Health Benefits Of Dragon Fruit (Pitaya)
Dragon fruit, rich in nutrients and low in calories, may be beneficial for fighting chronic illnesses, improving gut health, and boosting immunity. It is high in fiber as well as various vitamins and minerals including manganese and iron. Health benefits of dragon fruit include its ability to aid in weight loss, control diabetes, improve digestion, lower cholesterol, and boost energy levels. It may also be protective against certain cancers and heart diseases, defend against bacteria and fungi and optimize the overall functioning of the body.
What is Dragon Fruit?
Dragon fruit is an exotic and delicious fruit, also considered a tropical superfood, because of its wealth of benefits. It is also known as pitaya or pitahaya, and some call it a strawberry pear. However, pitaya technically differs from dragon fruit (pitahaya), as the former comes from genus Stenocereus while the latter comes from Hylocereus. The dragon fruit has its origins in Mexico, South America, and Central America. It is suspected that the New World settlers probably brought it to Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, where it remains an important part of the dietary fruit intake. Now, it’s not just the healthy fruit, but also nutrient-rich pitaya powder, that is available worldwide.
Apart from the fruit, the peel of the dragon fruit is found to be useful in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical applications, as per 2011 research published in the Journal of Food Science.
Dragon Fruit Nutrition
Dragon fruit is low in calories and rich in antioxidants, making it a good addition to any weight loss diet. According to the USDA, the fruit contains good amounts of fiber, lycopene, and carbohydrates as well as water-soluble vitamins such as carotene, vitamin C and B vitamins niacin and riboflavin. The mineral wealth of this fruit is also high and includes magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sodium.
Dragon fruit is believed to contain phytonutrients that prevent various diseases. Also, research published in Food Chemistry suggests that there are polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid and linolenic acid), and omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids in the seeds of these fruits.
Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit
The health benefits of the dragon fruit are mainly attributed to its antioxidant, antibacterial, and nutritional properties. The benefits include boosting immunity, faster metabolism, and a smoother digestive process.
Anticancer Potential
Dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants. A 2017 study published in the Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity journal notes that the fruit might be useful against breast cancer. It concludes that dragon fruit may act on selective breast cancer cells. It was observed to do so by targeting tumorigenic pathways and leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. While the study acknowledges the need for clinical trials, it recognizes the potential of this fruit to play a role in cancer therapy.
The presence of non-digestible oligosaccharides in pitaya could prove helpful against colon cancer, according to a study published in the International Food Research Journal. These oligosaccharides have a positive prebiotic effect where they have resulted in an increase in bifidobacteria and lactobacillus while decreasing Bacteroides and clostridium. This highlights its potential to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Boosts Immune System
The high level of vitamin C found in dragon fruit helps boost immunity and it stimulates the activity of other antioxidants in the body as well. According to a 2011 research study, the flesh and the peel of the white and red pitayas have high polyphenol and flavonoid content which can help eliminate free radicals. This has been linked to preventing the proliferation of cancer cells. Also, these antioxidants work to increase the platelet count, thus treat dengue and help a faster recovery.
High in Fiber & Aids in Digestion
Research published in Food Chemistry also suggests that dragon fruits are rich in oligosaccharides that help promote the growth of gut bacteria like lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. A 2015 study on natural prebiotics in Thailand showed that the fruit helped increase healthy gut flora, which is important for smooth digestion.
Dragon fruits have a high fiber content, which means that they can help bulk up bowel movements, facilitating smooth passage through the digestive tract, stimulating peristaltic motion, and inducing a release of digestive juices. By regulating bowel function with dietary fiber, this fruit helps in preventing conditions like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and even colorectal cancer.