With unique appearance, crunchy texture and sweet taste pitaya is a tropical fruit. It is also known as dragon fruit as its appearance has derived its name from a fire breathing dragon. Pitaya has vibrant red skin and seed speckled pulp which is sweet and tastes like a mixture of kiwi and pear. This fruit is native to southern Mexico and central America. This beautiful fruit Grows on Hylocereus cactus which is also known as the Honolulu queen, whose flowers only open at night.
Adding this excellent super fruit in your diet everyday can provide you with numerous health benefits and can also cut down the risk of cancer and diabetes.
Nutritional Profile
One cup serving of pitaya i.e. 227 grams of the fruit contains 3 grams protein, No fat, 136 calories and 8% iron. It also contains 7 grams of fibre and vitamins like vitamin C which is 9%, 4% of vitamin E And minerals like Magnesium and calcium in 18% and 107 respectively.
7 Amazing Health Benefits Of Pitaya
Rich In Nutrients
Along with essential nutrients, pitaya fruit provides useful plant compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and betacyanins . Beneficial antioxidant like carotenoids protect us from disease and also enhance our immune system. Pitaya is low in calories, however it packed with essential vitamins and minerals. It conjointly contains a considerable quantity of dietary fiber.
Promotes A Healthy Gut
Eating pitaya fruit can promote healthier gut as this fruit includes a rich supply of oligosaccharides , which is a type of carbohydrate that helps within the production of bacterium like flora, that aids in sleek digestion. It contains prebiotics and having more prebiotics in your system improves the balance of good to bad bacteria in your intestines. The growth of the probiotics like lactobacilli and bifidobacteria is encouraged by the pitaya fruit. It is also packed with high fibre that aids in proper digestion, helps reduces the chance of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
High In Fibre
Pitaya bowl can keep you full for a longer period of time as it is loaded with fibre and is a perfect nutrient dense snack. It can also help you in weight management as the high fibre content in pitaya can help you satiate hunger and it also provides with several vitamin and minerals. So if you’re looking to lose weight or simply manage it, a bowl of pitaya or Frozen pitaya is the way for it.
Good Source Of Magnesium
One bowl of pitaya fruit everyday can reward you with excellent bone health. It is evident that Good bone health will contribute to several factors like avoiding injuries, joint pain and then forth. Pitaya contains magnesium that aids in stronger bones and smart bone health. It is best to add pitaya to your diet in order to gain bone health.
Strenthens Immune System
Vitamin C helps us in boosting immunity and also helps in keeping us healthy. Additional vitamin C in your body implies that your body is capable of fighting deadly infections that you simply could be vulnerable to. Consuming one pitaya bowl everyday will help reinforce immunity and will help you in keeping healthy.
Good For Heart
This fruit comes with multiple health benefits for the heart and as well as skin.
Pitaya with red coloured pulp contains betalains which give the inside of the fruit it’s red colour. Betalains helps in reducing bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol). This lovely fruit has tiny dark black seeds inside the it which are rich in omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids that are good for the heart and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases. Apart from this, it also reduces blood sugar levels and cuts back the risk of diabetes..
Reduces Risk Of Cancer
Pitaya fruit contains anti-cancer properties which means that regular intake of pitaya can cut back the risks of colon cancer. Its high supply of water-soluble vitamin like vitamin C plays a very important role in boosting the system. Vitamin C may be a powerful inhibitor that stops you from catching chronic diseases like polygenic disorder, Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s, cancer, etc. Including pitaya in your diet can benefit you in numerous ways and keep you healthy and immune to several diseases.
HOW TO CONSUME PITAYA
Pitaya can be consumed in the number of Ways, Some of them are as follows:-
- You can simply cut the fruit into two halves and scoop the inside of pitaya with a spoon.
- You can make a pitaya smoothie.
- You can cut the inside of the fruit in little pieces and serve it in a pitaya bowl.
- Frozen pitaya is also absolutely delicious and refreshing.
- Pitaya ice-cream, yoghurt and fruit salad can also be made by mixing it with other tropical fruits.
DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Pitaya must be consumed in moderation as eating it in large amount may health issues such as inadequate nutrition absorption by the intestines, intestinal gas, intestinal obstruction, stomach discomfort, and flatulence as due to the intake of excessive dietary fibres.
Regularly eating too much pitaya can produce an increase in potassium in the system, which can lead to hypotension and also reddish pee. So in order to avoid above mentioned things, consume pitaya within limits and it will only benefit you.
Conclusion
This tropical fruit is a powerhouse of goodness and ergo it is been regarded as a superfood which you must include in your diet. Pitaya has antioxidants, which are good for your immune system as they can boost your iron levels which are needed by the body in order to move the oxygen through the body. Pitaya comes with numerous health benefits and keeps you healthy and your taste buds happy.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4064814/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4767368/
