Red-Fleshed vs. White-Fleshed Dragon Fruit: Differences, Benefits and Contraindications
Dragon fruit rarely appears at small street stalls; it is generally sold in fruit shops and supermarkets. This also shows a certain level of "class." Below, we introduce the benefits and contraindications of dragon fruit, as well as the differences between the red-fleshed and white-fleshed types. 1. Red-fleshed dragon fruit and white-fleshed dragon
Dragon fruit rarely appears at small street stalls; it is generally sold in fruit shops and supermarkets. This also shows a certain level of “class.” Below, we introduce the benefits and contraindications of dragon fruit, as well as the differences between the red-fleshed and white-fleshed types.
1. Differences Between Red-Fleshed and White-Fleshed Dragon Fruit
1. Price
Anyone who buys dragon fruit regularly will have noticed that red-fleshed dragon fruit is usually considerably more expensive than the white-fleshed kind. This is because most of the red-fleshed dragon fruit on the market relies on imports, which means higher transport costs. In addition, red-fleshed dragon fruit is nutritionally superior to the white-fleshed kind, so consumers tend to favour it more.
2. Anthocyanin Content
The antioxidant and anti-ageing properties of dragon fruit come mainly from its anthocyanins, and red-fleshed dragon fruit contains more anthocyanins, which makes it more popular with women.
3. Sugar Content
If you taste both kinds of dragon fruit, you will find that the red-fleshed one tastes sweeter, while the white-fleshed dragon fruit tastes comparatively bland. This is because the red-fleshed kind has a higher sugar content, reaching above 15 degrees. Moreover, the vast majority of the sugar in dragon fruit is glucose, which is easily absorbed and very suitable for eating after exercise.
2. Benefits of Dragon Fruit
1. Beauty and Skin Care
Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins. The former has excellent detoxifying and skin-nourishing benefits, while the latter is an important substance for antioxidant and anti-ageing effects. Eating dragon fruit over the long term can help clear oxidative free radicals from the body, achieving anti-ageing and skin-nourishing effects.
2. Aiding Digestion
Dragon fruit is rich in dietary fibre and crude fibre, which can effectively promote intestinal movement and absorption. In addition, the seeds in the flesh can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis. For people with constipation, eating some dragon fruit can lubricate the intestines and relieve constipation, thereby easing the symptoms.
3. Preventing Anaemia
Dragon fruit has a higher iron content than ordinary fruits. Iron is a trace element needed by the body to synthesise blood cells, so dragon fruit can help the body synthesise red blood cells, and eating it regularly can prevent anaemia.
3. Contraindications of Dragon Fruit
1. Not Suitable for People with Diabetes
Dragon fruit has a relatively high carbohydrate content, most of which is glucose. In a single dragon fruit, 7.83% is glucose, and it also contains 2.83% fructose. Eating it can easily raise blood sugar, so people who already have diabetes should not eat it.
2. People with a Cold Constitution and Women During Menstruation
Dragon fruit is cooling in nature. Women during menstruation or people with a cold constitution should eat as little as possible or avoid it altogether, so as not to aggravate the cold nature.
3. Should Not Be Eaten Together with Milk
When dragon fruit is eaten together with protein, complexes may form that the human digestive system finds hard to absorb effectively, and people with poor gastrointestinal function may even suffer indigestion. Therefore, dragon fruit is best not eaten together with foods rich in protein, such as milk and eggs.
Do you now understand the benefits and contraindications of dragon fruit? Both kinds of dragon fruit have the same nutritional value, but overall, red-fleshed dragon fruit has a higher content of nutrients across the board, and that is why it is more expensive.