Dragon Fruit

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

The dragon fruit / Hylocereus /, also known as I feed and ask is an exotic cactus fruit, which is characterized by excellent health qualities. The dragon fruit is actually the fruit of a plant in the Cactus family.

Its homeland is Central America, but it is also grown in Mexico, Southeast Asia, South America and Israel. Undoubtedly, the dragon fruit is one of the most exotic and interesting fruits in the world. Its appearance is unmatched, and the interior is not inferior in any way.

The beautiful flowers of the plant can be seen only at night, so it is often called "moon flower" and "queen of the night". In appearance the dragon fruit has an elongated shape, covered with red, yellow or pink growths that give it a truly unique look.

Legend has it that dragon fruit is created thousands of years ago from a dragon's fiery breath. During a hard battle, when the dragon exhaled fire, the last thing that came out of his nose was this fruit. After the soldiers killed the dragon, the fruits were collected and donated to the emperor as a valuable and desired treasure and symbol of victory.

According to Aztec sources, pita has been known to humans since the 13th century. Large quantities of this fruit are grown in Vietnam. There it is known as tang lou. It first appeared in Malaysia in 1999. In Colombia and Nicaragua, the dragon fruit is very common and grown commercially. In these places the fruit grows very well due to the warm climate.

To grow well, the dragon fruit needs moderate rainfall. Overwatering can cause it to rot. If you want to grow pita at home, you can use the seeds that remain after eating the fruit. The cactus grows relatively slowly, and the hardest part is bearing fruit.

Types of dragon fruit

There are basically three types of dragon fruit. The first is red pitaya. It has a red rind and a white flesh. The second is Costa Rica - it has a red crust and a red flesh. The latter is a yellow pitaya - characterized by a yellow rind and a yellow fleshy part.

Composition of dragon fruit

Over 80% of the contents of the dragon fruit is water. It is rich in vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as the minerals phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, fluorine and zinc. It contains a number of unsaturated fatty acids - stearic, oleic, linoleic and palmitic acid.

Dragon fruit is an excellent source of fiber and antioxidants.

100 g of dragon fruit contain 36 kcal, 7 g carbohydrates, 0.4 g fat, 1 g protein.

Selection and storage of dragon fruit

The dragon fruit is not very common in our country. It can be found in specialty stores. You can also buy cosmetics from the market with this exotic fruit. If you come across the exotic fruit, examine it for external signs of injury.

When placed in a cool place, the ripe fruits can be stored for up to 1 week, and the less ripe ones for almost 2 weeks. The dragon fruit can weigh between 150-600 g and 1 kg.

Dragon fruit in cooking

The dragon fruit is consumed well chilled. It is cut into two parts and the inside is carved with a spoon. Meat that is eaten raw is slightly sweet, but very low in calories.

Many people do not like the taste of dragon fruit and therefore use it only to decorate various dishes. It can be added to fruit salads and exotic fresh juices and various cocktails. The soft aroma is suitable for making wine, and the flowers of the plant are suitable for tea.

Benefits of dragon fruit

Pitaya has a very high content of phytoalbumin, which is a very strong antioxidant. Phytoalbumin fights free radicals and thus protects the body from cancer. Free radicals are also the main culprits for premature aging.

In Taiwan, diabetics use dragon fruit as a supplement to rice because it is extremely rich in dietary fiber. Dragon fruit is low in calories, so it can be consumed during diets for weight loss.

Dragon fruit improves digestion and accelerates the excretion of toxins from the body. It lowers cholesterol and high blood pressure. The water, minerals and fiber in it have a very good effect on the work of the liver and intestinal peristalsis. It is said that if you eat dragon fruit regularly, you will be able to reduce your weight.

The biggest benefits of the dragon fruit are

1. Reduces the desire to eat sweets;

2. Positively affects the cardiovascular system;

3. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber;

4. Contains active antioxidants;

5. Improves digestion;

6. It is useful in diabetics and stabilizes blood sugar levels;

7. Reduces the signs of aging;

8. Relieves the symptoms of arthritis.

9. Improves the condition of the hair;

10 Soothes burnt skin.

The fiber in the dragon fruit helps to improve intestinal peristalsis, and at the same time the fruit is rich in antioxidants. It is extremely useful for women because it contains the daily dose of potassium in its composition. This is especially important for the weaker sex during menopause, as the lack of this trace element can then lead to the development of osteoporosis.

In addition to all this, the antioxidants in the composition of the dragon fruit they also have anti-inflammatory properties. That is why the fruit is useful for men, as these substances have excellent prophylactic and curative effects in prostate diseases.

The fruit is extremely useful and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. At the same time, both the pulp of the dragon fruit and its seeds have healing properties. They are rich in tannins, which are extremely useful for eyesight,

Benefits of dragon fruit in pregnancy and lactation

For expectant mothers, the fruit is useful because:

1. The soft part of the fruit is rich in iron, which is essential for the production of red blood cells. During pregnancy, when many resources are expended on the development of the fetus, women face the risk of developing anemia. That is why it is important to include this fruit in your menu if you are pregnant or planning to have a child.

2. These fruits contain a large amount of folic acid, which is essential for the normal development of the fetal nervous system of the fetus.

3. The fiber in the pulp helps to normalize digestion and eliminate bloating, which is another very common problem in expectant mothers.

Despite all these benefits, you should not forget that you should consume the dragon fruit quite carefully, as it can cause a severe allergic reaction. During lactation, it is best to give it up completely, as the baby's body may react negatively to potential allergens in it.

Given that the dragon fruit is a real storehouse of vitamins, it is very useful for children. Remember, father, that this is an exotic fruit that can cause a severe allergic reaction. That is why you should not give it to very young children up to 6-7 years, and then it can be introduced very slowly in the menu to monitor the reaction of the body of children.

Cosmetics with dragon fruit

The flesh of the dragon fruit contains a large amount of polysaccharides, which have a very good astringent effect. This is the reason why the fruit is used in creams and other skin products that slow down the aging process.