The hottest in summer! Red dragon fruit is low in calories and high in anthocyanins

In the hot summer, the healthy fruit "Dragon Fruit" is freshly available. Nutritionists point out that red dragon fruit is the most popular healthy fruit in recent years. It is in full production from June to December every year. It is not only nutritious and low in calories, but also rich in fiber and vitamins C and E. Due to its high content of anthocyanins, it has antioxidant effects. It has therapeutic and health-care effects on the elderly and those with poor immunity.

The red flesh is soft, juicy and sweet, and rich in anthocyanins which have antioxidant effects. (Photo courtesy of the Council of Agriculture)

According to data from the Council of Agriculture, red dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a tropical fruit tree of the Cactaceae family. It is native to the forests and hills of Central and South America. Due to its quick harvest and stable price, the planting area across Taiwan has increased rapidly in recent years and has exceeded 2,000 hectares.

Domestic red dragon fruit, the hot summer fruit

Currently, the main cultivation areas are Changhua County, followed by Pingtung County, Nantou County, Tainan City and Chiayi County. In recent years, the use of night lighting production period adjustment technology can advance or delay the original production period. Therefore, domestic dragon fruit can still be eaten in the non-production season of winter and spring.

The dragon fruits grown in Taiwan can be divided into two categories based on the color of the flesh: white-fleshed dragon fruits and red-fleshed dragon fruits. The main variety of the white-fleshed dragon fruit is the "Vietnamese white-fleshed dragon fruit," which is generally produced from June to November. There are many varieties of the red-fleshed dragon fruit, with the "big red" variety being the most widely planted, and is generally produced from May to December.

The white flesh variety has a beautiful and eye-catching appearance, a crisp and juicy taste, and a sweet and refreshing taste. (Photo courtesy of the Council of Agriculture)

Red dragon fruit is high in dietary fiber and can relieve heat

Wang Shixian, director of the Council of Agriculture's Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station, pointed out that the white-fleshed variety was imported from Vietnam in the early days, and because it was not mature enough, it left consumers with the impression that it had a grassy smell and was not sweet enough. However, the domestically produced white-fleshed dragon fruit is harvested when it is fully ripe, so it has a bright red and plump appearance, a sweet and crisp taste, and its quality and flavor are far superior to imported dragon fruit.

The red flesh variety has excellent antioxidant effects because its red flesh is rich in betanin pigments (betacyanin), and is sweeter than the white flesh variety. It has a soft and juicy taste and some have a slight aroma. Therefore, the planting area and market acceptance of the red flesh variety have increased significantly in recent years.

Red dragon fruit healthy dishes are good for moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements

Although the red and white dragon fruits have their own flavors, they are both great products for cooling off in the summer. In addition to being rich in vitamins B, C and a variety of mineral nutrients, dragon fruits are also rich in dietary fiber and pectin, and have a significant effect on moisturizing the intestines and promoting bowel movements.

In addition, the buds and flowers of red dragon fruit have also been developed into dishes by restaurants in recent years. They are suitable for frying, blanching, and stewing. The rich polysaccharide mucus has a natural thickening effect and has a floral scent, making it a new choice for summer health dishes.

Summer is the peak season for fruits, but you should carefully choose low-calorie fruits to avoid obesity.

Red dragon fruit is high in anthocyanins and improves anti-aging

Nutritionist Su Yanchen emphasized that "dragon fruit" is named because its fleshy scales resemble the scales of a dragon. It has excellent benefits for human health because it is rich in various vitamins C and E and water-soluble dietary fiber. Its high content of anthocyanins has antioxidant effects, can fight free radicals and prevent aging.

In addition, pitaya is low in calories and high in fiber, which can increase the feeling of fullness in the stomach and intestines, reduce the heat ratio of fat in the diet, relatively control and reduce the total energy of the diet, and avoid excessive accumulation of fat in the body due to excess heat. It can not only solve the problem of being full without being hungry, but also achieve the goal of controlling weight.

Tips for buying red and white dragon fruit

Basically, the nutritional value of red-fleshed pitaya and white-fleshed pitaya is not much different. The only difference is that red-fleshed pitaya has more and higher concentration of red natural pigments than white-fleshed pitaya. These natural pigments have positive health benefits for the human body. In addition, these high concentrations of pigments will be excreted from the body along with excrement, which is normal.

Nutritionist's advice:

When purchasing, it is best to choose those with even and bright color on the skin, round and full appearance, no scratches, insect pests or cracks, and fresh scales without withering or rot. If you have not eaten it after purchase, you can put it in the refrigerator and store it for about 2 weeks.