pulp contains betalains, which are unique nitrogen-containing pigments. Betalains are uniquely known to lower the bad cholesterol in the body.
Apart from that, the fruit also contains black seeds that are abundant in omega-3 and omega-9, which are good for the heart and lower the chances of cardiovascular diseases.
As enunciated above, dragon fruit contains antioxidants that help fight ageing from pollution, stress, poor diet, etc. Vitamin C in dragon fruit also brightens the skin.
Studies suggest that taking dragon fruit every day with milk reduces hair damage caused by pollution and artificial colours. It also makes our hair soft and shiny, enhancing its beauty.
Dragon fruit contains magnesium that strengthens bones, helping us avoid injury and pain associated with old age. Hence, it is highly recommended that individuals who are at a higher risk of bone diseases consume dragon fruit regularly.
This fruit contains beta-carotene, which breaks down into Vitamin A. The human eye lens is rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, which help maintain eye health and prevent ophthalmic diseases. Research suggests that humans should take 3 milligrams to 6 milligrams of beta carotene every day to prevent eye diseases.