Surprising Benefits Of Dragon Fruit You Never Knew

With its distinct skin and sweet flavor, it’s hard to pass up this exotic fruit. Not only its fun to eat, but dragon fruit is also rich in nutrients that may protect you from cancer, making it an anti-cancer food. Its exotic look may scare you away, but its sweet and juicy taste will keep you coming back for more. You can find it in most grocery stores. Like other fruits, the dragon fruit is low in calories and a good source of essential nutrients you need for good health.

Dragon Fruit Benefits

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Good for the Waistline

Low in calories and filling, dragon fruit makes a good choice for anyone watching his calories. One small dragon fruit, weighing 198 grams, has just 60 calories. With only 0.3 calories per gram, the dragon fruit has a very low energy density, which means it has very few calories compared to its serving size. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says filling your diet with more low-energy-dense foods can help you lose weight and make it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight.

  Fiber

Dragon fruit as an anti-cancer food, it also contains nutrients that also help to reduce risk. Although not significantly high in fiber, one dragon fruit contains 1 g of fiber. Fiber in fruit helps move food through your digestive tract, bulks stool and aids in elimination, which helps remove potential cancer-causing toxins. You should aim for 20 g to 37 g of fiber a day.

Antioxidants

Dragon fruit is also rich in antioxidants, including beta carotene and vitamin C. Antioxidants are nutrients in food that protect your cells from damage by unstable substances called free radicals. The damage to your cells caused by these free radicals can lead to cancer. Including more antioxidant-rich foods like dragon fruit in your diet may offer protection against cancer. However, more research is necessary to further investigate the benefits of antioxidants against cancer before formal recommendations can be made.

 

Source:  http://www.livestrong.com/