Health for All

Offering created god is so beneficial to human health. Fruits are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals are able to prevent various kinds of degenerative diseases, reduce emotional stress, and neutralize toxins in the blood.

Relatively new dragon fruit is known in Indonesia. However, lately his name became a byword in the community at large. Fruit appearance is very unique and interesting. Buildings the size of a mango lipstick, with light red color. Big snake skin like scales (dragon), but not because it is known as dragon fruit fruit.

Currently dragon fruit can not be found in traditional markets, can only be found in supermarkets. The price is still relatively expensive, which is about USD 20 thousand to USD 25 thousand per kg. Fresh sweet and slightly acidic.

There are associating with the myth they can lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Lately, these fruits also began to be used as an ornamental fruiting plants grown in pots.

Society considers the ancient Chinese dragon fruit to bring a blessing, so it is often placed between the duo green dragon tail statue above the altar table offerings to the gods. Red color of the fruit become conspicuous among the color green dragon.

This is the fruit of a habit among the people of Vietnam are embracing the Chinese culture, famous as the name thang Loy (dragon fruit). Loy her thang Vietnamese people are then referred to the language of Britain is called the dragon fruit.

Fiber Rich

Fiber content on the dragon fruit is very good, reaching 0.7 to 0.9 grams per 100 grams. Fibre is needed by the body to lower cholesterol levels. Fiber in the digestive tract will bind bile acids (end products of cholesterol) and then released with feces. Thus, the higher consumption of fiber, the more bile and fatty acids released by the body.

In addition to preventing cholesterol, fiber content on the dragon fruit is also very useful in the digestive system. Dietary fiber (dietary fiber) are able to shorten transit time, ie the time it takes food from the oral cavity until the remaining food was issued in the form of feces.

Meanwhile, dietary fiber will be binding carcinogenic substances. Thanks to the short transit time, time residing in the body of carcinogenic substances are also getting shorter, so the smaller the opportunity to harm the body (Goldberg, 1994).

Dietary fiber is very good for preventing diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, fiber consumption in Indonesia is still very low, around 10 grams per person per day. In fact, the recommended dietary fiber intake is 20-30 grams per person per day.

Pitaya is renowned as one source of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a provitamin A in the body is converted into vitamin A which is very useful in the process of vision, reproduction, and other metabolic processes.

It is estimated that every six micrograms of beta-carotene has a biological activity equivalent to one microgram of retinol. Group of the FAO-WHO has calculated that only about half of the absorbed beta-carotene which is converted into vitamin A. Only approximately one sixth of the content of carotenoids in the ingredients that will eventually be utilized by the body.

Beta-carotene is also a type of antioxidant that may play an important role in reducing the concentration of radical peroksil. Ability to work as an antioxidant beta-carotene derived from its ability to stabilize the carbon core radicals. Because beta-carotene is effective at low concentrations of oxygen, can complement the antioxidant properties of vitamin E are effective at high concentrations of oxygen.

Also known as beta-carotene cancer prevention elements, especially the skin and lung cancer. Beta-carotene can reach more parts of the body in a relatively longer time compared with vitamin A, thus providing more optimal protection against cancer.

Nutritional composition per 100 grams of flesh dragon fruit

Component Level

Water (g) 82.5 to 83.0

Protein (g) 0.16 to 0.23

Fat (g) 0.21 to 0.61

Fiber / dietary fiber (g) 0.7 to 0.9

Beta-carotene (mg) 0.005 to 0.012

Calcium (mg) 6.3 to 8.8

Phosphorus (mg) 30.2 to 36.1

Iron (mg) 0.55-0.65

Vitamin B1 (mg) 0.28 to 0.30

Vitamin B2 (mg) 0.043 to 0.045

Vitamin C (mg) 8-9

Niacin (mg) 1.297 to 1.300

Source: Taiwan Food Industry
Develop & Reearch Authorities (2005)

Lower Cholesterol

According to Al Leong from Johncola Pitaya Food R & D, dragon fruit is very good for the circulatory system. Also very effective for reducing emotional stress and neutralize toxins in the blood.

RI Agricultural Research and Development Agency to mention that the dragon fruit can lower cholesterol levels, balancing blood sugar, kidney function and strengthens bones, and to improve the workings of the brain. Usefulness dragon fruit is still unknown by the public. In addition to research that is still very limited, the fruit is still very rare. In fact, there are still many among us who did not know this fruit.

Dragon fruit is a source of vitamin and mineral that is good enough. Levels of vitamin B1 on the dragon fruit reaches 0.3 mg per 100 grams of flesh. Consumption of vitamin B1 per person per day recommended by the National Widyakarya Food and Nutrition (2004) is 0.5 to 0.9 mg for children under 10 years old, and 0.9 to 1.0 mg for an adult. Pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding need of additional amount of 0.3 mg per day above normal requirements.

