Dragon Fruit is said to have originated in the tropical and subtropical forests of Mexico and Central and South America. Gradually, the fruit spread to other tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Currently, Dragon Fruit is cultivated in at least 22 countries including Australia, China, Israel, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. According to some accounts, the French took the fruit from Nicaragua and Colombia, while other accounts state that the French brought it with them from Guyana (South America) in 1870 as an ornamental plant. In fact, the French introduced the fruit to Vietnam over a hundred years ago. Today, Vietnam is the world's leading exporter of Dragon Fruit, with revenues from Dragon Fruit making up 55 percent of the country's fruit export turnover. The fruit is popular across Southeast Asia. It is increasingly being cultivated in several countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Israel, northern Australia, southern China, the Philippines and Hawaii.
Legend has it that the Dragon fruit was created ages ago by a fire breathing dragon. Whenever the Dragon breathed fire, it would end with the fruit tailing the fire: hence the name 'DRAGON FRUIT'. In the course of a violent battle, when the dragon breathed fire, and as soon as the fruit emerged, the beast was instantly slain by a large contingent of soldiers. The triumphant soldiers picked up the fruit and proudly presented it to their King as a coveted treasure. The soldiers then celebrated their victory by slaughtering the dragon and devouring its flesh. It was believed that those who feasted on the dragon's flesh would be endowed with the strength and ferocity of the dragon and that they too would be coveted by the king. It is possible that the story graced popular folklore at the time when the pitaya was first introduced to Asia from South America, perhaps in an effort to create an impression that this exotic fruit was their own. Whatever the story, the exciting legend of the Dragon Fruit certainly adds to the marketing narrative of this truly exotic and mysterious fruit.
There are three main varieties depending on its appearence.
1. Excellent to munch : The amount of cholesterol in dragon fruit is safe, which makes it a great snack food to munch on. Not only that, but it also has a lot of fibre, so you can snack on it without feeling bad about it.
Fiber-rich foods make you feel full because fibres take longer for our bodies to break down. They stay in your stomach longer and keep you feeling fuller for longer. So, dragon fruit makes you feel full for a long time and gives your body healthy nutrients.
2. Packed with antioxidants : The antioxidants betacyanins and betaxanthins are found in large amounts in dragon fruit. Not only does the pulp have antioxidants, but so does the skin.
Free radicals are things that cause damage to cells. Antioxidants are able to cancel out the effects of free radicals. Once free radicals are neutralised, they can't hurt the body.
Taking antioxidants every day is good for the body in many ways, such as lowering the risk of cancer and heart disease. It is one of the best ways to stay healthy over the long term.
3. Helpful for keeping blood sugar levels in check : People with diabetes need to pay close attention to what they eat. Everything they eat has a direct effect on their bodies. So, they need to watch what they eat.
A meta-analysis found that people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes who ate dragon fruit had better control over their blood glucose levels. Dragon fruit may cause the pancreatic cells that make insulin to grow, so it keeps blood sugar levels from getting too high. Insulin is the chemical in the body that controls how much sugar is in the blood so that the body can work best.
4. A good source of vitamins and minerals : Dragon fruit is full of healthy things. It is a good source of both carbs and minerals and vitamins that your body needs. It has a good amount of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc, which are all minerals. Small amounts of calcium and copper are also in it.
It lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke because it has a lot of magnesium. Also, since magnesium is needed by the body for many functions, it helps the body do everyday tasks more efficiently.
Vitamin-wise, it has a lot of vitamin A and vitamin C. There are also small amounts of other vitamins. This fruit is not only tasty, but it is also good for you.
5. A Good Source of Iron : The fact that dragon fruit is high in iron and also has a lot of vitamin C makes it a great fruit to eat when you don't have enough iron. It has been shown to work to raise the number of red blood cells and haemoglobin in the body. Hemoglobin is a part of the blood that moves oxygen from one place in the body to another. With more oxygen, all the parts of the body can work better and stay healthy.
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