Dragon Fruit in Pakistan: Everything You Need to Know
Do you enjoy eating red dragon fruit, commonly referred to as dragon fruit? Although dragon fruit is low in calories, it still tastes delicious and filling. Many people like to drink it as dragon fruit juice.
A tropical fruit belonging to the cactus family is the dragon fruit. Its outside is a vivid pinkish-red colour with green scales, and its inside is either pink or white with tiny black seeds. The fruit is a favourite among consumers who are health-conscious because of its mild sweetness and low calorie content.
Due to the cactus family, it has a prickly shape, red skin and sweet, seed-speckled pulp. Dragon fruit is widely praised for its richness in vitamins and important minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, iron, calcium and phosphorus. Therefore, it has an amazing power to help lower bad cholesterol levels and replenish good cholesterol levels, in the process of reducing cardiovascular health problems.
Generally, pitayas on the market are mainly divided into red flesh and white flesh. However, some people do not like to eat red flesh because it will not only leave red stains on their teeth, but also change urine or feces into purple-red. What caused this change? What are the benefits of eating dragon fruit?
The high fibre content in dragon fruit helps regulate diabetes in the long run as it stabilises blood sugar levels by suppressing sugar spikes and also improves indigestion and constipation. In addition, dragon fruit is a great source of vitamin C and carotenoids that may strengthen the body's immune system. Eating dragon fruit with its rich antioxidants can keep the skin tight, and combining dragon fruit with honey is great natural mask that can completely replace other expensive masks.
Comparison of nutrition between red and white flesh dragon fruit
According to the food nutrition information provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare , the nutritional content of dragon fruit is roughly as follows.
Whether it is red meat or white meat, the content is calculated per 100 grams.
Calories: 50 calories for red meat; 51 calories for white meat.
Protein: 1.1 grams of red meat; 0.9 grams of white meat.
Fat : 0.2 grams of red meat; 0.4 grams of white meat.
Carbohydrates : 12.3 grams of red meat; 12.4 grams of white meat.
Dietary fibre : 1.3 grams of red meat; 1.7 grams of white meat.
Iron: 0.8 mg in red meat; 0.4 mg in white meat.
Magnesium : Red meat 24 mg; white meat 28 mg.
Vitamin C : red meat 6.3 mg; white meat 5.3 mg.
Vitamin E : 0.27 mg in red meat; 0.26 mg in white meat.
7 major benefits of dragon juice: low in calories and many benefits!
Benefit 1: Antioxidants prevent chronic diseases
Free radicals in the human body are risk factors that may damage cells and cause chronic diseases . The antioxidant effects of vitamin C, betacyanins, beta-carotene and lycopene contained in dragon fruit can neutralize them. Free radicals, prevent chronic diseases and cancer , although there are many nutritional supplements of antioxidants on the market, from a nutritional point of view, natural food is still the best source of intake.
It is worth mentioning that studies have pointed out that the free radical scavenging activity of betalain is 3 to 7.5 times higher than that of vitamin C. Therefore, if you want to improve the antioxidant effect, it is recommended to consume dragon fruit rich in betalain red. However, because betalains cannot be fully absorbed and metabolized by the human body, when you go to the toilet after eating red dragon fruit, you will find that the color of your urine or feces is dark red. In fact, it has nothing to do with hematuria or bloody stools. On the contrary, if you do not eat beets, If the same phenomenon still occurs after eating red pigmented foods, you should seek medical examination as soon as possible.
Benefit 2: Low calorie, rich in fiber, weight loss and convenient
Dragon fruit is low in calories and rich in water and dietary fiber. It makes you feel full after eating and reduces the chance of ingesting additional calories. Dietary fiber also helps promote gastrointestinal motility, soften stool, prevent constipation, and is beneficial to gastrointestinal health.
Benefit 3: Helps diabetic patients control blood sugar
A study in the Public Library of Science (PLOS) pointed out that dragon fruit is significantly helpful in controlling fasting blood sugar in patients with prediabetes , and as the patient eats more dragon fruit, the blood sugar control becomes better. efficient. In addition, an animal experiment found that dragon fruit can promote the growth of pancreatic cells and increase the effect of insulin . However, neither can explain why patients with Type 2 Diabetes do not experience the same significant improvement in blood sugar control, so more research is still needed to prove it.
Benefit 4: Rich in fatty acids
The densely packed black seeds in dragon fruit are rich in fatty acids, with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. One of the types of Omega-3 fatty acids we often hear about includes Omega-3 fatty acids that often appear in plants. Linoleic acid, which helps reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease.
Benefit 5: Prebiotics are good for gut health
Dragon fruit is rich in fiber, which reduces the chance of constipation . The oligosaccharides contained in it are components of prebiotics and are important nutrients that promote the growth of probiotics . We all know that there are not only good bacteria in the intestines, but also Bad bacteria, and probiotics like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterial, help intestinal digestion and reduce the chance of intestinal infection.
Benefit 6: Iron helps replenish blood
Dragon fruit is one of the few fruits that can provide iron. Since iron not only plays a role in the process of converting food into energy, it is also closely related to oxygen transportation in the human body. Adequate iron intake is very important for human health. According to the Chinese Dietary Nutrient Reference Intakes from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, adult men should consume 10 milligrams of iron per day, while women should consume at least 15 milligrams of iron per day due to menstruation . In addition, if you are in the third trimester of pregnancy, your iron intake should reach at least 45 mg to meet the needs of the fetus and mother.
