Dragon fruit — also called dragon pearl fruit, cactus fruits, pitahaya or pitaya — is a tropical, delicious superfood that can do a lot for your health. In fact, dragon fruit benefits include anti-aging, immune system boosting and sugar stabilization, which is helpful for those with diabetes, among others. Let’s take a look at just how dragon fruit benefits the human body.
1. Immune Booster
Dragon fruit is jam-packed with flavonoids and flu-fighting vitamin C, free radicals to the curb, 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.
2. Digestion Helper
Dragon fruit contains a good bit of fiber, which can help with that morning bowel movement. It can even help eliminate constipation and IBS issues.
Dragon fruit contains a good bit of fiber, which can help with that morning bowel movement. It can even help eliminate constipation and IBS issues.
Dragon fruit contains about one gram of fiber per 100 grams for the fresh version and about 10 grams per 100 grams of the dried version, making it a high-fiber food. To get a bit more fiber, you can even eat the skin of the pitaya.Another reason dragon fruit benefits digestion is due to the oligosaccharides it contains. These oligosaccharides work as prebiotics, which in turn improves gut health and digestion. And that’s not all prebiotics can do.According to research published in the journal 3 Biotech, “the introduction of functional compounds like prebiotics in the diet seems to be an attractive alternative to ameliorate the quality of life ridden with obesity, cancer, hypersensitivity, vascular diseases and degenerative ailments.”
3. Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
3. Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
The dragon fruit can help by preventing sugar spikes after eating high glycemic index foods.A study published in the Journal of Pharmacognosy Research found that dragon fruit had positive results on the oxidative stress on tested subjects, suggesting its consumption as beneficial in reducing some issues that may be associated with diabetes. (4) Further research examining the way dragon fruit benefits insulin resistance on obese mice found that eating dragon fruit can help reduce the risk for diabetes and diabetes symptoms.
4. Heart-Healthy
The same study noted above on dragon fruit benefits in relation to diabetes and oxidative stress also evaluated effects that dragon fruit may have on the heart. 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.
4. Heart-Healthy
The same study noted above on dragon fruit benefits in relation to diabetes and oxidative stress also evaluated effects that dragon fruit may have on the heart. 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
5. Keeps You Looking YouthfulAntioxidants, in this case due to the vitamin C content, do a great job of keeping the skin tight and firm, which can offer a youthful appearance. Additionally, the phosphorus in dragon fruit provides a boost in the anti-aging department. Phosphorus, an important mineral found in every cell of the body, makes up about 1 percent of your total bodyweight. Because it’s found in every cell, its effect on the repair of those cells is important to the youthfulness of our skin and prevention of premature aging.
6. Potential Cancer Prevention
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.” Another study published in Nutrition and Cancer indicates that cancerous cells had difficulty living and were significantly reduced when treated with lycopene. Ovarian cancer evaluation showed a decrease in cancerous cell numbers after lycopene treatment, and given dragon fruit’s lycopene content, it may be a potential cancer-fighting food.
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.” Another study published in Nutrition and Cancer indicates that cancerous cells had difficulty living and were significantly reduced when treated with lycopene. Ovarian cancer evaluation showed a decrease in cancerous cell numbers after lycopene treatment, and given dragon fruit’s lycopene content, it may be a potential cancer-fighting food.
Source from https://draxe.com
