Pitaya Fruit, Pitahaya Fruit or commonly known as the Dragon fruit is among the most nutritious and wonderful exotic fruits. It features a mouth watering light sweet taste, an intense shape and color, not forgetting its outstanding flowers. In addition to being tasty and refreshing, this beautiful fruit boasts of a lot of water and other vital minerals with varied nutritional ingredients.

Due to its vital nutrients, the Pitaya fruit is suitable for all diets as it supplements fiber which is best for laxative and the liver. Similarly, people who have high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity have attested to the fruit's goodness. Recent findings show that if an obese person eats a Pitaya fruit on a regular basis, it naturally reduces the weight considerably, creating a well balanced body without compromising on the individual's health.

The History of the dragon fruit

The dragonfruit is native to Central America and requires a warm climate thus prospering well in semi-arid areas. Planting the fruit has very high prospects since it's industrially used in juices, making wine and flavorings, not forgetting its medicinal value. The fruit originates from the dragon fruit cactus plant, which usually appears like vines. Unlike day pollination done by bees, this nutritious and tasty fruit blooms at night where pollination is caused by nocturnal living things such as bats and moths.

Eating the Dragon Fruit

You can stay healthy by eating a dried or fresh Pitaya. You can slice the pitaya like a papaya, blend in a smoothie and eat with lime or lemon or better still add to your fresh fruit salad. For people suffering from diabetes, a dry or fresh Pitaya guarantees one of blood glucose control. In Taiwan for instance, the Pitaya fruit is used by diabetics to substitute food for rice and to enhance the fiber content of the diet. Basically, a dry dragonfruit has about 10 times the punch of a fresh one, with an amazing chewy feel. All the necessary and important dietary fiber, micro nutrients and vitamin C are still in abundance in a dried dragonfruit as well as the fresh one.

Equally available in affluent in a dragonfruit is phytoalbumins which are vital and known world over for the antioxidants they possess which usually help in the prevention of the formation of free radicals that cause cancer. Equally available in affluent in a dragonfruit is phytoalbumins which are vital and known world over for the antioxidants they possess which usually help in the prevention of the formation of free radicals that cause cancer.

Importance of eating a Pitaya fruit

    * Carotene helps maintain and equally improve the health of the eyes.
    * The fiber enhances digestion in our bodies, equally reducing fat.
    * The protein component of the pitaya fruit enhances the body's metabolism
    * Calcium reinforces bones and aid in formation of healthy teeth
    * Vitamin B2 acts as a multi vitamin to recover and improve loss appetite
    * Vitamin B1 assists in production of energy as well as metabolizing carbohydrates
    * Vitamin B3 lowers bad cholesterol level and enhances the appearance of the skin by moisturizing and smoothening it.
    * Vitamin C ensures bruises and cuts heal faster and improves the general immune system of our bodies
    * Phosphorus aids in tissue formation.