What Is Pitaya And Why Is It Good For You?

What Is Pitaya And Why Is It Good For You?

Chances are you’ve seen or heard of Pitaya, just by a different name. Pitaya is commonly referred to as Drogan Fruit. You’ll likely find the fruit in many Myrtle Beach health food stores or vegetarian restaurants in Myrtle Beach, but this super food fruit begins its life in tropical and subtropical regions in South America and Asia.

Appropriately named, the Dragon Fruit’s outer shell has cactus-like spikes, somewhat resembling the scales of a mythical dragon. The color is a beautiful hue of violet and the inner flesh can be a range of colors from white to red, dotted with small seeds. The fruit offers a number of health benefits including, lower cholesterol, improved digestion, more energy, and weight loss, just to name a few.

Dragon Fruit Nutrition

The fruit, while sweet, has very little cholesterol and can offer a punch of energy. Here’s a summary of the fruit:

• Approximately 60 calories
• 1 gram of fiber per serving
• 9 grams of carbohydrates per serving
• Heart healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids are found in the seeds
• Significant source of antioxidants, which can prevent free radical damage that can lead to premature aging and disease.
• Offers many important micronutrients such as vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin A.

It’s understandable that before you stock up on organic foods, you’d like to know what they taste like. Dragon Fruit is comparable to Kiwi – the texture and sweetness factor.

How do I eat Pitaya?

As with most fruits, you can eat Pitaya by itself, or you can add it into a recipe. Myrtle Beach organic restaurants like Kindbelly may add Pitaya to a fruit smoothie. To eat a Dragon Fruit, peel and scoop the same way you would an avocado. Cut the fruit in half length-wise and scoop out the flesh and seeds. Cut the Pitaya into sections to eat alone, throw on a salad, or add to a smoothie. Here’s one of our favorite recipes to try out:

• 1 large Dragon Fruit peeled and cut
• 1 cup sliced Strawberries
• 1 Banana cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup Greek yogurt, plain or flavored (Use 1 cup coconut water if your prefer dairy-free)
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1/2 cup of crushed ice

Health Benefits of Pitaya

Major health benefits have been linked to Pitaya, or Dragon Fruit, adding to the list of reasons this organic food should be added to your grocery list.

• Improved digestion: The fiber in Dragon Fruit can help clear out your digestive system, reducing bloat and constipation.
• Antioxidants: This powerful little fruit packs nearly as many antioxidants as Acai berries, helping your body fight free radicals and cancer-producing properties.
• Stabilize blood pressure: The fiber in the fruit can help fight diabetes by warding off sugar spikes. Of course, your doctor knows best, but Dragon Fruit may be helpful for high blood pressure.
• Hair treatment: If you have color-treated hair, use the juices from a Dragon Fruit (or go the easy route and buy conditioner with Dragon Fruit in it) to help nourish your hair.
• Clear skin: Turn the edible portion of the Dragon Fruit into a paste and apply it to your skin twice daily for the Vitamin C to treat reddened areas on your skin.

Vegetarian Restaurants in Myrtle Beach 

If you are looking for places that serve vegetarian meals in Myrtle Beach, check us out. Take a moment to read our menu here. Please call us if you have questions or have a special dietary request. We look forward to seeing you!