Friday, August 22, 2008

Dragon Fruit & My Health


Tropical Fruits


Pitaya) has red-skinned fruit with white flesh.
Able to enhance the body metabolism (Protein)


Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya), 龙珠果 - Maintain the health of the eyes (Carotene)


Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya), 龙珠果 - Moisturize and smoothen skin and decrease bad cholesterol level (Vitamin B3)


Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya), 龙珠果 - Improves the immune system and promotes healing of cuts and bruises (Vitamin C)


Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya), 龙珠果 - Hylocereus costaricensis (Costa Rica Pitaya) has red-skinned fruit with red flesh
Improve memory (Carotene)
Maintain the health of the eyes (Carotene)
Tissue development (Phosphorus)


Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya), 龙珠果 - Hylocereus megalanthus (Yellow Pitaya) has yellow-skinned fruit with white flesh
Strengthen bones and teeth development (Calcium)


Dragon Fruit (Pitaya or Pitahaya), 龙珠果/火龙果/火龍果 - Cactus Species, Genus Hylocereus (sweet pitayas)
Also known as Strawberry Pear, Nanettikafruit, Thanh Long, Cactus fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Belle of the Night, Cinderella plant.


A pitaya is the fruit of a cactus species, the genus Hylocereus (sweet pitayas). This fruit are also known as pitahaya, dragon fruit, huǒ lóng guǒ (火龍果/火龙果, "fire dragon fruit"), lóng zhū guǒ (龙珠果 "dragon pearl fruit"), strawberry pear, nanettikafruit, thanh long, Cactus fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Belle of the Night, Cinderella plant.
Sweet pitayas have a creamy pulp and a delicate aroma.


Variant names
Common name: Dragon Fruit or Dragon Pearl Fruit.
Scientific name: Hylocereus undatus, or its synonym, Cereus triangularis.
Malay name: Kaktus madu.
Chinese name: Long guo, 龙果 (Mandarin).
Vietnamese name: Thanh long.
Other common names: Pitahaya, Strawberry Pear, Cactus fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Belle of the Night, Cinderella plant.


Origin and distribution
The fruit is native to Central America. It is known as Pitahaya in Mexico and as Pitaya roja in Central America and northern South America. Pitahaya is the Spanish name for fruiting vines of Central America. The fruit was introduced in Vietnam by the French over a hundred years ago. According to some, the French took the fruit from Nicaragua and Columbia while others said they brought it from Guyana (South America) in 1870 as an ornamental plant. For its large attractive flowers which bloom only at night, the flamboyant plant is also known as "moonflower" or "lady of the night".


Dragon fruit (火龍果/火龙果) at Chiyai Market


Tall dragon fruit (火龍果/火龙果) plant at house entrance, Old Town, San Diego

Dragon Fruits contain the following
Fiber
Calcium
Iron
Phosphorus
Carotene (Vitamin A)
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

Health Benefits Of Dragon Fruit
Enhance the body metabolism (Protein)
Improve digestion (Fiber)
Reduce Fat (Fiber)
Improve memory (Carotene)
Maintain the health of the eyes (Carotene)
Strengthen bones and teeth development (Calcium)
Tissue development (Phosphorus)
Help to metabolize carbohydrates and produce energy (Vitamin B1)
Improve appetite (Vitamin B2)
Moisturize and smoothen skin and decrease bad cholesterol level (Vitamin B3)
Improves the immune system and promotes healing of cuts and bruises (Vitamin C)


Interesting Facts
The flowers of the dragon fruit plant only bloom at night and usually only live for one night. For this reason, they are often called Moonflower or Queen of the Night. Pollination happens at this time to allow the fruit to emerge.

The flowers of the dragon fruit give out a very beautiful scent and the smell can fill the night air wherever the plants grows.


Dragon Fruit (火龍果/火龙果) plant in Vietnam - by Courtesy of Jack Goh (on right in the photo)


Dragon Fruit Farm (toothfairy)


Chokchai Dragon Fruit Farm at Pakchong, Korat province in Thailand


Fred Karlsson among his dragon fruit (火龍果/火龙果) trees


Dragon Fruit (PITAYA) - in garden


Dragon Fruit (PITAYA) - Oceanic Thai


Than Long Green Dragon


VUON THANH LONG Blue dragon garden in Vietnam (Phan Thiet)

Sweet pitayas come in three types:
a) Hylocereus undatus (Red Pitaya) has red-skinned fruit with white flesh.
b) Hylocereus costaricensis (Costa Rica Pitaya) has red-skinned fruit with red flesh
c) Hylocereus megalanthus (Yellow Pitaya) has yellow-skinned fruit with white flesh.

Adapted from:

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