One of my favorite fruits is the beautiful dragon fruit, which I am so grateful to be able to find easily here in Hawai’i. It is now grown all over the world, and loves hot tropical climates. This cactus plant fruit comes with a bright pink or yellow flesh, and either white or pink inside fruit.
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Dragon Fruit Origins:
Dragon fruit is native to southern Mexico and Central America, and grows on a cactus. It grows on the Hylocereus cactus. It is also called pitaya, or strawberry pear, and the flowers only bloom at night. The “scales” of this fruit somewhat resemble a dragon, and I believe the flower of this fruit is the most beautiful i’ve ever seen.
Is Dragon Fruit Good for You?
Absolutely. It can be considered a superfruit due to its ability to reduce the risk of cancer in the body. According to Healthline, in every one cup of this cactus fruit there is 3 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, 9% of the RDI of Vitamin C, 8% of the RDI of Iron, 4% of the RDI of Vitamin E, and 18% of the RDI of Magnesium.
Healthline also reports that dragon fruit contains several types of potent antioxidants, including Carotenoids; Beta-carotene and lycopene. This is what gives the fruit the ability to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.
To read about other fruits i’ve written about that prevent cancer, such as soursop, click here.
Cost of Dragon Fruit:
If you buy Pitaya from the grocery store, it can go for about $4-$8 a lb. The cheapest place to buy it (with the most nutrients intact) is the farmer’s market. You can also check the frozen section of your local store for this amazing fruit.
Taste and Texture:
The fruit is mild tasting and sweet when ripe. The texture is somewhat like a kiwi. The red version will stain anything it touches, so be careful! It’s a very juicy and delicious fruit.
How to Eat:
Not many people realize how intense the pricks from the plant and fruit are, because they are usually taken out by the time they are purchased. Straight from the plant, though, you need to be extremely careful. Wear gloves when harvesting or dealing with this plant off the cactus, or when transplanting cuttings.
Don’t eat the skin, remove it. Cut the fruit the same way you would an apple, and enjoy! It’s delicious frozen and used in a smoothie, in a fruit salad, or to compliment any meal or dessert.
As always, I hope this was helpful! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried the tasty dragon fruit!
All my love,