The correct understanding of dragon fruit - sometimes even a doctor of botany may not be right
There are thousands of fruits, and each fruit has its own characteristics, and the texture and taste are not exactly the same. When it comes to which fruits are more peculiar, many people will immediately think of dragon fruit. This fruit of the cactus family has a unique appearance. The dragon fruit tree also has the characteristics of the cactus family. When most people see a dragon fruit tree for the first time, they will doubt whether what they see is a fruit tree.
1. The legend of dragon fruit
A poor Aztec woman was lost in the desert. She was in pain and had no way to call for help. She was in a very dangerous situation. She was dying of despair and slowly entered another world in her hallucinations...
I heard a very clear and powerful voice coming from the sky! The voice told her to eat the plants around her quickly! She reached out to touch it with difficulty, but she could no longer open her eyes, but she hallucinated that the branches around her were scattered and spreading endlessly. There were almost no other plants in this particularly hot desert, and she saw flickering lights in her hallucination. The red light was the dragon fruit dotted in the sky ruler. When she magically pulled and broke it, her hand was pricked and bloody, but she didn't feel any pain. She seemed to be being stabbed. Directed by a magical force, he mechanically bit into this fat measuring ruler, and ate another bright red dragon fruit...
It was near noon, when the sun was even more vicious, that a magical event happened! The Aztec woman woke up, her physical strength quickly recovered, her almost chapped lips turned magically red, and gradually spread throughout her body like a wave, and she walked out of the desert smoothly!
The legend of dragon fruit has been passed down from generation to generation. Dragon fruit ranks high among edible plant fruits for humans, and it implies many beautiful ideals of mankind, such as good luck, health, wealth, longevity and so on.
First of all, dragon fruit is a tropical fruit. Of course, it can also be grown in subtropical regions.
The reason why it is called dragon fruit is naturally because its bracts resemble dragon scales, which is also its biggest feature! Dragon fruit also has many common names, such as red dragon fruit, unicorn fruit, etc. based on the different colors of the flesh. It is also called Dragon fruit in English, and its correct name is Pitaya or Pitahaya. In Central America, where it originates, pitaya actually refers to the genus Neomerol/ Stenocereus and the fruit of Selenicereus, pitahaya refers to the fruit of the genus Hylocereus, and dragon fruit originally only refers to the genus Hylocereus, but in daily communication, people are obviously not so rigorous and gradually get used to it. Dragon fruit or pitaya refers to all dragon fruits.
Dragon fruit also has strong edible effects and contains a variety of nutrients, which can supplement the human body with vitamins and prevent systemic diseases.
Dragon Fruit Powder is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamins B1, B2 and B3. The Dragon Fruit is a good source of calcium which strengthens teeth and bones naturally, while the red skinned ones have significant amounts of phosphorous which is also essentially needed by the body to function properly. Sufficient amounts of phosphorous in the body, in particular, help increase energy levels. Iron is also one of the main components of this fruit, which is good for the blood.
2. The edible effects of dragon fruit:
① Reduce free radicals:
Dragon fruit is rich in anthocyanins. This substance has antioxidant functions and can reduce free radicals. It can not only delay aging and prevent cardiovascular diseases, but also prevent stroke and dementia.
Because anthocyanins are mainly concentrated in the peel, after eating dragon fruit, you can also leave the peel as a cooking ingredient. When cooking, high temperatures should be avoided to avoid destroying the anthocyanins.
②Maintain digestive system function:
Dragon fruit contains a large amount of plant-based albumin. After entering the human digestive system, this substance can protect the gastric mucosa and promote the body's metabolism of heavy metals, so it can maintain the function of the digestive system.
In addition, due to the high fiber content in the pulp, regular consumption can also promote gastrointestinal motility, detoxify and moisturize the intestines.
③Prevent anemia:
Dragon fruit contains a lot of iron. Regular consumption can promote hemoglobin formation and prevent anemia.
④ Replenish energy after exercise:
Dragon fruit contains less sucrose and more glucose. After exercising, everyone can eat an appropriate amount of dragon fruit to replenish sugar and energy for the body. Moreover, the fruit has a low sweetness and is not cloying, so it is also suitable for making drinks or juices.
3. Utilization and value of dragon fruit
Although dragon fruit can be used as medicine and cooking, its main value is as a fruit. In addition, it is also a good use as a potted plant.
Like all kinds of fruits, dragon fruit can be eaten fresh or made into juice, especially the red-fleshed dragon fruit. The juice made from it has a unique flavor and looks like a pink beauty, which is really cute!
In addition, you may not believe it, but dragon fruit stems can indeed be eaten, for example, broken into pieces to make cold drinks.