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12 Things You Never Knew About Dragon Fruit (We Love #6)
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Dragon what? If you haven’t heard of it, this might sound like a joke, but there really is a tropical fruit called dragon fruit. This fruit grows in the tropical and subtropical regions throughout Asia and South America. This fruit is appropriately named as the outside skin looks similar to a cactus, with scales that resemble a dragon. The outside might be green and/or reddish in color, but inside the meat of this fruit is creamy white with black seeds.
Sometimes called pitaya, these fun and different looking fruits have only a tiny 60 calories and are possibly one of the best super fruits around.
Dragon fruits are a nice change from the usual apples and bananas. Are you looking for a change of pace? Are you interested in food that has super high nutrition and a whole lot more to offer? Do you like to try new and unusual foods? Then dragon fruit is for you!
Even if you have been enjoying these fruits already, you already know how great they taste, but you might not know how many health benefits these little fruits are giving you with every bite.
Keep reading! We are about to take you on a wonderful journey into dragon fruit land!
1. Stops Acne
You can get teenagers to eat more fruit if you tell them that it will stop acne (besides the fact that this fruit is cool looking). Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C so eating it will automatically improve the skin. Second, they can turn a slice of dragon fruit into a facial. Mash up one fruit (minus the seeds) and apply the paste to the affected areas on the skin. Gently massage it in for a minute or two, and then rinse with water. For best results, use once or twice a day and eat one or two fruits each day. Stopping acne was never so much fun!
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2. It Can Help You Lose Weight
Dragon fruit has a tiny 60 calories in an average sized fruit, but it is big on fiber. This can help you to feel full on fewer calories. Increasing your fiber intake can also improve your metabolic rate, which can help you to lose weight naturally. The sweet taste of dragon fruit can also help to curb that sweet tooth so many of us seem to have.
3. Helps to Suppress Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. This causes intense pain and immobility. Eating more dragon fruit can help you to fight arthritis because it contains natural anti-inflammatories. In fact, dragon fruit’s benefits for those suffering from arthritis are so well-known that in many South American countries, it is commonly called “the anti-arthritis fruit.
4. Fights Diabetes
Dragon fruit is high in fiber, which helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels. This means that dragon fruit can help to curb the spike of sugar that occurs in the body due to certain foods or hormones. Regular consumption of high fiber foods, such as dragon fruit, can help those with diabetes maintain a more normal blood sugar level, which can drastically improve overall health.
5. Reduces the Signs of Aging
Dragon fruit is super rich in important antioxidants, which fight the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are the main contributor to premature aging, especially of the skin. Eating dragon fruit can fight free radical damage and give you more youthful, firmer looking skin.
6. Lowers the Risk of Prostate Cancer
Studies have shown that men who ate a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those containing a substance called lycopene, had a much lower risk of developing prostate cancer. One study showed that tropical fruits, such as dragon fruit, inhibit the human cytochrome P450, which has been linked to a higher risk of several types of cancer including prostate cancer.
7. Incredibly Rich in Nutrition
These funny looking fruits have a surprising number of phytonutrients. Each one contains about 10 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C, several of the B vitamins, super rich in antioxidants, polyunsaturated (healthy fats) fatty acids, protein, and carotene. Dragon fruits also have calcium and phosphorus, both of which are important for healthy bones, blood, and tissue formation. These fruits have zippo when it comes to complex carbs, so foods can be more easily broken down.
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8. Strengthens Your Immunity
Dragon fruit is so full of phytonutrients, antioxidants, not to mention vitamin C; it can’t help but improve your immune system. Regular consumption of dragon fruit will prevent many diseases from taking hold because it keeps your immune system in tip top condition. Numerous studies confirm that eating a diet high in antioxidant rich foods, such as dragon fruit; rid the body of health damaging free radicals. Dragon fruit is higher in antioxidants
9. Reduces the Risk of Heart Attacks
Heart disease and heart attacks is the number one killer in the world. You can lower your risk by eating more foods like dragon fruit. Two major causes of heart attacks are blocked arteries and stress. This fruit can help clear up blocked arteries by lowering bad cholesterol levels and increasing good cholesterol levels. It is also a great source of heart healthy monounsaturated fats, which can help the heart, stay in great condition. Now eating dragon fruit might not be able to lower your stress levels, unless eating a really cool looking fruit calms your nerves, but it certainly won’t hurt anything. Offer one to your boss; maybe they will lighten up.
10. Fights Respiratory Problems
Since dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C, it can help to keep the entire respiratory system free and clear. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system, which can help your body natural fight off viruses like the flu. Keeping the respiratory system strong is also very important to those with asthma, so eat more dragon fruit and breathe deep!
11. Rich in Fiber
Dragon fruit is very high in fiber, which is much more important than many people realize. Fiber feeds the good bacteria in the digestive system, which is where most of your immune system lies. Fiber is also important for removing toxins from the body by stopping constipation and keeping things moving, so to speak. Eating plenty of fiber will keep your entire digestive system clean and has been shown in numerous studies to greatly lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
READ ALSO: 15 Super Foods That Boost Brain Power (#7 Is Too Good To Be True)
12. Helps Your Hair Grow
It’s true! Many people use the juice from dragon fruit to protect their colored hair and to help hair to grow more quickly. Put about two ounces of dragon fruit juice in eight ounces of your favorite conditioner and use as you normally would. Dragon fruit juice opens the hair follicles, allowing the hair to grow faster. It also makes your hair soft and smooth.
If you are tired of eating the same old grapes, apples, and bananas, try some dragon fruit for a nice change. It might cost you a bit more, but the taste so good, it really should cost much more than it does! It’s easiest to eat when you cut it in half and then use a spoon to dig it out. Try one of these beautiful, juicy fruits and you will find yourself craving more.
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