Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is an fascinating and flavorful tropical fruit that originates from Central and South America. The fruit is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America, but it’s now grown in many countries across the world. Dragon fruit has a unique appearance, with a bright pink skin and green scales that look like those of a dragon. The inside of the fruit is creamy white with small black seeds. Dragon fruit can be eaten fresh or used in recipes. It can be used to make smoothies, juices, salads, and desserts. The fresh fruit can also be used to make jam, jelly, and sauces. This fruit can even be used to make wine.
Dragon Fruit Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
Dragon fruit has a sweet and mild flavor that is similar to that of kiwi and pear. The fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber. Dragon fruit is low in calories and contains no fat or cholesterol. Dragon fruit is a great addition to any diet. It’s a healthy and delicious way to get essential vitamins and minerals while enjoying a unique flavor. Eating dragon fruit can help to improve your overall health and wellness. Nutritional value per 100 g dragon fruit:
- Biotin: 0 μg
- Calcium: 10 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 11.8 g
- Chloride: 18 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 0 mg
- Chromium: 0 μg
- Copper: 0.1 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 2.4 g
- Energy (Calories): 61 kcal
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Iodine: 0 μg
- Iron: 0.4 mg
- Magnesium: 25 mg
- Manganese: 0.1 mg
- Molybdenum: 0 μg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.3 mg
- Phosphorus: 23 mg
- Potassium: 112 mg
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Saturated fat: 0 g
- Selenium: 0.6 μg
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Sugars: 8.4 g
- Vitamin A: 81 IU
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.05 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 7 μg
- Vitamin B12: 0 μg
- Vitamin C: 9 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 IU
- Vitamin E: 0.02 mg
- Vitamin K: 0.5 μg
- Water: 84.6 g
- Zinc: 0.1 mg
Dragon Fruit in India
Red dragon fruits are native to Mexico, central America and Antilles. In Mexico they are known as Pitahaya. Yellow pitayas are native to northern south America. You can found these fruits in Asian market. It is as large as a size of big mango. The fruit must still be firm when ripe. If you wait until it is soft, it will no longer be good. To use, you simply cut it in a half and eat the inside flesh with a spoon. The edible part is white juicy and has a very delicate taste. There are many small seeds about the size of those found in kiwi, which are also eaten. The center of the fruit is the sweetest part. The fruit is eaten raw often after chilling. Additionally, dragon fruit can be used in ice cream, sorbets, as a puree with many uses in jams and marmalade, for wines and soft drinks, and for medicinal purposes.
- Scientific Binomial: Hylocereus undatus (White flesh and Pink skin) / Selenicereus megalanthus (White flesh and Yellow skin) / Hylocereus polyrhizus (Colored flesh and Pink skin)
- Common English: Night Blooming Cereus / Queen of the Night / Lady of the night / Pitaya
- Ayurvedic
- Unani
- Sanskrit
- Hindi / Urdu
- Bengali
- Marathi:
- Telugu
- Tamil
- Gujarati
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
Pitahaya is rich source of vitamin C, fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin A, folate and anti-oxidants.
- Lowers LDL: Tiny black seeds contains small amount of natural oil, but while eating dragon fruit don’t worry about cholesterol. Research says, eating pitayas gives monosaturated fats that decrease LDL.
- Hydrating: Like watermelon it is good source of water, which leads in low caries and best aid for hydration.
- Arthritis: It suppresses arthritis as it has anti-inflammatory property.
- Skin Care: Anti-oxidants helps to fight free radicals in the body which slower the process of aging.
- Constipation: Lots of fiber assure improvement in bowel movements which prevent constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Red Blood Cells: Folate from dragon fruit is good for pregnant woman as it avoids neural tube defects and helps to form red blood cells.
- Boosts Immunity: Vitamin C helps to build immune system with anti-fungal and antibacterial effect.
- Homemade Face Mask: Pitaya can also works as face mask. Just take some fruit pulp and make a puree with it. Apply on face evenly. Wait for 20 minutes and wash with warm water.