Dragon Fruit Benefits

1. Dragon Fruit for Lowering Cholesterol

This is one of the main health benefits of dragon fruit as cholesterol is considered as a major health concern that can lead to several other serious health issues.
There is a difference between good fats and bad fats. The good fat in the body helps in treating a certain healthy issue whereas the presence of bad fat in the body can lead to cholesterol.
Dragon fruit is packed with omega 3 as well as omega 6 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats. These are considered as good fats for the body as they aid in lowering the cholesterol.
So the next you are diagnosed with cholesterol simply grab a dragon fruit and relish the health benefits of it. One can easily consume one dragon fruit in raw form on a daily basis to build up the good fats in the body and eventually lower down the cholesterol naturally.


2. Dragon Fruit for the Prevention of Cancer

Dragon Fruit is a delicious natural source of vitamin C and carotene. The carotene present in the fruit is packed with anti-carcinogenic properties that help in reducing the risk of cancer as well as tumors.
The lycopene present in the dragon fruit is the main compound that forms the red color on the dragon fruit and this is also known to reduce of prostate cancer.
Several medical studies have proven that a regular intake of the dragon fruit has resulted in lowering the risk of cancer cells in the body.
So the most natural way of preventing cancer or tumors is by following a diet that includes an adequate of dragon fruit consumption on an everyday basis.

3. Dragon Fruit for the Prevention & Cure of Diabetes

Dragon fruit is loaded with fiber and this makes it the ideal fruit to reduce the symptoms of diabetes in diabetic patients.
Intake of the required amount of fiber on a daily basis aids in stabilizing the sugar levels in diabetics and it also helps in inhibiting the sugar spikes in the patients.
Consumption of dragon fruit also has a great effect on the oxidative stress in the diabetic patients. Many diabetic health specialists recommend a regular intake of dragon fruit to the diabetic patients to reduce the various signs of diabetes.
Dragon fruit contains phytoalbumin, and phytoalbumin, combined with the vitamin C and minerals it hosts, makes the dragon fruit highly valued for its antioxidant properties and cancer-preventing qualities. There is yet another characteristic that may help in cancer prevention — the lycopene it contains. The lycopene, also found in tomatoes, offers the rich color, and results from studies show that it may contain “chemopreventive effects for prostate, breast, lung, liver and skin cancer.”



4. Dragon Fruit for Boosting Immunity

Dragon fruit is jam-packed with flavonoids and flu-fighting vitamin C, which is great for the immune system. In fact, it contains more vitamin C than a carrot, making the dragon fruit one of the top vitamin C foods around.

Dragon fruit also ranks high on the antioxidant list, which helps kick those free radicals to the curb. And even more support steps up from vitamins B1, B2, B3, as well as calcium, phosphorous, iron, protein, niacin and fiber teaming up to keep that immune system in tip-top shape.

The micronutrients in dragon fruit are also impressive. A study published in the Journal of Food Science observed polyphenol and flavonoid content and effects on several cancer cell lines from the extracts of the flesh and peel of the white and red dragon fruit. Both extracts revealed anticancer activity and a direct correlation between the phenolic content and antioxidant effect, suggesting that this extract may be a valuable ingredient in foods as well as cosmetics, nutraceuticals and even pharmaceutical applications. All of this is because of the fruit’s immune-boosting ability, which is one of the top dragon fruit benefits.

5. Dragon Fruit for Cardiovascular Health Benefits

Reducing the levels of bad cholesterol in the body is probably the easiest and the quickest way to improve the heart health.
This is exactly what a regular consumption of dragon fruit does in the body. Dragon fruit is also a great source of monosaturated fats as this aid in improving the overall heart health.
According to several food types of research conducted on dragon fruit has been proved that a high intake of dragon fruit can reduce the risk of developing heart diseases like strokes and heart attacks as well as improves the overall heart health.

Dragon fruit reduces the bad cholesterol levels in the body and increases the good cholesterol levels in the body and this eventually results in balancing the blood sugar levels as well as improving the cardiovascular health on a major level.
The study published in the Journal of Pharmacognosy Research showed that dragon fruit may help decrease bad cholesterol while improving the good cholesterol, making dragon fruit an excellent cholesterol-lowering food. In addition, because it’s an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, it can help keep the heart in good shape.

And let’s not forget those little black seeds inside the dragon fruit. They’re big in delivering omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Research shows that these omega-3s and omega-6s can drop problematic triglycerides, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

6. Dragon Fruit for Healthy Bones and Teeth

Dragon fruit is a rich natural source of phosphorus and calcium. These qualities in foods help in strengthening the bones and teeth.
According to several medical studies conducted it has been proven that regular consumption of the dragon fruit also reduces the risk and symptoms of osteoporosis.
Dragon fruit also helps in increasing the bone mass in teeth resulting in stronger teeth naturally.

7. Dragon Fruit for Digestion

Stomach ailments like constipation can be quite problematic to deal with. This is when the health specialists suggest increasing the fiber intake.
Although there are many health supplements available in the market that claims to be rich in fiber but the best way to heal the stomach ailments is with the help of natural foods.
Digestion is one common health concern and the ideal way to improve the digestion is by opting for dragon fruit.
Dragon fruit is an excellent natural source of fiber that helps in improving the bowel movements as well as decreases the risk of constipation or any other bowel disorder.

8. Dragon Fruit for Increasing the Metabolic Rate of the Body

Protein plays a crucial role in boosting the metabolic rate of our body and this eventually speeds up the weight loss procedure.
When it comes to looking for foods rich in protein most of us often look up to poultry or dairy food items.
But the fact is that there are many fruits and vegetables that are rich in their protein content and one such fruit is the dragon fruit.
Dragon fruit contains the required amount of protein that can easily boost up your metabolic rate and help you losing weight faster.
So the next time you are looking for foods rich in protein makes sure to add dragon fruit to your list as it also helps in repairing cells and tissues post workout.

Dragon Fruit Nutrition Facts

100 grams of dragon fruit contains about:

50 calories
11 grams carbohydrates
1.1 grams protein
0.4 gram fat
3 grams fiber
20.5 milligrams vitamin C (34 percent DV)
1.9 milligrams iron (11 percent DV)
0.05 milligram vitamin B2 (3 percent DV)
0.04 milligram vitamin B1 (3 perent DV)
22.5 milligrams phosphorus (2 percent DV)
8.5 milligrams calcium (1 percent DV)
0.16 milligram vitamin B3 (1 percent DV)

Dragon Fruit Recipe

Dragon fruit can be found fresh or dried at many grocery stores. Just make sure to buy organic when possible.
In order to get all these wonderful dragon fruit benefits, try the following dragon fruit recipes, beginning with the following.

Dragon Fruit and Coconut Power Smoothie

INGREDIENTS:

1 dragon fruit (scoop out the insides)
1 small banana
? cup blueberries
1 teaspoon unrefined coconut oil
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon ground flaxseeds
Large handful pumpkin seeds
1 scoop vanilla bone broth
1.75 cups of water

DIRECTIONS:

Using a blender, combine the dragon fruit, banana, blueberries and water, and blend well.
Then add the coconut oil, chia seeds, bone broth and flaxseeeds, and blend again until smooth. You can add a couple of cubes of ice if you prefer it chilled or use frozen bananas for a thicker smoothie.
Top with pumpkin seeds and serve.