Not only does it taste delicious, the content of red dragon fruit is also very diverse. Besides being good for meeting your daily nutritional intake, the vitamin and mineral content in red dragon fruit is also good for maintaining a healthy body.
Dragon fruit is one of the fruits that is quite commonly consumed by the people of Indonesia. This fruit has a skin that looks scaly and purplish red or pink. Based on the color of the flesh, dragon fruit consists of 2 types, namely white dragon fruit and red dragon fruit.
You may wonder whether the nutritional content of red dragon fruit is different from that of white dragon fruit. Well, you need to know, even though it has a different flesh color, the nutritional content of dragon fruit is not much different.
Content and Benefits of Red Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a type of fruit that is low in calories. In a serving of dragon fruit (about 100 grams) there are only about 60 calories. This fruit also contains absolutely no fat. However, the nutritional content of dragon fruit is quite high. The following are some of the content in dragon fruit and its benefits for your body's health:
1. Vitamin C
The content of vitamin C in dragon fruit functions as a good antioxidant to protect the body from exposure to free radicals. The content of vitamin C in dragon fruit is also good for stimulating the formation of collagen, maintaining endurance, and helping the absorption of iron so that the body does not lack blood.
2. Vitamin B2 and vitamin B3
In addition to vitamin C, dragon fruit also contains vitamin B2 and vitamin B3. Both of these vitamins play an important role in maintaining the smooth metabolism of the body and maintaining the health of body tissues. Adequate intake of B vitamins is also believed to reduce the risk of several diseases, such as migraines, cataracts, preeclampsia, and heart disease. Vitamin B is also said to play an important role in maintaining the health of the body's nerves.
3. Magnesium
Dragon fruit is one type of fruit that contains a lot of magnesium. Thanks to these ingredients, this fruit can prevent and relieve muscle cramps, increase stamina and performance during exercise, maintain heart health and function, and lower blood pressure. Magnesium can also lower the risk of depression, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, as well as relieve symptoms of migraines and premenstrual syndrome.
4. Iron
Iron is a type of mineral that is very important for the human body because it acts as a raw material for making red blood cells. If the body lacks iron, the production of red blood cells in the body will decrease. As a result, you are at risk of developing anemia or lack of blood.
Dragon fruit has a fairly high iron content, so it can meet the iron intake needed by the body and prevent you from various health problems caused by iron deficiency. The iron content in this dragon fruit makes it one of the blood-boosting fruit options that you can consider.
5. Calcium
Calcium is needed by the body to maintain bone strength. In addition, the heart, muscles, and nerves also need calcium to function properly. Lack of calcium in the body can increase the risk of osteoporosis.
However, you don't need to worry, because dragon fruit also contains calcium in it. In addition to consuming milk, you can consume dragon fruit to meet your daily calcium needs.
6. Antioxidant
Dragon fruit is a type of fruit that is rich in antioxidants and natural coloring agents called anthocyanins. This substance is what gives dragon fruit its bright red color. The content of dragon fruit is known to protect cells and body tissues from free radical damage and even reduce the risk of cancer.
After consuming red dragon fruit, the color of your urine and feces may appear reddish. However, you don't need to worry because this is normal and not dangerous. Reddish-colored urine and feces are caused by anthocyanin substances contained in red dragon fruit.
In addition to the above content, dragon fruit also contains a lot of fiber so that it can smoothen digestion. By regularly consuming high-fiber vegetables and fruits, including dragon fruit, you can prevent constipation.
Tips for Saving Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit can be consumed directly after being washed. However, you have to cut and separate the flesh and skin. If you want to keep dragon fruit longer, you can try following these tips:
- Wrap the dragon fruit first in a plastic bag before storing it in the refrigerator.
- Avoid cutting dragon fruit if it is not consumed immediately.
- If you have already cut the dragon fruit but have not eaten it, you can store it in an airtight container to maintain freshness or store it in an airtight container. freezer.
- Do not eat dragon fruit if the flesh has turned brown and has a mushy texture.
Although dragon fruit has a myriad of benefits for the body, not everyone can eat this fruit. There are some people who have allergies to dragon fruit. However, this is very rarely found. If you have certain health problems and are unsure whether you can eat dragon fruit or not, you should first consult with your doctor to be sure. Likewise if you are taking regular medicines from the doctor.