Chances are pretty good that you have never even heard of dragon fruit, so it is time to be properly introduced to this powerful food. You will make a new friend and be quite impressed with the numerous health benefits of dragon fruit. We will provide you with 15 delicious benefits of dragon fruit that will boost your day as well as how to prepare and make use of this exotic fruit.
Take note that the benefits of dragon fruit are not all inclusive cures for all of your health conditions. Though dragon fruit can help with treatment, you still need to consult a health care professional for more serious illnesses and conditions.
15 Delicious Benefits of Dragon Fruit for a Nutritious Snack
1. Anti-Aging
To start our list, let’s discuss the anti-aging benefits of dragon fruit. Rich in phosphorus, dragon fruit provides an essential mineral for cellular health and regeneration throughout your body. In addition to this mineral, the high vitamin C content also helps to provide rich antioxidants to maintain your skin’s elasticity.
What to do:
- Select dragon fruit by pressing on the outside. If it has some give to it, then it is ripe.
- Avoid fruits with bruises, dry brown spots or dry spines.
- Cut the fruit in half longwise.
- Use a spoon to scoop out the white pulpy fruit and black seeds.
- Avoid any of the pink from the rind as it is bitter.
2. Cancer Prevention
Next among the benefits of dragon fruit is its role in helping to prevent cancer. Its high vitamin C content helps to provide plenty of antioxidants, but dragon fruit is also rich in the antioxidants phytoalbumin and lycopene. Both of these antioxidants are known to decrease cancerous cell growth.
What to do:
- Add dragon fruit into your diet on a regular basis.
- Think of dragon fruit like kiwi with sort of a peach-like flavor.
- It is excellent in fruit salads and a great fruit for kabobs.
3. Healthy Heart
A healthy heart is also one of the benefits of dragon fruit. Studies indicate that dragon fruit helps to keep your cholesterol levels in balance by boosting HDL while lowering LDL and triglyceride levels. These benefits come from the seeds of dragon fruit which are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
What to do:
- A dragon fruit sorbet can help get you away from destructive desserts and introduce the health benefits of dragon fruit into your diet.
4. Helps Balance Blood Sugar
Among the most impressive benefits of dragon fruit is in how it helps to balance blood sugar levels. Not only is dragon fruit high in fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar, it is also low on the glycemic index of foods. Research indicates that dragon fruit also benefits insulin resistance in diabetic and pre-diabetic test subjects.
What to do:
- Dragon fruit is a good diabetic snack to have on hand.
- Slice a dragon fruit in half, store each half in a sealable bag or container to take with you.
- Enjoy this powerful fruit by scooping it out of the shell with a spoon.
- You can drizzle a little bit of raw honey over it to add an extra boost of flavor.
5. Aids Digestion
Aiding in digestion is another of the potent benefits of dragon fruit. Reversing the effects of such conditions as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is best achieved through eating fiber rich fruits and vegetables. Dragon fruit contains 1 gram of fiber for every 100 grams of fruit, making it one of the highest rated fiber rich foods. Additionally, dragon fruit contains oligosaccharides which help to produce improved gut probiotics.
What to do:
- Keep your digestion in order with this dragon fruit and yogurt smoothie recipe.
6. Boosts Immunity
Dragon fruit is packed with polyphenol flavonoids and vitamin C. Both of these contribute to boosting immunity, which is also among the benefits of dragon fruit. Besides these nutrients vitamins B1, B2 and B3 are also found in dragon fruit along with a host of minerals and amino acids which help keep your immune system functioning like a well-oiled machine.
What to do:
- Slice dragon fruit, pineapple and kiwi into 1” cubes.
- Arrange alternate pieces of fruit on a kabob skewer.
- Grill, brushing with oil and turn the skewers every couple of minutes until you toast the outside of the fruits.
- Serve while hot along with other grilled favorites.
7. Metabolic Booster
Right toward the top of the many benefits of dragon fruit is its role as a metabolic booster. Believe it or not, this powerful little fruit is loaded with proteins which help to speed up cell repair and enhance, not only endurance, but fat burning as well. This function of dragon fruit will help you shed pounds and inches.
What to do:
- Here is another dragon fruit smoothie you can use to get your day started right or to use whenever you workout in order to get the most out of your gains.
