Dragon fruit is a plant grown mainly for its fruit and is also the name of several genera of the cactus family .
The fruit of the dragon fruit comes in three varieties, all of which have skin-like skins and a hint of leaves. They have the following scientific names:
- Hylocereus undatus belongs to the genus Hylocereus , white flesh with pink or red skin.
- Hylocereus costaricensis (synonym: Hylocereus polyrhizus) belongs to the genus Hylocereus , red flesh with pink or red skin.
- Hylocereus megalanthus , formerly considered to be in the genus Selenicereus , is white-fleshed with a yellow shell.
- Hylocereus undatus costaricensis belongs to the genus Hylocereus , purple-pink flesh with pink or red skin.
Seeds resembling black sesame seeds lie mixed in the intestines. The fleshy layer in the intestines is usually eaten in the form of fresh fruit, has a mild aroma, is moderately sweet and provides few calories. Its taste is sometimes like that of kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa). Fruit can be processed into juice or wine; The flowers can be eaten or steeped in water like tea. Although their tiny seeds are eaten with the flesh of the fruit, they are not digested. Dragon fruit in Vietnam is also used as a raw material for the production of dragon fruit bread
Nutritional information
Fatty acid composition of two varieties of dragon fruit
|
Hylocereus costaricensis (red flesh dragon fruit) |
Hylocereus undatus (white flesh dragon fruit, red skin) |
|
| Myristic acid | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Palmitic Acid | 17.9% | 17.1% |
| Stearic Acid | 5.49% | 4.37% |
| Palmitoleic Acid | 0.91% | 0.61% |
| Oleic acid | 21.6% | 23.8% |
| Cis-vaccenic acid | 3.14% | 2.81% |
| Linoleic acid | 49.6% | 50.1% |
| Linolenic acid | 1.2% | 0.98% |
Grown in Vietnam
White flesh with pink or red skin is widely grown in provinces such as Binh Thuan, Long An, Tien Giang, etc. Red flesh with red skin is researched and bred by SOFRI Southern Fruit Institute (Dong Hamlet, Long Dinh Commune). , Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province) has now been widely grown and popularized throughout the provinces, concentrated in Binh Thuan, Tien Giang, Long An, Quang Ngai,... Besides, now the purple flesh dragon fruit variety Persimmon was also researched and bred by the Southern Fruit Institute and was also put into mass cultivation.
Health benefits of dragon fruit
- Helps stabilize blood sugar
Dragon fruit has been shown to improve glucose metabolism, keeping blood sugar stable in people with hyperglycemia and diabetes. However, it is a pity that they have not given the amount of dragon fruit required to achieve this effect.
- AIDS digestion
Dragon fruit contains prebiotics, a food for probiotics, beneficial bacteria in the intestinal microflora. The more prebiotics there are, the better the balance of beneficial bacteria and digestion.
- Enhance immunity
This fruit is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that help strengthen the body's immune system.
- Iron supplement
Iron plays an important role in transporting oxygen and providing energy. Dragon fruit contains iron, which helps to provide iron to the body. In particular, dragon fruit also contains vitamin C to help your body better absorb iron.
- Helps with weight control
In the nutritional composition of dragon fruit up to 80% is water, so it has a low calorie content, helping to control weight.
- Prevent cancer and premature aging
Dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolic acids and betacyanin. These natural substances protect the body's cells from damage by free radicals, molecules that can lead to diseases like cancer and premature aging.
