5 things to know when eating dragon fruit to avoid harm
With its rich nutritional content, dragon fruit brings many surprising health benefits, even preventing cancer. However, that does not mean you can eat too much.
Health benefits of dragon fruit
Dragon fruit is rich in vitamins C, A, B1, B12, E and potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and also contains many beneficial plant compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, betaxanthins, and betacyanins.
Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Branch 3, said that dragon fruit is a fruit with many nutrients that are good for health. Few people know that dragon fruit is also a valuable medicine.
Of which, red-fleshed dragon fruit has a sweeter, more refreshing taste than white-fleshed dragon fruit. Red-fleshed dragon fruit has more antioxidants such as anthocyanin and vitamin C, carotene…
Both white-fleshed and red-fleshed dragon fruit are good for health (Photo: Adobestock).
White-fleshed dragon fruit has more water and is less sweet than the red-fleshed variety. Therefore, for people with diabetes, nutritionists recommend eating white-fleshed dragon fruit, which will reduce the risk of high blood sugar compared to red-fleshed dragon fruit.
White-fleshed dragon fruit has the effect of cooling, detoxifying, low in energy, suitable for dieters. The price of white-fleshed dragon fruit is cheaper than red-fleshed dragon fruit.
In general, both types of dragon fruit contain antioxidants (polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C...) that help prevent cancer, chronic diseases, and increase immunity.
Sharing the same view, General practitioner Bui Dac Sang, Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology, Vietnam Hanoi Oriental Medicine Association said that dragon fruit contains a lot of pectin mucus, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber cellulose, all of which have the effect of preventing and treating constipation, obesity, atherosclerosis, colitis...
Dragon fruit is also a fruit that contains low sugar, rich in magnesium, many vitamins and minerals, and low in energy. Therefore, eating dragon fruit regularly is very good for diabetics, obese people with heat, and people who need to lose weight.
Dragon fruit can help improve heart health by reducing bad cholesterol levels and adding good cholesterol. This fruit is rich in monounsaturated fats that help the heart rest in optimal condition.
Dragon fruit is very high in fiber, which can improve poor digestion and relieve constipation.
According to a study in the Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, dragon fruit is rich in prebiotics that help improve digestion and promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria. The fruit contains oligosaccharides that act as prebiotics to improve digestion and gut health.
The antioxidants in dragon fruit help reduce the effects of free radicals that damage cells in the body. This gives the skin a smooth, youthful appearance. You can use a dragon fruit mask combined with honey to prevent skin aging.
Dragon fruit is also a fruit that contains low sugar, rich in magnesium, many vitamins and minerals, and low in energy. Therefore, eating dragon fruit regularly is very good for diabetics, obese people with heat, and people who need to lose weight.
Things to note when eating dragon fruit
Dragon fruit is a benign fruit, suitable for many people. However, there is still a very small percentage of people who eat dragon fruit and are allergic. Some signs of eating dragon fruit and being allergic include swelling of the tongue, nausea and vomiting, and rashes on the skin.
When you eat too much red dragon fruit, you may notice that your urine is pink. However, this is not a cause for concern because your urine will return to its normal color once the dragon fruit has been completely eliminated from your body.
Dr. Vu noted some things after eating dragon fruit:
- The recommended dosage of dragon fruit for diabetics is 2 servings a day, each serving about 120gr.
- People who often have cold stomach, loose stools, and bloating should not eat dragon fruit.
- Women should not eat dragon fruit during their menstrual cycle.
- Dragon fruit contains a lot of vegetable protein, pregnant women are susceptible to allergies so consider before eating.
- With red-fleshed dragon fruit, we should not eat too much because it will cause the stool and urine to be dark red.
According to Dr. Vu, in general, dragon fruit is safe for health, is delicious, and has a refreshing taste.