What are the medicinal benefits of eating PITAHAYA?
Pitahaya benefits and health properties
If the benefits of pitahaya stand out for something, it is because of its great contribution of Vitamin C, helping to strengthen the immune system thanks to its antioxidant action. Antioxidants increase resistance to infections and help destroy free radicals in the body, thus reducing the risk of suffering from cardiovascular, degenerative diseases or cancer. The presence of antioxidants such as phenols, betacyanins and betalains multiply its ability to absorb free radicals.
Its high levels of vitamins B1, B2 and B3 help hydrate the skin and fight skin diseases.
It is a very hydrating fruit due to its high water content, used to combat fluid retention.
Pitahaya is a fruit that provides very few calories, due to its low carbohydrate content, which makes it ideal to combine with other fruits with more nutrients. It increases the absorption of iron in combination with other foods, recommending its consumption in cases of iron deficiency anemia.
More benefits of pitahaya
Dragon fruit is a good source of fiber, which greatly regulates the digestive system. Its consumption is recommended as a complement in the treatment of digestive diseases such as irritable colon or gastritis, but it is not recommended for people with diverticulosis since the seeds can remain in the diverticula.
Pitahaya seeds are edible, rich in fiber and contain fatty acids. They provide low levels of protein and fat, most of them being of the monounsaturated type.
Recent studies have recognized the presence of a substance called captin capable of regulating the muscular contractions of the heart, helping to combat arrhythmias and cardiac accidents.
How to preserve and ripen Pitahaya?
The benefits of dragon fruit can be enjoyed for a long time. It is a fruit that can be stored in the refrigerator for weeks and can last for several days at room temperature.
As it matures, its skin turns from green to pink and its green leaves tend to dry out and turn brown.
Its characteristic and spectacular skin is thick so it resists inclement weather so that the pulp remains in good condition.
We can enjoy a ripe pitahaya when its skin is completely pink, knowing that the pulp will be perfectly fine even though the leaves are dry and deteriorated.
It can be said that it is a pink tropical fruit, which always stands out for this color over most of the rest of the fruits.
How to prepare and eat Pitahaya?
The best way to eat dragon fruit is as fresh fruit.
Cut it in half with a knife and eat the pulp along with its seeds with the help of a spoon. You can also cut it into 4 segments and remove the skin by hand as if it were an orange peel.
If we want round slices, we remove the top and bottom part and after cutting the skin lengthwise, we remove it.
Combines very well in fruit salads and salads. To give an original and exotic touch we can add it to smoothies, ice cream or make jams.
Pink-fleshed pitahaya can be used as a natural colorant in baking, cooking and cocktails to tint gin and tonics.