Pitahaya is an extraordinary fruit. The first mention of this occurs in the Aztecs and refers to the thirteenth century. Eating the meat, the Indians roasted the seeds, ground them and used them as soup. At the moment it is cultivated in the south of Mexico, in some countries of Central and South America, in Vietnam and also in Israel (in the desert of Negev). For its outstanding appearance, the fruit is called "dragon fruit" or "prickly pear" (prickly pear). This is a shrub cactus, at the end of the stems from which juicy fruits ripen.
The flowers appear on it strictly on the first and fifteenth day of the month. Depending on the species, the size of the fruit, the color of the pulp (white, pink, purple), the color of the skin (from yellow to orange, from red to purple) and the texture of the surface of the fruit ( with small excrescences, with fine scales of color) vary. The pulp of the fruit is always full of small black sunflower seeds, which are usually cleaned. The taste of pitahaya is somewhat inferior to its appearance: it is not fragrant, it is not saturated, it is slightly sweet. The attractive pitihai fruits are widely used in cooking and especially in the production of various alcoholic beverages.
The juice and pulp are added to the composition of sweets, ice creams, sorbets, yogurts and various dairy products; marmalade, sauces and jellies are made from pulp. The Pitahai juice is mixed with lemon and lime to make "summer drinks". To prepare the pitaya for consumption, the fruit is usually cut vertically in two halves. After that, you can cut these halves into slices (how to cut the melon), or remove the meat with a spoon. Although pitaya seeds are rich in valuable lipids, they are usually not digested unless chewed. The skin is not edible, it can also contain pesticides.
Pitahaya low-calorie, contains proteins, water, phosphorus, calcium, iron, vitamin C, PP, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin). Even more attractive fruit added the latest results of medical research. According to them, the use of pitahaya helps to get rid of stomach pain. In addition, the fruit is useful for people suffering from diabetes or other endocrine disease. The fruit is useful for people with diabetes, it has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and immune systems. Able to relieve stomach pain.
When consuming large amounts of red-skinned pitahaya (for example, Costa Rican), pseudo-hematuria, harmless redness of urine and feces can occur. Pitahaya is considered an exotic product, so consuming it in large quantities can cause diarrhea, heartburn, or allergies. To prevent this, doctors recommend eating initially a small piece of this fruit to check the reaction of the body. Also, it is not advisable for pitahaya to be given to small children, as it can provoke the appearance of diathesis and other unpleasant situations.
