7 Health Benefits Of Dragon Fruit That’ll Make You Add It In Your Diet ASAP!

Dragon what? No, we are not talking about real dragons, we are talking about a bright pink fruit that belongs to the cactus family- “dragon fruit”. This magical fruit has a variety of health benefits and is packed with nutrients that are essential for our body. Right from aiding weight loss to boosting your immune system to fighting cancerous cells, this fruit can work wonders for your body. What’s more? Dragon fruits are loaded with vitamin C that can fight premature signs of aging and give you young, healthy-looking skin. So, if you want to know more about this magical fruit and how you can consume it, scroll on!

Nutritional Benefits Of Dragon Fruit

As per the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate guidelines, dragon fruits contain a wide variety of healthy components, vitamins, and minerals. They are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, vitamin A, calcium, fiber, and magnesium. Since a dragon fruit contains only 60 calories and 2.9 g fibre, the fruit contains no harmful fats making it the perfect fruit for those on a diet.

A single dragon fruit has about 18 milligrams (mg) of calcium (1.8 percent DV); 0.74 mg of iron (4.1 percent DV); 1.18 g of protein (2.3 percent DV); 59 international units (IU) of vitamin A (1.18 percent DV); 2.5 mg of vitamin C (4.16 percent DV); 40 mg of magnesium (10 percent DV); and 2.9 g of fiber (11 percent daily value, or DV).

High Source Of Vitamin C

If you thought that lemons and oranges were the highest sources of vitamin C, you might need to rethink it. Dragon fruits are naturally rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C has multiple benefits, one of them being the protection of cells from free radicals and boosting immunity and another one is reducing the risk of heart diseases.

It’s Good For Your Heart

As mentioned in the previous point, dragon fruits are really beneficial for your heart. The antioxidants in dragon fruit help prevent cholesterol oxidation, which is a threat to healthy blood vessels and may lead to heart stroke and high cholesterol.

Fights Diabetes

According to a study, it was found that red dragon fruit contains betacyanins that can help manage diabetes and prevent obesity by regulating the growth of beneficial bacterial in the gut.

Reduces Signs Of Aging

Laden with vitamin C and antioxidants, dragon fruits protect the fatty acids and the cell membranes from free radicals. This helps fight early signs of aging skin like loss of elasticity and wrinkles. Also, other vitamins present in dragon fruits help repair cell damage and keeps skin young and wrinkle-free!

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Fights Cancerous Cells

According to some studies, dragon fruits have actually been connected to the prevention of cancer, especially breast cancer, due to the presence of vitamin C and lycopene. These antioxidants are known to fight cancerous cells in the body. However, more studies are required to determine dragon fruit role in the chemoprevention of breast cancer.

Reduces Inflammation

Suffering from rheumatoid arthritis? Here comes dragon fruit to your rescue! Due to rich in anti-inflammatory properties, this fruit can provide instant relief from inflammation and tenderness.

Wards Off Anemia In Pregnancy

According to a study published in Belitung Nursing Journal, dragon fruit increased the hemoglobin and erythrocyte level in pregnant women who are suffering from iron deficiency anemia. So, the researchers believe that this fruit could be used as an alternative treatment for anemia during pregnancy.

How To Consume It

This fruit can be consumed as a ripe fruit or in the form of juice or you can simply add it in your fruit salad.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the research and data available on the internet. However, it is always advised to consult a doctor before making any changes.

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