This is a special tropical fruit that has started to gain popularity across the world. Its vibrant color, sweet taste, and plethora of health benefits make this fruit one of the favorites among fruit lovers. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at pitaya yellow dragon fruit, its origins, benefits, how to eat it, and why you should be including it in your diet.
What is Yellow Pitaya Dragon Fruit?
Also known as yellow dragon fruit, yellow pitaya belongs to a cactus species known as Hylocereus megalanthus. The fruit is about the size of a tennis ball, bearing a smooth outer skin with small, soft spikes. Inside, it contains a white flesh with small black seeds, similar to other varieties of dragon fruits.
While many people are familiar with the red or pink variety of dragon fruit, This has its own unique flavor and benefits. Generally, it’s sweeter, and juicier than other types, making it a great and refreshing snack.
Origins
This originates from South America, especially from countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The plant thrives in the tropics and subtropics, while the most ideal conditions for growth are abundant sunlight and heat. Over time, pitaya yellow dragon fruit has started to spill into other parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia and parts of the United States.
The plant belongs to the genus Cactus and can thrive in various conditions. It thrives in sandy well-drained soils and can do well with minimal irrigation. This reason also renders the fruit popular among farmers in arid regions.
Nutritional Value
This is rich in the nutritional content required in the body. Here is a simple breakdown of what you get when consuming this:
- Vitamin C: Strengthens your immune system against infections.
- Fiber: Good for digestion; it helps keep your gut healthy.
- Antioxidants: They help protect your cells from damage and can help fight off diseases.
- Magnesium: Assists in muscle activities and keeps the heart healthy.
This is also low in calories, thus it’s one of those amazing snacking fruits in case one is thinking of controlling or maintaining body weight. That’s a fruit full of nutrition that may leave you more energetic without leaving you with a guilty conscience of excess calorie intake.
Health Benefits
THis can be added to one’s diet for numerous reasons and factors. A few of the top health benefits in regard to this wonderful fruit are as follows:
- Good for Digestion: This have a high amount of fiber that helps to keep your digestive system in order. Fiber can prevent constipation and promote regular bowel movements.
- Immunity Booster: This has a big amount of Vitamin C, which is helpful for your body’s immune system to gain strength and fight colds and infections more capably.
- Heart Health: Antioxidants and magnesium in yellow dragon fruit help your heart lower inflammation and improve blood flow.
- Antioxidants: within Pitaya yellow dragon fruits fight off the free radicals that cause skin aging, thereby acting like a skin-friendly food.
- Skin-friendly: Generally, pitaya yellow dragon fruit is low in calories while high in fiber, which keeps one full and helps him/her evade extra calorie intake that eventually helps in controlling one’s weight.
How to Consume Pitaya Yellow Dragon Fruit
Eating pitaya yellow dragon fruit is very easy. Here are the simple steps to be followed for enjoying this delicious fruit:
- Choose a Ripe Fruit: Choose a pitaya yellow dragon fruit that should be bright yellow and should have a slight softness when pressed, which would mean that the fruit is ripe and ready for consumption.
- Cut the Fruit in Half: Using a sharp knife, slice the fruit into half to expose the white flesh that lies inside.
- Scoop out the Flesh: You can scoop out the flesh with a spoon, or peel off the skin and slice the fruit into pieces.
- Raw Consumption or in Smoothies: This is often consumed raw, although you can blend it into a smoothie or mix it together with other fruits in a fruit salad.
A Few Fun Facts About Pitaya Yellow Dragon Fruit
Unlike other dragon fruits, which tend to have either a pink skin or a red one, pitaya yellow is the only species that bears yellow skin.
- Sweeter and Stronger: Much sweeter than the red dragon fruits, pitaya yellow has a great and intense flavor.
- High Water Content: The composition of this fruit is more than 90 per cent water; hence, this makes it a very good fruit for hydrating your body.
How to Store Pitaya Yellow Dragon Fruit
If you buy an already ripe pitaya yellow dragon fruit, you can store it for a few days. You can always store the fruit in the refrigerator to last longer. In case the fruit is not ripe, you should let it be at room temperature and wait until it ripens. Fruits that are cut should be wrapped and always stored in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Yellow dragon pitaya fruit is delicious, sweet, and healthy; it is a type of fruit that deserves to be a part of your diet. Whether you need a healthy snack, some booster for your immune system, or just another fun fruit to try, This has it all going for it. From its vibrantly bright yellow skin color down to its juicy white interior, this tropical fruit will provide a number of health benefits besides being super easy to eat.
Next time you are at the grocery store or the local market, look out for yellow pitaya dragon fruit excellent addition to add spice to your meals and even nutritional value.
Tags: dragon fruitsFood recipesPitaya Yellow Dragon Fruit