It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:03 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours




 Page 1 of 4 [ 32 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2016 8:46 pm 
Conure
Conure

Name: Baruch
Posts: 3718
Joined: Jul 2013
Gave happy chirps: 213 times
Got happy chirps: 246 times
I went to some celebration today, and I saw a piece dragon fruit loaded with seeds. Being the crazy gardener I am, I saved the piece for planting. The tropical weather in Florida is perfect for this fruit to grow successfully.

I'm wondering, are there any health benifits to the fruit? I see some on the internet, but I don't want to randomly believe something without some evidence.

For those who don't know what a dragon fruit is, it's an exotic fruit that grows on a cactus. Unlike regular cactus, dragon fruit trees like the tropical weather better.
Image


Offline
  Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2016 8:52 pm 
Quaker
Quaker
User avatar

Name: Stephanie
Posts: 2703
Joined: Dec 2013
Location: California
Gave happy chirps: 105 times
Got happy chirps: 265 times
To be honest, that doesn't even look edible to me. Looks like some fake Photoshop work. Any reason why it's called a dragonfruit?



_________________
Image
Jaid the cockatiel & Danny the BCC.
Offline
  Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2016 8:54 pm 
Conure
Conure

Name: Baruch
Posts: 3718
Joined: Jul 2013
Gave happy chirps: 213 times
Got happy chirps: 246 times
It's not fake, look it up! I tried it! It's not fake. It tastes semisweet.


Offline
  Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2016 9:58 pm 
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Name: Carolyn
Posts: 7986
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Arizona
Gave happy chirps: 201 times
Got happy chirps: 725 times
I see some claims about amazing health benefits being made, but when I look at the details they say it's because dragon fruit contains fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. These are things you can get in any fruit or vegetable, and it doesn't look like there's anything special in dragon fruit.

I found a nutritional analysis of it here: http://www.healwithfood.org/nutrition-f ... nefits.php It's 87% water. If you read the text at the link it says that the seeds have a strong laxative effect, so watch out for that lol. But it seems like fiber is the main reason for it, which you can get from any other fruit.

For comparison, here's a nutritional analysis of strawberries, which are 91% water. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fru ... ces/2064/2 Click the dropdown box to change the serving size to 100 grams so it's comparable to the dragon fruit. Overall it looks like the strawberries have more nutrients than the dragon fruit does, but the dragon fruit surpasses it in some ways. But it's not a huge difference.

Here's an analysis for Florida oranges: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fru ... ces/1969/2 Remember to change the serving size to 100 grams for comparison purposes. The oranges are 87% water, just like the dragon fruit. The orange juice wins on Vitamin C and calcium, but the dragon fruit wins on some other things.

Overall it sounds like some of our ordinary fruits are more nutritious, but not enough to make a major difference. If you like dragon fruit then eat it, and if you think the plant is attractive or interesting to look at you can plant it. But if it doesn't really interest you there's no special reason to seek it out.



_________________
Image
Offline
  Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2016 10:55 pm 
Lovebird
Lovebird
User avatar

Name: Barbara
Posts: 1445
Joined: Dec 2013
Location: UK
Gave happy chirps: 494 times
Got happy chirps: 115 times
Give me tomatoes and broccoli every day, and I'm guaranteed to get nutrients etc without all the hype (with relative price tag attached).

Humans are gullible and humans are also greedy, now they found out that labeling a fruit or a root "superfood" means megabucks lol.

I am sorry if I sound cynical but the real superfood is already at everyone's pocket's reach, quinoa, lentils, brown rice, even some wild flowers in our gardens... The list is endless :)

Did any of you read "The China Study"? I'm about to, very curious about this book!

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk



_________________
Image
Offline
  Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2016 8:08 am 
Conure
Conure

Name: Baruch
Posts: 3718
Joined: Jul 2013
Gave happy chirps: 213 times
Got happy chirps: 246 times
Thanks guys! I think the fruit is very attractive and exotic. I really like the way it looks. I planted it this morning. :)

Thanks for all the facts. All though there isn't any extreme benefits. It does look cool.


Offline
  Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2016 8:23 am 
Quaker
Quaker
User avatar

Name: Stephanie
Posts: 2703
Joined: Dec 2013
Location: California
Gave happy chirps: 105 times
Got happy chirps: 265 times
CrazyConure wrote:
It's not fake, look it up! I tried it! It's not fake. It tastes semisweet.


I know it's not fake, it just looks it.



_________________
Image
Jaid the cockatiel & Danny the BCC.
Offline
  Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2016 9:00 am 
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Name: Carolyn
Posts: 7986
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Arizona
Gave happy chirps: 201 times
Got happy chirps: 725 times
Be cautious with The China Study. There are widespread complaints that they fudged the data. For example: https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/th ... revisited/



_________________
Image
Offline
  Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2016 10:14 am 
Conure
Conure

Name: Baruch
Posts: 3718
Joined: Jul 2013
Gave happy chirps: 213 times
Got happy chirps: 246 times
Eh, no. I'm not into the China study.


Offline
  Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are dragon fruits good for you?
PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2016 10:58 pm 
Lovebird
Lovebird
User avatar

Name: Barbara
Posts: 1445
Joined: Dec 2013
Location: UK
Gave happy chirps: 494 times
Got happy chirps: 115 times
tielfan wrote:
Be cautious with The China Study. There are widespread complaints that they fudged the data. For example: https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/th ... revisited/

I'm always cautious, Tielfan, thank you for the link I will read it because I heard about controversies aswell. That's why I was hoping to find someone who read it already, to exchange notes really!

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk



_________________
Image
Offline
  Profile E-mail  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
 Page 1 of 4 [ 32 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next

All times are UTC - 8 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  

cron