Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that is becoming increasingly popular not only in our country but also around the world. Most of us enjoy dragon fruit for its beautiful appearance, unique flavor, and the abundant health benefits it offers.
According to Dr. Pavithra N Raj, Head of the Nutrition Department at Manipal Hospital in Yeshwanthpur, Karnataka, India: Dragon fruit is a fruit rich in properties such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It also contains fiber and has a low glycemic index, making it effective in helping control blood sugar levels.
Moreover, dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants. According to WebMD, betalains found in the flesh of red dragon fruit have been shown to protect the body from the risk of bad cholesterol attacks. Hydroxycinnamates in dragon fruit are active compounds proven to be effective against cancer. The abundant flavonoids in this fruit help improve brain function while reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Traditional medicine expert Bui Hong Minh (Vice President of the Ba Dinh Traditional Medicine Association in Hanoi) also notes that in traditional medicine, dragon fruit has a sweet and slightly sour taste and is considered a cooling fruit, effective in clearing heat. In addition to being eaten raw, it can also be used to make delicious and nutritious desserts and salads.
Red dragon fruit is also known for its cancer-fighting properties. Its vibrant red color indicates that it is packed with plant nutrients, including antioxidants. These substances help combat free radicals that can damage your cells and even lead to cancer.
Ancient beauty rituals in Southeast Asian countries often involve applying dragon fruit pulp to the face to help slow down the aging process and keep women looking youthful.
This is why many people have a deep, irreplaceable love for dragon fruit. However, life has an unchanging principle: “too much of anything is not good.” Therefore, do not assume that eating a lot of dragon fruit will automatically make you beautiful and healthy from the inside out.
Dragon fruit has a sweet and slightly sour taste, considered a cooling fruit with heat-clearing properties.
Here are some taboos to keep in mind when eating dragon fruit; be sure to follow these guidelines if you don’t want to turn this delicious and beautiful fruit into poison!
Diarrhea patients, those with a cold constitution, and women during menstruation should avoid dragon fruit
According to traditional medicine expert Bui Hong Minh, diarrhea patients or women with a cold constitution or who are about to menstruate should not eat this fruit. The reason is that individuals with a cold constitution often suffer from diarrhea, fatigue in their limbs, and pale complexions, and consuming dragon fruit indiscriminately can worsen these conditions.
Similarly, women who are always cold or are about to menstruate need to be particularly cautious, as eating dragon fruit during this time can lead to a colder abdomen and exacerbate menstrual symptoms, harming health.
Although dragon fruit is very good for health, it is also a fruit high in potassium. Therefore, individuals with chronic kidney disease who need to limit potassium intake should avoid this fruit.
Not chewing thoroughly before swallowing
Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly is a fundamental eating principle. When consuming dragon fruit, you must adhere to this principle. Many people diligently eat dragon fruit because they know that the tiny black seeds in this fruit are very healthy. However, most of us do not chew these seeds well enough to break them down.
Dragon fruit seeds are rich in beneficial fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6.
According to Health, dragon fruit seeds are rich in beneficial fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, which help lower bad cholesterol and improve the strength of blood vessel walls. The outer shell of dragon fruit seeds is relatively hard to break down, even when they are inside the stomach and being digested. Consequently, most of them “exit” without providing any nutrition due to many people’s habits of eating quickly and swallowing.
To prevent this situation, you need to pay attention to chew each small piece of dragon fruit slowly to break the seeds open so that your body can absorb the nutrients from inside the seeds. You can also use a blender to puree dragon fruit to maximize the nutritional value from this fruit.
Not washing the skin of dragon fruit before eating
Many people believe that the skin of dragon fruit is thick and does not have the ability to “absorb” pests, so it is safe and rarely at risk of pesticide contamination. For this reason, many people carelessly skip washing the fruit before eating.
According to experts, this is actually not good. Although the skin of dragon fruit is thick and we only eat the flesh, there is still a possibility of chemical contamination when handling the fruit, which could introduce toxins into the flesh that goes into our mouths.
It is best to wash this fruit thoroughly before eating, just like any other fruit, to avoid bringing trouble upon ourselves.
Additionally, red dragon fruit should not be eaten with hawthorn, as hawthorn has a sour taste that, when eaten together with dragon fruit, can cause indigestion, stomach pain, and bloating.
