The Dragon Fruit is being hailed as the super fruit of 2013, adding yet another wonderful weapon in our arsenal to battle disease and premature aging. While some say goji berries and acai are so yesterday, that’s hardly the truth either as those super fruits also pack a punch when it comes to nutrition, but it’s always nice to add a little variety and try something new!
What makes the dragon fruit a little unique, also referred to as the Pitaya or pitahaya, is that this fascinating fruit from South America is even being prescribed by Thailand physicians to regulate blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. Food as medicine, whenever possible, is always a good thing!
While western medicine hasn’t yet verified these claims just yet, there are other health benefits that have been confirmed, and a study published in 2010 in Pharmacognosy Research found that dragon fruit extract given to diabetic patients was shown to decrease aortic stiffness and blood pressure as well as increase antioxidants in their blood.
The dragon fruit provides a mega-dose of vitamin C and is thought to lower cholesterol with its tiny black seeds as an excellent source of omega-3s, in addition to being packed with antioxidants that enhance the skin, prevent the formation of carcinogenic free-radicals and lower blood pressure
This intensely colorful fruit derived from a South American cactus has a rosy-pink hue that also looks fabulous on your plate – so what does it taste like you ask?
On its own it’s a little bland but mixed with yogurt – plain Greek yogurt preferably, of course, it becomes a rich tasting healthy dessert.
If you want to create a unique and nutrition packed dessert, cut the dragon fruit in half and scoop out the flesh and put it into your blender. Add some fresh, organic strawberries or raspberries and 1 to 1 ½ cups of Greek yogurt. Blend quickly and pour it into the hallowed shell. Not only does it look amazing, the taste is sweet, rich and delectable!
Have you tried dragon fruit?
– The Alternative Daily
