Dragon fruits benefits for diabetes

The dragon fruit, also known as Pitaya, is high in nutrients and has numerous health advantages. It contains several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, magnesium, and iron, for example.

Because of its high nutritional value, dragon fruit may be beneficial to diabetics. Dragon fruits have been demonstrated to be beneficial for diabetics in recent studies.

We will talk about the benefits of dragon fruits for people living with diabetes in this article.

What is Dragon fruit?

Dragon fruit is a fruit that grows on the Hylocereus climbing cactus, which can be found in tropical places all over the world. The name “hyle” derives from the Greek word “hyle,” which means “woody,” and “cereus,” which means “waxen.”

It has a distinct look, a sweet flavor, and a crunchy texture. The dragon fruit is high in antioxidants, which are good for your health. Dragon fruit is also high in vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health.

Is dragon fruit good for diabetes?

The effect of dragon fruit on glycemic control in prediabetes and diabetes type 2 was investigated in a study. After consuming dragon fruit, the group with type 2 diabetes saw no drop in blood sugar levels.

Pre-diabetics, on the other hand, had a lower Fasting Plasma Glucose -FPG (blood sugar level of 15.1 mg/dl). As a result of the drop in blood sugar levels, dragon fruit is particularly beneficial to patients with prediabetes.

Prediabetes is a warning sign that you may develop diabetes if your eating habits and lifestyle do not improve. It was also discovered that the more dragon fruit you ate, the lower your FPG % was.

Also, previous animal research has suggested a link between dragon fruit consumption and better diabetes control, according to the paper. This is because dragon fruit promotes the proliferation of insulin-producing pancreatic cells.

Several clinical trials comparing the effects of dragon fruit vs placebo in persons with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes were examined. The dragon fruit had a substantial effect on fasting plasma glucose in persons with prediabetes, according to the scientists.

They also discovered that the bigger the amount of dragon fruit consumed, the better the blood sugar benefits.

The study, however, found no link between eating dragon fruit and better type 2 diabetes control.

Health benefits of dragon fruit for diabetics

Just as dragon fruit is good for people with diabetes in controlling their blood sugar levels, it also has other benefits that can improve the overall health of diabetes patients. Below are a few health benefits of dragon fruits.

Highly nutritional

Dragon fruit is low in calories but high in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and betacyanins.

Could Aid in the Treatment of Chronic Illness

Free radicals are unstable chemicals that destroy cells, resulting in inflammation and disease. Eating antioxidant-rich foods like dragon fruit is one approach to combat this.

Antioxidants prevent cell damage and inflammation by neutralizing free radicals. Antioxidant-rich diets may help prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis, according to research.

Vitamin C, Betalains, and Carotenoids are just a few of the powerful antioxidants found in dragon fruit. Importantly, antioxidants are most effective when consumed organically in food rather than as a prescription or supplement.

Promotes Gut Health

The formation of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which is linked to a healthy gastrointestinal system, may be promoted by dragon fruit. There are 100 trillion different microorganisms in your stomach, including over 400 different bacteria species.

Many scientists feel that this microbial ecosystem has an impact on your health. In both human and animal research, gastrointestinal abnormalities have been linked to illnesses such as asthma and heart disease.

Due to the presence of prebiotics in dragon fruit, it may help to increase the balance of healthy bacteria in your stomach. (Prebiotics are a form of fiber that aids in the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.)

This, therefore, makes dragon fruits beneficial for people living with diabetes since one of the major problems that diabetics face are the health complications like heart disease and buccal infections.

Immune System Strengthening

The high vitamin C and carotenoid content of dragon fruit may have immune-boosting qualities. Several factors, including the quality of your nutrition, influence your body’s ability to fight infection.

Dragon fruit contains vitamin C and carotenoids, which may help boost the immune system of a diabetic and prevent infection by preserving your white blood cells from harm.

Your immune system’s white blood cells attack and destroy dangerous things. They are, nonetheless, particularly vulnerable to free radical damage.

Vitamin C and carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals and protect your white blood cells from injury.

Dragon Fruit: How to Eat It

While the thick, leathery skin of the dragon fruit can be daunting, eating it is relatively straightforward. Green is the color of unripe dragon fruit. Look for one with vivid red color.

Some spots are normal, but if there are too many bruise-like splotches, it’s overripe.

Dragon fruit may be sliced and eaten with little effort. To eat, follow these instructions:

• By pushing on the dragon fruit’s outer peel, you can tell if it’s ripe. If the peel yields slightly when pressed, the fruit is ripe.
• Cut the dragon fruit lengthwise in half. If desired, cut the fruit into four sections once more. This may make it easier to remove the peel.
• Remove the outer peel and any leftover pink parts of the fruit and discard. These are edible; however, they have a bitter taste.
• Eat the dragon fruit’s flesh, including the little black seeds. These include fiber, which can enhance the health advantages of dragon fruit consumption.
• To enhance the flavor of the fruit, some people squeeze lime juice over it. Dragon fruit can also be chilled, grilled, or blended into a variety of meals for a nutritious and delectable meal.
• While most people avoid eating the skin because of its harsh flavor, other individuals pickle it and eat it alone or in a salad. Additional flavonoids, which are antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties, are added as a result.

Health risks of dragon fruit

Although studies have shown occasional allergy responses, dragon fruit is typically safe to eat. Swelling of the tongue, hives, and vomiting are all symptoms. This type of reaction appears to be extremely uncommon.

If you consume enough red dragon fruit, your pee may become pink or crimson. This symptom appears to be more serious than it is. If you consume a lot of beets, the same thing can happen. Once the fruit has passed through your system, your pee should return to its regular hue.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How to Keep Dragon Fruit Fresh

Keep any leftover dragon fruit in the fridge for up to 5 days in a plastic bag. You can also freeze it for up to three months.

Diabetes red dragon fruit

There are several sorts of dragon fruit, but none are specifically designed for diabetes. Because the red dragon fruit has more antioxidant activity than the white dragon fruit, it may be claimed that it is better. However, there is no solid evidence that this lowers blood sugar levels.

Are the Yellow Dragon Fruits beneficial to diabetics?

People with (pre) diabetes may benefit from yellow dragon fruit. However, in addition to consuming dragon fruit, we recommend that you live a healthy lifestyle.

For example, simply eating dragon fruit will not help you avoid diabetes or excessive blood sugar. However, not just the yellow dragon fruits are more nutritious or beneficial to those with (pre)diabetes; the other colors (pink, red, white, and so on) are also very nutritious and beneficial.

Summary

Dragon fruit is a delicious fruit with a lot of health benefits for diabetics. Aside from being good for people with diabetes, it has a lot of nutrients and other benefits that improve the overall health of a diabetic person.