If you’ve spent any time in the exotic fruits section of the supermarket, you’ve probably noticed a vibrant magenta fruit that you haven’t quite had the nerve to try. This exotic fruit is actually native to America, and it is known as dragon fruit or pitaya at your local acai bowl shop.
Dragon fruit is not just a beautiful piece of produce to add to your counter, it is also super healthy! Read on to learn all you need to know about the health benefits of dragon fruit.
- It Is Nutrient Dense
Dragon fruit is a nutritional powerhouse! A one-cup serving yields 3 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, 18% of the RDI for magnesium, and 9% of the RDI for vitamin C. It also features beneficial nutrients like carotenoids and polyphenols.
Don’t have the time to buy and cut up dragon fruit to add to your diet? Consider adding dragon fruit powder to your morning acai bowl! It packs all the nutrient benefits and contains even more fiber than the whole fruit.
- It Can Help Lower Blood Glucose Levels
Around 34 million Americans currently live with diabetes. One of the best ways to make sure you stay healthy with diabetes is to stay on top of your blood glucose levels. This requires a healthy diet and plenty of exercise.
If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, then you might be surprised to learn that dragon fruit is actually a great addition to your diet if you’re trying to keep your blood glucose levels in check. Dragon fruit is absolutely loaded with antioxidants that help repair damaged cells in your pancreas, thereby helping you produce insulin and increasing your sensitivity to it.
- Boost Your Gut Health
Anyone who has ever struggled with gastrointestinal issues can tell you treatments are worth their weight in gold. If you’re one of the millions of people trying to keep your gut in shape, then you should definitely add dragon fruit to your diet.
Dragon fruit contains prebiotics — a type of fiber that helps your gut grow healthy bacteria. Healthy bacteria in your gut break down the fiber and use the energy from the fiber to grow. Regular consumption of prebiotic fiber can help prevent things like diarrhea and reduce your risk of gut infection.
- Improve Your Skin Health
When it comes to your skin, you are what you eat.
Dragon fruit is a fantastic source of all kinds of nutrients that help improve the health and appearance of your skin. Consume dragon fruit for its high vitamin C and lycopene content to reduce signs of aging and give yourself a glow-up. Apply it topically for added moisture and acne reduction.
Loved Learning About the Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit?
As you can tell, the health benefits of dragon fruit are limitless. Not only do pack a punch in terms of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but they can also help keep diabetes at bay and keep your gut in check. If you haven’t already added dragon fruit to your diet, then there’s no better time than now!
Do you want to learn more awesome ways you can look and feel your best? We can help you out with that. Check out the rest of our blog for all of the latest in health and fitness.
