What is dragon fruit and does it have health benefits?

Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Though people primarily enjoy it for its unique look and taste, evidence suggests it may provide health benefits as well.

This article takes a look at dragon fruit, including its nutrition, benefits, and how to eat it. What Is Dragon Fruit? Dragon fruit grows on the Hylocereus cactus, also known as the Honolulu queen, whose flowers only open at night.

The plant is native to southern Mexico and Central America. Today, it is grown all over the world. It goes by many names, including pitaya, pitahaya, and strawberry pear.

The two most common types have bright red skin with green scales that resemble a dragon – hence the name.

The most widely available variety has white pulp with black seeds, though a less common type with red pulp and black seeds exists as well.

Another variety-referred to as yellow dragon fruit- has yellow skin and white pulp with black seeds.

Dragon fruit may look exotic, but its flavors are similar to other fruits. Its taste has been described as a slightly sweet cross between a kiwi and a pear.

Nutrition Facts?

Dragon fruit is a low-calorie fruit that is high in fiber and provides a good amount of several vitamins and minerals.

Provides Several Antioxidants

Dragon fruit contains several types of antioxidants. These are compounds that protect your cells from unstable molecules called free radicals, which are linked to chronic diseases and aging (2Trusted Source).

These are some of the main antioxidants contained in dragon fruit pulp (3Trusted Source):

Betalains :Found in the pulp of red dragon fruit, these deep red pigments have been shown to protect “bad” LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized or damaged (4Trusted Source).

Hydroxycinnamates: This group of compounds has demonstrated anticancer activity in test-tube and animal studies (5Trusted Source).

Flavonoids: This large, diverse group of antioxidants is linked to better brain health and a reduced risk of heart disease (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

One study compared the antioxidant properties of 17 tropical fruits and berries.

While dragon fruit’s antioxidant capacity was not especially high, it was found to be best at protecting certain fatty acids from free radical damage (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).

Potential Health Benefits.

Animal studies suggest that dragon fruit may improve insulin resistance, liver fat, and heart health. However, the results of human studies are inconsistent.

Adverse Effects.

Overall, dragon fruit appears to be safe. However, people may develop an allergic reaction in some rare cases.

In two cases, women with no history of food allergies developed anaphylactic reactions after consuming a fruit mixture that contained dragon fruit. Testing confirmed that they had antibodies against dragon fruit in their blood (18, 19).

These are the only two reported allergic reactions at this point, but other people may be allergic to this fruit without knowing it.

How to Eat

Though it may look intimidating, dragon fruit is very easy to eat.

Here’s how to eat dragon fruit:

Select a ripe fruit with bright red, evenly colored skin that gives slightly when squeezed.

Use a sharp knife and cut straight through the fruit, slicing it in half.

You can use a spoon to eat the fruit out of the skin or peel the skin off and slice the pulp into small pieces.

Ideas for serving dragon fruit:

Simply slice it up and eat it as is.

Chop it into small pieces and top with Greek yogurt and chopped nuts.

Include it in a salad.

The Bottom Line

Dragon fruit is a low-calorie fruit that contains less sugar and fewer carbs than many other tropical fruits.

It may offer some health benefits, but human studies are needed to verify this.

Overall, dragon fruit is unique, incredibly tasty, and can add variety to your diet.