What are the established advantages of consuming dragon fruit?

Dragon fruit is the fruit of a diverse group of cactus species, with a distinctive look, pleasant sweetness, and crisp texture. This fruit is rich in several antioxidants that are advantageous for maintaining good health, as well as numerous essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall bodily wellness.

As per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Trusted Source, a 100-gram serving of dragon fruit (which is approximately the size of one fruit) provides the following nutritional content:

Calories: 60
Protein: 1.18 g
Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 12.94 g
Dietary fiber: 2.9 g
Sugars (total): 7.65 g
Calcium: 18 milligrams (mg)
Iron: 0.74 g
Sodium: 0 mg
Vitamin C: 2.5 mg
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Betacyanins and betaxanthins, two types of antioxidants, have been found in dragon fruit, as per a study published in the African Journal of Biotechnology.

Betacyanins and betaxanthins can effectively inhibit free radicals from inflicting additional harm.

A study published in the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences indicates that the antioxidant properties of dragon fruit can aid in the prevention of inflammatory ailments such as gout and different types of arthritis.

Improved regulation of blood sugar levels.

The effects of dragon fruit consumption on regulating blood sugar levels in individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes were investigated in a meta-analysis published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The aforementioned article states that animal studies conducted earlier suggested a possible association between the consumption of dragon fruit and improved management of diabetes. This is thought to be due to the fact that dragon fruit can stimulate the growth of insulin-producing pancreatic cells.

Several clinical trials that compared the impact of dragon fruit with a placebo on individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes were evaluated in the analysis. The authors of the study concluded that dragon fruit had a significant impact on fasting plasma glucose levels in individuals with prediabetes. Additionally, they discovered that the blood sugar benefits increase with the amount of dragon fruit consumed.

Abundant in essential vitamins and minerals

The World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has reported that dragon fruit is a rich source of the following nutrients:

magnesium
phosphorus
potassium
vitamin A
vitamin C
zinc
Dragon fruit also provides the body with adequate amounts of calcium and copper, both of which are vital for maintaining good health, albeit in lesser quantities.

In addition to its delightful taste, dragon fruit can serve as a highly nutritious source of food.