Benefit 7: Rich in nutrient magnesium
From the nutritional information table above, you will find that the magnesium content of dragon fruit is quite high, with nearly 25 mg contained in 100 grams. The daily magnesium intake of adult men and women is about 380 mg and 320 mg respectively. It only takes about one meal. One dragon fruit can meet 1/4~1/3 of the magnesium requirement. The human body contains about 24 grams of magnesium. Although it feels like a small amount, it is involved in many important chemical reactions, such as converting food into energy, muscle contraction, bone growth, and even the composition of DNA.
Tips to drink dragon juice without losing nutrients
For those with smaller appetites, in addition to cutting dragon fruit into pieces for consumption, it can also be made into juice for easy drinking. However, before enjoying dragon fruit juice, it is recommended to pay attention to the following 3 suggestions to retain the nutritional benefits as much as possible:
Do not strain out the residue in dragon juice to obtain the dietary fibre provided by the fruit.
Please drink dragon juice as soon as possible to avoid bacterial growth and reduce the rapid oxidation of vitamin C due to exposure to air.
Compared with eating it directly, the GI value of fruit juice increases, and it is more likely to cause a rapid rise in blood sugar after drinking. Therefore, people with blood sugar problems (such as diabetics ) are advised to avoid drinking fruit juice. If you want to slow down the rise in blood sugar, in addition to drinking the pomace in the juice, you can also consider adding vegetables to make vegetable juice to increase your dietary fibre intake.
Dragon fruit side effects:
Although dragon fruit is rich in nutrients, it is not suitable for consumption in some cases, otherwise it will cause physical burden and discomfort.
1. Milk should not be eaten with dragon fruit.
Dragon fruit contains a lot of acidic substances. Eating it with milk may cause excessive gastric acidity, causing stomach pain, heartburn and other discomforts. Therefore, if you like to eat milk, it is recommended not to eat it with dragon fruit to avoid causing physical discomfort.
2. Diabetic patients should not eat more dragon fruit
Dragon fruit contains more potassium ions, and diabetic patients have higher blood potassium than ordinary people. Excessive consumption of dragon fruit can easily cause overload on the kidneys.
3. Dragon fruit should not be eaten during menstruation
Dragon fruit is cool in nature, and eating it during menstruation may cause irregular menstruation or even inhibit menstruation; therefore, it is best for women to avoid eating dragon fruit during menstruation.
Pakistani Dragon Fruit Farming:
Pitaya has become more and more popular in Pakistan because of its many health advantages and distinctive look. Although the fruit is native to South America, it can be effectively grown over much of Pakistan.
How can I obtain dragon fruit seeds?
In Pakistan, a plethora of nurseries and gardening centres sell dragon fruit seeds. To guarantee the highest potential yield, it's critical to select premium seeds. Mature fruits can also yield seeds, albeit this process may not be as dependable.
In Pakistan, where can we plant dragon fruit?
Although dragon fruit may be grown all throughout Pakistan, its ideal growing conditions are warm, humid climates with well-draining soil. The fruit can be planted in a range of soil types, including sandy and loamy soils, but it needs full sun exposure.
Is Pakistani land suitable for growing dragon fruits?
Although dragon fruit may be grown on a range of terrain in Pakistan, sandy soils with good drainage yield the best yields. In addition, the soil should be irrigated and receive plenty of sunlight. With the correct care and attention, dragon fruit can generally be grown successfully in most of Pakistan.
Which time of year is ideal for Dragon Fruit Plantation?
In Pakistan, June through August is the ideal time of year to plant dragon fruit. This gives the plants time to establish themselves before the arrival of the cooler months. With the correct care and attention, however, dragon fruit can be cultivated all year round.
How much does Dragon Plant cost?
The size and variety of the plant affect the price of dragon plants. A small dragon plant will typically cost between 500 and 1,000 Pakistani Rupees, whereas a larger plant may cost as much as 5,000 Rupees.
Which Dragon Fruit variety is available?
In Pakistan, one can find various types of dragon fruit, such as Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, and Selenicereus megalanthus. Every variety has distinct qualities and needs for growth, so it's critical to select the one that will work best for you.
Dragon Fruit Harvesting
Although dragon fruit plants can yield fruit in their first year of growth, it may take them up to three years to achieve full maturity. When the outside scales begin to turn brown, the fruit is ready to be picked. Picking the fruit carefully is necessary to prevent bruising its sensitive skin.
How long does it take for dragon fruit to bear fruit?
Dragon fruit can take a variety of times to bear fruit. While plants cultivated in containers may take up to two years to bear fruit, others can begin to flower as soon as six or eight months. The upside is that the plant can yield fruit four to six times a year once it reaches maturity. Moreover, a fully grown plant has the potential to yield fruit for up to 30 years, giving plenty of chances for a steady crop.
The dragon fruit market
In Pakistan, dragon fruit is growing in popularity, and there is a growing market for this unusual fruit. The fruit can be sold in its fresh form or processed to make jam and juice, among other items. Although the dragon fruit business in Pakistan is still in its infancy, there is a growing appetite for this tasty and nutritious fruit.
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