8. Treatment for Colored Hair
If you color your hair, you will be thrilled by another of the benefits of dragon fruit. The nutrient rich pulp of dragon fruit keeps hair follicles open in chemically treated hair so that your hair can continue to breathe and remain healthy even after coloring your hair.
What to do:
- Scoop out the flesh and seeds of a dragon fruit and puree them in a blender to create a paste.
- Apply the paste to your scalp and hair.
- Leave it in place for 15 to 20 minutes before cleansing with a mild shampoo.
- Repeat this treatment weekly.
9. Anti-Inflammatory
Those who suffer from inflammatory conditions can also take advantage of the benefits of dragon fruit. Dragon fruit is often referred to as the “anti-inflammatory fruit,” because it contains betalains that are effective at reducing inflammatory effects.
What to do:
- Create your own anti-inflammatory pudding to keep on hand and consume to fight off those inflammatory flare-ups with Dragon Fruit Pudding Cups.
10. Acne Treatment
Also among the surprising benefits of dragon fruit comes through its acne treatment properties. The vitamin C and antioxidants of the potent little fruit is an excellent ointment for getting rid of acne.
What to do:
- Scoop pulp and seeds out of a dragon fruit shell.
- Mash the pulp with a fork to create a smooth paste.
- Apply the paste to affected areas.
- Allow it to sit for 20 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
- Repeat this twice a week.
11. Helps Heal Sunburn and Mild Burns
Helping to heal sunburn and other mild burns and stings is also among the benefits of dragon fruit. Much like aloe vera, dragon fruits abundance of vitamin B3 along with its antimicrobial compounds can bring soothing relief along with healing your skin from the damage of sunburn and mild burns.
What to do:
- Create a paste as shown above.
- Puncture or clip the end off of a vitamin E capsule.
- Mix the gel from vitamin E into the dragon fruit paste.
- Apply the mixture to the affected areas.
- Repeat this as necessary to bring burn relief and healing.
12. Skin Moisturizer
Ninety percent of dragon fruit is water, which helps to hydrate dry skin. Consuming as well as utilizing dragon fruit as ointment or moisturizer for your skin helps you to maintain your skin’s moisture and elasticity. Thus, skin moisturizer is on the list of benefits of dragon fruit.
What to do:
- You can make use of the same moisturizer with vitamin E shown above.
- Alternatively, you can add cucumber pulp, which is also high in water content, into the dragon fruit paste.
- Use this as a daily moisturizer.
13. Healthier and Smoother Hair
Helping you to have healthier and smoother hair is also one of the benefits of dragon fruit. Moisturizers, enzymes, and antioxidants in dragon fruit help to provide nutrients to your hair and scalp which cause hair follicles to thrive. Additionally, the mineral content of dragon fruit adds strength and durability to your hair as well.
What to do:
- Create a pulp out of dragon fruit by either mashing it with a fork or in a blender.
- Add 1 to 2 Tbsp of raw honey to thicken it a bit.
- After shampooing, use this mixture as a conditioner.
- Allow it to sit in your hair for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it out.
- Repeat this two to three times a week.
14. Prevention of Congenital Glaucoma
Studies indicate that another of the most promising benefits of dragon fruit comes in the prevention of congenital glaucoma. Compounds within the fruit help the liver to produce a protein known as cytochrome P450. This protein is linked to the prevention of congenital glaucoma.
What to do:
- Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, can also be served up in a delicious parfait.
15. Improved Cognitive Function
Another of the benefits of dragon fruit with high impact comes with its ability to help improve cognitive function. Dragon fruit helps to boost red blood cell production in the body. Red blood cells contain the essential vitamins and minerals which help to protect your brain from oxidative stress and free radical damage, keeping your brain healthy and functioning properly.
What to do:
- Give your day and your brain the proper boost with this powerful dragon fruit breakfast bowl.
Conclusion
With so many healthy benefits of dragon fruit to choose from, being introduced to this exotic fruit can provide you with a very beneficial relationship. Make use of one or more of the recipes and suggestions above in order to treat or prevent health conditions that might apply to you. Please feel free to share recipes, success stories and questions concerning dragon fruit in the section below.
Image from depositphotos.com.