In principle, thiamine (vitamin 131) serves as a coenzyme in reactions that produce energy from carbohydrates and transferring energy to form energy-rich compound called ATP. Thiamine deficiency causes polyneuritis (dried berries), which is caused by a disturbance in the transmission of nerve or neural networks suffer from lack of energy. Symptoms of thiamine deficiency initially was tired, lost appetite, weight loss, and indigestion.

Dragon fruit also contains potassium, iron, protein, calcium in sufficient quantities both to increase endurance. These substances are also good for mentralkan poison in the blood, improve eyesight and prevent hypertension.

Water content on the dragon fruit is also quite high, reaching 83 grams per 100 g of fruit flesh. Therefore, the dragon fruit can also be used as a delicious dessert.

Created Soup, Vegetable and Tea

Simply put, dragon fruit eaten in a fresh condition, ie after being cooked and tender. At first dragon fruit split in two, then the white flesh scattered tiny black seeds can disendoki and eaten. Hemisphere placed on a leather palm, which also functions like a bowl.

How to eat like that have traditionally been conducted by the Indian community in South America. They are reluctant to eat like the Indians, processing fruit into a pie. Some are eaten as a dessert in the form of ice cream, a modern restaurant.

Bean-like seeds and basil, can be eaten without harm our health. Flesh feels very refreshing and sweet, so it is often promoted sweeter than a watermelon, though a little bit sour.

In addition to direct eaten, dragon fruit has also been created as a raw material for making wine. In Malaysia, dragon fruit not yet ripe can be cooked as a soup and mixed with meat and bone. Besides, dragon fruit is also used as raw salad or stir-fried with chilli paste. Besides the fruit, dragon fruit flowers are also used as vegetables or dried to be used as flower tea.

To be consumed directly, better choose a dragon fruit is ripe. Good quality dragon fruit has no wounds on the skin. Fruit of the wounded on the outside it is feared will have an impact on the inside. If pressed already tender, meaning the fruit was ripe enough for consumption.

Fresh dragon fruit is usually still diselaputi tendrils or yellowish green scales, while the outside of his enchanting pink.

Exclusive Dishes

Dragon fruit plants come from Mexico. Originally this fruit is not edible forest fruits. However, once taken by the people of France to China, he changed his name to the dragon fruit. Plants are then planted widely in Vietnam, before finally developing in other countries, including Malaysia.

Dragon fruit which is not allowed to eat because food is considered a god and no attention in their home country, now become famous around the world. In fact, in a plane international flight, dragon fruit juice becomes dishes exclusive.

Currently Vietnam and Thailand are the largest supplier of dragon fruit in the world. However, demand can be met only 50 percent. Pitaya circulating in Indonesia today, generally come from those two countries.

Internationally, known as dragon fruit dragon fruit for her term in each country differ, for example Feuy Long Kwa (China), or Clever Dragon Thanh Long (Vietnam), Kaew Mangkorn (Thailand), Shien Noodle Kuo (Taiwan), Pitahaya ( Mexico), melano (Hawaii), Rhino Fruit (Australia).

Red, White, Yellow

Dragon fruit including tropical plants. These plants grow well in the 600-1300 mm rainfall per year. The rain is too heavy and prolonged damage characterized by a more rapid process of decomposition. The maximum temperature range 38-40 degrees celsius.

Dragon fruit cactus is also called sweet or cactus honey. Dragon fruit cactus plants included in the family have characteristic spines on each stem segment. Although classified in the cactus plants, dragon fruit cactus fruit is not unusual that we know as Prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica or.

Dragon fruit-producing plants are climbers cactus Hylocereus undatus. Called a climber, because when it was discovered first in the original where it grew in a shady jungle environment, the stems are climbing stems of other plants. When he lifted off the ground, he still continued to live as epiphytes, absorb water and minerals through a root air on the vine.

The uniqueness of the dragon fruit plant is a stem-shaped triangle. In addition, very short needles and inconspicuous. The flowers bloom at night. This fruit has a season around July until November.

There are four types of dragon fruit, dragon fruit flesh is white (Hylocereus undatus), red flesh dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus), super-red flesh dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis), and dragon fruit yellow skin and white flesh (Selenicerius megalanthus).

Of the four types of dragon fruit, dragon fruit and white meat most popular and desirable. Besides shape and larger size and three other types of dragon fruit, dragon fruit and white meat also feel more refreshed because it contains the typical acerbity.

In Malaysia and Singapore, the contents of the red dragon fruit is the most preferred species because it tastes much sweeter than other types.