The Most Vibrant, Nutritious And Exotic Fruit That Your Body Will Fall In Love With

First of all, what is pitaya?!

Pitaya (aka Dragonfruit) is an exotic fruit that is native to Central and South America, but particularly harvested in Asian countries like Malaysia and Vietnam, because of the high demand of pitaya in those countries. Pitaya grows on a climbing cactus called hylocereus, which is home to the Americas. The cactus was originally cultivated in southern Mexico, and in both South and Central America. The French brought it to Southeast Asia in the early 19th century.

The fruit comes in both red and yellow-skinned varieties. On the outer part, it has the resemblance of a fuchsia pink or yellow bulb with spike-like green leaves shooting up like fireworks around it. Dark black seeds and flesh that is either white or dark pink will be found inside the fruit, and are safe to ingest. Dragonfruit is juicy with a slightly sugary flavour that some people describe as a cross between a watermelon, kiwi and a pear. The black seeds inside the fruit have a nutty tang.

In Central America, it is referred to as "pitaya". In Asia, it is called "strawberry-pear". Nowadays, you can purchase it in grocery stores in both the US and Canada (e.g. Chinese or South Asian supermarkets in Canada or the US).

How nutritious is pitaya?!

In one 6-ounce serving of cubed pitaya, you'll get:

Calories: 102

Fat: 0 grams

Protein: 2 grams

Carbohydrates: 22 grams

Fiber: 5 grams

Sugars: 13 grams

In addition to the basic nutrients in pitaya, the vitamins and minerals you'll also get are:

Vitamin A: 100 international units (IU)

Vitamin C: 4 milligrams

Calcium: 31 milligrams

Iron: 1 gram

Magnesium: 68 milligrams

What about the health benefits of pitaya consumption?!

Just like all fruits, pitaya is good for both the physical and mental wellbeing of humans. There are a number of phenomenal health benefits that pitaya has to offer, such as:

- It provides many antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolic acid and betacyanin. These antioxidants protect your cells from damage by free radicals- molecules that can increase your risk of diseases like cancer and premature aging.

- It's naturally fat-free and rich in fiber. Pitaya makes a healthy snack alternative to other sweet snacks like cookies, snack cakes and sweetened yogurts, because it will keep you full for longer periods of time, which will lessen the amount of times you snack throughout the day.

- Pitaya can boost your immune system. It's high in vitamin C and many other antioxidants, which are both healthy for the immune system.

- It may help you reduce your glucose levels. According to researchers, this is because it replaces destroyed cells in your pancreas that is responsible for the production of insulin (a hormone that helps your body break down glucose). The studies were done on mice, not on humans. It's ambiguous on how much dragonfruit you'll need to consume to acknowledge the health benefits.

- Pitaya can increase your iron levels. Iron is vital for moving oxygen throughout your body and giving you energy. Dragonfruit has a sufficient amount of iron to boost your energy levels. Also, the amount of vitamin C in dragonfruit helps your body consume and use the iron.

Are there any health risks of eating pitaya?!

Even though dragonfruit is typically safe and healthy to eat, studies have reported allergic reactions. The symptoms include tongue-swelling, hives and vomiting. However, this type of reaction seems to be less common.

If you eat a heap of red dragonfruit, your urine may become pink or red. The symptom looks more shocking than it really is. The same thing can occur when you eat a copious amount of beets. Once the fruit is out of your system, the color of your urine will return to normal.

How do you prepare pitaya?!

Prior to purchasing dragonfruit, squeeze it gently. It should give a bit without feeling too soft or mushy. Don't purchase fruit that consists of bruises or dry leaves, because that's an indication that the fruit is overripe. If the fruit feels hard when you press on it, allow it to ripen on the counter for several days prior to consumption.

To prepare pitaya, cut it into quarters. Either peel away the skin or discard the flesh using a spoon, ice cream spoon or melon baller. Don't ingest the skin.

How do you eat dragonfruit?!

There are a few ways to eat dragonfruit. Toss it into a salad along with other tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple. Add it into a salsa. Churn it into an ice cream. Squeeze it into juice or water. Use it as a topping/add-in for Greek yogurt. Or freeze it to use for a smoothie or milkshake.

How do you store dragonfruit?!

Store any remaining dragonfruit in a plastic bag in the refridgerator for up to 5 days. Or freeze it for up to 3 months.

Thank you so much for reading! My hope is to educate and increase your knowledge/interest in the field of nutrition and healthy eating for long-term wellbeing. After you've given this article a read, you may consider giving pitaya a try! If you liked this article, please like, send me a tip and share this article with others who may be interested. Stay safe, be happy and well!