One of the benefits of pitaya involves weight loss, but the fruit has other benefits related to its antioxidant power.
There are 3 variations of this fruit, the red pitaya, which is reddish pink inside and out, the yellow pitaya, with yellow and white bark on the inside, and the white pitaya, which has a pink bark and is white inside.
Main benefits of pitaya
The pitaya, also known as dragon fruit, because of the irregular bark and the scaly buds, is born of a type of cactus of the family of the epiphytic Cacti, and begins its harvest period in December in Brazil. In addition, it is heavily cultivated in the rest of South America, Israel and China.
- Protect the cells of the organism, because the bark of this fruit is rich in polyphenols that are antioxidants;
- Assist in digestion due to the presence of seeds in the pulp;
- Fight cardiovascular diseases because the seeds contain essential fatty acids like omega 3;
- Regulate the intestine because it has oligosaccharides.
Besides these benefits, the pitaya serves to lose weight because when consumed it generates a thermogenic action, which will accelerate the metabolism, thus helping to eliminate fats and also control the appetite. The pitaya also has a substance called tyramine, which activates a hormone in the body called glucagon, stimulating the body to use the reserves of sugar and fat and turn them into energy.
How to eat pitaya
You can consume the pitaya pulp to the natural alone, or in salads, as well as processed as soda, jellies or sweets. The pulp can also be used for various preparations such as: yogurts, pies, juices, sweets and ice creams.
Pitaya ice cream
This pitaya ice cream recipe is good for weight loss because it has no sugar, and pitaya is a low calorie fruit that helps control appetite and speeds up metabolism.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of pitaya pulp
- Powder sweetener to taste
- 1 cup light cream
- 4 egg whites
Method of preparation:
Mix the ingredients and put in a bowl with lid. Take to the freezer for about 2 hours. Beat with the aid of a mixer and return to the freezer until serving time.
Besides slimming, the pitaya is good for helping regulate the intestine and facilitate digestion.
Nutritional information of pitaya
| Components | Quantity per 100 g of pitaya |
| Energy | 50 calories |
| Water | 85.4 g |
| Proteins | 0.4 g |
| Fats | 0.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13.2 g |
| Fibers | 0.5 g |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Calcium | 10 mg |
| Phosphor | 16 mg |
In addition to all the benefits and vitamins, pitaya has few calories, being a very good fruit to be included in diets.
