All About Amazing Dragon Fruit! Health Benefits & More

Are you stuck in a food rut?

We have a fix for that: the dragon fruit (aka pitaya).

Vibrant and nutritious, the dragon fruit is unlike any food you’ve ever seen. First, the name is cool. Second, the leather-like skin and prominent scaly spikes give the exterior psychedelic vibes.

At first glance, you may think this exotic fruit should be in Alice in Wonderland. You’re right — it should.

Open a dragon fruit up, and you’ll discover reddish-white flesh that’s juicy and covered with black seeds (which you can eat). Take a bite, and you’ll notice the sweet, refreshing flavor of this tropical fruit. It tastes like a blended pear and kiwi with an added touch of sweetness.

Want to learn more about the amazing dragon fruit?

Read on. In this article, we’ll cover:

• How to eat dragon fruit
• The health benefits of dragon fruit
• Where to buy dragon fruit (including travel destinations where dragon fruit is available)

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How to Eat Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit comes from the cactus Hylocereus, which primarily grows in tropical Asia, Mexico, Central America, and South America. With its pink-red skin and dragon-like spikes, the fruit may appear difficult to eat. However, it’s quite simple.

But before we cover how to eat dragon fruit, let’s go over how to make sure your dragon fruit is ready to eat. Obviously, when shopping for the fruit, avoid ones with bruises, brown marks, and other issues. And if it’s firm when you buy it, experts suggest letting it ripen on your counter for a few days. Once the fruit is soft and tender (but not mushy), it’s ready to eat.

A Step-by-Step Overview on How to Eat Dragon Fruit

1. Grab a chef’s knife. You can’t cut this fruit with a small butter knife!
2. Cut the fruit right down the center. Then, cut both pieces in half so you have 4 pieces.
3. Peel off the exterior on each piece. This ‘shell’ should come off smoothly using your hand. If it doesn’t, use a spoon to scoop off the fruit or a knife to cut out pieces of the exterior that stay on the fruit.
4. Dice your dragon fruit into sweet little spheres (or whatever shape you like).

Note: The seeds are edible. The exterior is NOT edible.

As you can see, learning how to eat dragon fruit isn’t complicated. You just need a knife, spoon, and some patience to make sure the pitaya is ripe and ready to eat. You can even skip steps 3 and 4 above and use a spoon to scoop out chunks of the fruit. The exterior can literally function like a bowl for the fruit flesh.

Now that you know how to eat dragon fruit, you may wonder what foods it compliments well. Here are some ideas:

• Make a fruit salad with other tropical fruits, such as mango and pineapple.
• Pair it with mahi-mahi or any other grilled fish.
• Put it in your morning yogurt alongside nuts.
• Use it as one of your smoothie ingredients.
• Eat it alone! It’s nutritious and delicious.

Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is an excellent source of fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. It’s also fat-free and low in calories.

According to WebMD, a 6-ounce serving of dragon fruit has:

• 102 calories
• 0 grams of fat
• 13 grams of sugar
• 5 grams of fiber
• 2 grams of protein
• 22 grams of carbohydrates
• 31 milligrams of calcium
• 68 milligrams of magnesium
• 4 milligrams of vitamin C
• 100 international units of vitamin A
• 1 gram of iron

Given all the nutrients in dragon fruit, your body and mind will benefit from eating it. Lots of studies are being done to understand all the benefits of dragon fruit. From promoting skin health to reducing inflammation, it’s clear dragon fruit can boost your health in a myriad of ways.

Here’s a quick list of the dragon fruit’s main health benefits:

Immune Support

Rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, dragon fruit boosts your immune system and neutralizes free radicals (which can damage your cells and cause diseases like cancer).

Improved Cardiovascular Health

Dragon fruit contains heart-healthy fiber and antioxidants. The seeds are rich in healthy fatty acids that benefit the heart, like omega-3. Additionally, iron in dragon fruit helps give you energy and transport oxygen through your body.

Gut Benefits

Dragon fruit contains prebiotics (which feed probiotics). Studies have shown dragon fruit thus promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut. This improves gut health and boosts your digestive system.

Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Since dragon fruit is packed with antioxidants, eating it helps you replace your pancreas’ damaged cells. This helps with producing insulin and breaking down sugar better. This is why the Defeat Diabetes Foundation says dragon fruit is potentially useful for type 2 diabetes management or prevention.*

Where to Buy Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit has become increasingly popular, and should even be available in larger supermarkets in your hometown. For instance, Kroger and Whole Foods in the United States typically have dragon fruit in stock at locations in large urban areas. You can also check farmer’s markets.

Another option is to visit a local Asian market or Latin American grocery store. Since the dragon fruit is native to Asia, Mexico, Central America, and South America, specialty shops with foods from those areas should have the fruit in stock.

You can also buy dragon fruit online. Amazon and Walmart allow you to order dragon fruit on their sites. You can also support smaller fruit stores online, such as Melissa’s Produce and Miami Fruit.

And of course, if you’re traveling in Costa Rica, Thailand, or another country where dragon fruit grows, pick up a few from a fruit stand or store.

It’s Time to Crack Open a Dragon Fruit

Now you know all about the pitaya (aka dragon fruit). You know how to eat the dragon fruit, its health benefits, and where to buy it.

There are only two things left to do: Buy some dragon fruit and eat it!

About the Author

Nick Callos has always had a passion for reading, writing, and discovering the new and unknown. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Boston College. He currently splits his time between his hometown, Chengdu, China, and the open road. A full-time travel writer, Nick hopes his work can inspire others to explore the world more deeply and enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle.

Featured image via Unsplash.

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