Dragon fruit, also known as pitahaya or strawberry pear. Dragon fruit is one of nature’s most unique plants, with a flower like an explosion of flame and a fruit like a pink rosebud. It is a tropical fruit known for its vibrant red skin and sweet, seed-speckled pulp. It is indigenous to Central America but is also grown and exported from several Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Luckily, you don’t have to live in the tropics to enjoy the many benefits of dragon fruit.
In fact, you can find it fresh or frozen in supermarkets worldwide. There are two different coloured skinned dragon fruit. The smooth pink/red skinned with green fins and the rough yellow skinned variety, which resemble a small pineapple.
The bright pink/red skinned varieties with green fins have either white, pink, purple, magenta or red flesh. The rarer yellow skinned, white fleshed variety with slightly larger black seeds is very sweet and quite sought after but are only grown commercially in a small scale. All have the same texture, but are slightly different in flavor. The texture is similar to a kiwi, with hundreds of crunchy nutty flavored tiny black seeds. It is not a particularly sweet or tangy fruit. The taste and sweetness of dragon fruit is highly improved by chilling in the refrigerator before consuming.
Dragon fruit is a healthy fruit, rich in nutrients and low in calories, helps fight chronic illnesses, improve gut health, and boost immunity. It is high in fiber, manganese, iron, and various vitamins and minerals. Health benefits of dragon fruit include its ability to aid in weight loss, control diabetes, improve digestion, lower cholesterol, and boost energy levels. It also helps prevent cancer and heart diseases, defend against bacteria and fungi, and helps in the overall functioning of the body.
Dragon fruit is a delicious tropical fruit that’s definitely worth trying.
Dragon fruit is surprisingly simple to prepare and can be eaten by itself or added to salads, smoothies and yogurt.
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