Yellow Dragon Fruit

Hylocereus Megalanthus

General Information

The yellow dragon fruit is a mouth watering tropical fruit considered a healthy delicacy for our body. In todays’ consumer market you can find two kinds of dragon fruits: red and yellow. The red ones are more used for decorative purposes and is principally produced in Asia, as where the yellow one is mainly produced in the Americas and is principally appreciated for its exquisite taste.

This fruit was first discovered in a wild form by the European conquerors and named it ‘Pitahaya’, which means ‘squamous fruit’. Today it is also known as dragon fruit, cardo ananás, flor del cáliz,pitaja, pitaya and pitayayá. The wild fruit was originally found in Mexico and Central America where according to Aztec tradition the fruit was already consumed in the early middle ages. In Colombia the yellow dragon fruit is grown between an altitude of 1.400 and 1.700 metres above sea level, with temperatures between 14°C y 26°C. Today this Cactaceae fruit is principally produced in the departments which form the central part of the Colombian Andean: Boyaca, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Huila, Tolima and Valle del Cauca.

Yellow Dragon Fruit

Latin name: Hylocereus Megalanthus
Family plant name: Cactaceae
Origin: South America, Northern Countries

Nutrition Facts
1 servings per container
Serving size 100
Amount per serving
Calories 50
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 10g
Includes 0g Added Sugars 0%
Protein 1.1g
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 8.5mg 1%
Iron 1.9mg 11%
Potassium 2mg 1%
Phosphorus 2.3%
Vitamin B1 2.7%
Vitamin B2 2.9%
Vitamin B3 0.8%
Vitamin C 34.2%
The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Health effects yellow dragon fruit:

 

  1. Numerous healthy nutrients

Pitahaya is a tasty fruit which at the same time has a high number of essential vitamins and minerals and is low in calories. The fruit has an appreciable quantity of good fibres and research has proven that the fruit also contains polyphenols, carotenoids and betacyanins, which can have numerous health benefits.

  1. High fibre content

Natural (fruit) fibres are good for the human body,  a balanced intake may benefit our gut microbiota and hereby have a positive impact on our digestive system and reduce the risks of chronic diseases. The consumption of food high in fibre, diminishes the rate at which sugar is absorbed into our bloodstream, hence it avoids our glucose level from rising too fast.

Health authorities advise a consumption between 25-38 grams of soluble fibres per day. Consuming sufficient amounts of fermentable fibre is important for our good health as it benefits the bacteria who lives in our gut. A balanced intake of fibres is important, because a sudden increase can cause flatulence and stomach discomfort as the bacteria  will ferment. The fibre also cause your body to produce gases. In order to avoid any stomach discomfort, we should increase the intake of fibres gradually and drink sufficient liquids.

  1. Support against chronic diseases

The dragon fruit is rich in antioxidant, which helps combat unstable body cell molecules who are a major cause of cell damage. Scientific research has shown a strong positive correlation between diets high in antioxidants and a lower likelihood of chronic diseases such as: arthritis, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Antioxidants found in fruit,  boost our human immune system and makes it more vital to resist, especially when consumed naturally in food.

Pitahaya contains numerous types of potent antioxidants; such as:

  • Betalains:  There are research indicators, that these element can fight cancer cells and has the ability to suppress the surfacing of oxidative stress
  • Carotenoids: Consumption of food rich in carotenoids: beta-carotene and lycopene seem to cause a reduced risk in heart and cancer disease.
  • Vitamin C: Vitamin C is essential for the human body and studies have shown that vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and may reduce chronic diseases.
  1.  One of the few fruits which contain iron

Iron is an crucial nutrient for our blood production.  One of the main roles of iron is to help our red blood cell tor transport oxygen to all parts of our body. It also plays and important role whitin the cell processes that produce the energy for our body. A lack of iron make cause: hair loss, fatigue and tiredness. About 30% of the total world populations is not consuming sufficient natural iron. Health studies have repeatedly shown that the natural intake of elements is strongly preferable over consumption via food supplements.

Pitahaya is one of the few fruits that contain iron, as it carries about 8% of our recommended daily intake. A perfect option for a careful consumer!

  1.  Boost Magnesium levels

Dragon fruit contains a significant amount of natural magnesium; especially compared to other fruits.

Magnesium is an element that our body requires to remain healthy, as it is important for many processes in our body. These nutrients helps our body to breakdown our food into energy, regulates the muscle and nerve function, has an positive impact on our blood pressure and it is crucial during bone formation and maintenance, as well as the continuous re-production or our DNA.

 

How to consume?

If we only imagine, these fruit comes from the ‘cactus family’ we might not imagine at first sight that behind its leathery skin it contains a smooth, tasty and delicious fruit flesh.

A ripe dragon fruit is easy to distinguish:

  • It should look yellow with some brown spots (the remainders of the plants thorn follicles)
  • Upon touch it should be soft, like avocado and kiwi

How to eat?

  • Simply peal the fruit like a mandarine and bite away
  • Or cut in half in lengthwise and scoop out the fruit with a spoon
  • Cut in cubes to add it to your yogurth, smoothy or salad