You may not be lucky enough to live surrounded by palm trees, but thanks to popular tropical fruits like acai and dragon fruit, you have nothing to regret.
Dragon fruit has white flesh, black seeds, and a melon-like texture , but is not as sweet as some of the other tropical fruits, making them perfect to add to your refreshing favorite post workout smoothie.
Recently, more and more supermarkets have started transporting this fruit, either whole in the fruit and vegetable aisle or chopped in the freezer aisle along with tropical options like mango and pineapple.
Are you not convinced that you should change from your usual berry mix or start consuming this fruit? It is not just about keeping your taste buds entertained, changing them also benefits health, since different types of fruits contain different micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Basically the more variety the better.
What exactly is dragon fruit?
Covered with bright pink skin and green scales, the dragon fruit stands out in the fruit aisle.
It is also known as a strawberry or pitaya pear, and it is a tropical fruit that grows on a plant that is technically a type of cactus. Inside its funky exterior, the dragon fruit has white flesh and black seeds, and a texture similar to a papaya or mango. Although the fruit is native to Central America, it is now grown in similar climates around the world.
What benefits does it bring?
Like all fruits, dragon fruit is rich in energizing carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals.
This is what you get in one serving (about half a cup):
- Calories: 60
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
The fiber in dragon fruit brings you closer to the recommended minimum of 25 grams per day for proper digestion and general health, but that’s not all it does. Dragon fruit is a good source of prebiotic fiber , which supports the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
Beyond that, it’s an excellent source of magnesium , with a cup that provides about 17 percent of your daily needs. Magnesium does a lot, including maintaining muscle function, regulating blood sugar, and supporting immune health and strong bones.
Although this is not the only micronutrient benefit you will get. Like other tropical fruits, dragon fruit is a good source of vitamin C, which is essential for a strong immune system. It is also rich in beta-carotene and lycopene antioxidants , which have been linked to reduced risk of cancer and heart disease.
Is it high in sugar?
If you’ve ever been concerned about all the sugar in your smoothie, you can rest easy with dragon fruit.
As with most fruits, dragon fruit contains natural sugars, but there is nothing to worry about. One serving provides about 8 grams of sugar, which is less than many other tropical fruits.
Additionally, the fiber content of dragon fruit helps slow the absorption of these sugars , keeps blood sugar levels constant, and makes dragon fruit a very nutritious way to satisfy sweet cravings.
Do you have any health problem?
One of the possible dragon fruit traps: it is often less accessible and affordable than other fruits.
Since dragon fruit has to be imported, it can be more difficult to find and more expensive. If you can’t find it fresh, I recommend checking out the frozen food section: frozen and pre-cut stuff works great in smoothies and is just as nutritious.
How do you eat dragon fruit?
If you have fresh dragon fruit, you’re probably wondering how the hell to eat it.
First of all, yes, the outer shell of dragon fruit (remember, pink with green scales) is not edible.
To eat fresh dragon fruit, cut it in half lengthwise and use a spoon to separate the white meat from the outer skin (like a custard apple). Then cut the internal white meat into pieces. From there, you can enjoy the fruit directly, in a smoothie or with yogurt. Although easier-to-find frozen fruits are easier to put into a blender for smoothies, you can defrost them to use as you like.