8 shocking health benefits of Pitaya

Discover the 8 shocking health benefits of Pitaya.

The pitaya is a fruit rich in fiber, water, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins B, C, and E, in addition to having few calories, which can bring several benefits to the body, such as protecting the body’s cells, improving functioning bowel and helps in the weight loss process, as long as it is part of a healthy and balanced diet.

The pitaya has its origins in Latin America and is the fruit of a type of cactus, is considered a tropical fruit with a mild flavor, like a mixture of kiwi and melon.

In Brazil, pitaya can be found from December to May in the southeast region. Furthermore, it is widely cultivated in the rest of South America, Israel, and China.

Health benefits of Pitaya

Pitaya has a light flavor and, due to its components, can have several health benefits, the main ones being:

1. Favors weight loss

Due to the low amount of calories and low amount of carbohydrates, pitaya, together with a healthy diet, can help you lose weight.

In addition, it is rich in fiber that helps to increase the feeling of satiety, reducing the volume of food consumed in meals and, consequently, helps you lose weight.

Pitaya also has a component called betacyanin, which, according to some studies, could help to reduce weight, improve lipid profile, decrease insulin resistance and fatty liver.

It also has a substance called tyramine, which activates the hormone glucagon, stimulating the body to use its sugar and fat reserves to generate energy.

2. Protect body cells

Pitaya is a fruit rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, betacyanins, and vitamin C, which act as anti-inflammatory and antioxidants, preventing free radical damage to cells and, in turn, the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, please.

In addition, it can prevent premature aging, since it has vitamin C, in addition to promoting the formation of collagen in the body, an important component to maintain the skin’s firmness and elasticity.

3. Strengthens bones

The pitaya is a fruit that provides calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus for the body, which are important minerals for the strengthening of bones and teeth, being an excellent option for people with osteoporosis and osteopenia, as well as being interesting for children to favor its growth and development.

4. Improves digestion

Recent studies suggest that pitaya acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fibers that this fruit has are not digested in the intestine, but fermented, which increases the amount and activity of the good bacteria that are part of the intestinal microbiota, at the same time. the time that regulates the growth of harmful bacteria.

This prebiotics favors bowel movements and increase fecal production, preventing constipation and improving overall digestion.

It also helps prevent colon cancer, boost the immune system, reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases.

5. Regulates blood sugar levels

The pitaya, especially the red one, has properties capable of decreasing insulin resistance.

That’s because it’s rich in fiber and antioxidants, such as betacyanin, which works by regulating blood sugar levels and improving conditions such as pre-diabetes, and preventing the development of diabetes.

6. Helps lower cholesterol

The consumption of pitaya in conjunction with a healthy diet could help reduce cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease.

This is due to its amount of fiber, which prevents the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine.

In addition, it has antioxidants and saponins, which are organic compounds that favor the excretion of cholesterol in feces.

7. Strengthens the immune system

As it is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, the consumption of pitaya could help to strengthen the immune system, as it can increase the body’s response against viruses such as dengue, fungi such as Candida albicans, and bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

8. Prevents anemia

Pitaya is a fruit rich in iron, an essential mineral for transporting oxygen throughout the body, preventing and improving anemia.

In addition, it contains vitamin C, which is essential to promote the absorption of iron at the intestinal level, especially iron from fruits and vegetables.

Types of pitaya

There are 3 main variations of the fruit, namely:

White Pitaya: it has pink skin and is white inside, being the easiest to find in Brazil;

Red Pitaya: It has a reddish-pink color on the outside and is pink-red-purple on the inside, is also found in Brazil;

Yellow Pitaya: It has yellow skin and is white inside, being more common in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. 

All of them contain numerous edible black seeds distributed throughout their pulp. 

Nutritional information on pitaya

Quantity per 100 g of pitaya pulp

Energy 50 calories

Water  85.4 g

Proteins  0.4g

fats

0.1 g

Carbohydrates 13.2 g

Fibers 3.0 g

Vitamin C 4mg

Calcium 10 mg

Phosphor  16mg

Iron

3.37mg

Magnesium 38.9 mg

In addition to all the benefits and vitamins, pitaya has few calories, being a very good fruit to include in weight loss diets.

How to eat pitaya fruit

It is possible to consume the pitaya pulp in its natural state or salads, as well as to prepare juices, smoothies, glaciers, ice cream, and sweets, for example.

To eat the pulp of the pitaya, cut the fruit in half and, with the help of a spoon, separate the pulp from the skin.

1. Pitaya ice cream

This recipe for pitaya ice cream is good for slimming down 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;

Powdered sweetener to taste;

1 cup of light cream;

4 egg whites.

Method of preparation:

Mix ingredients and place in a bowl with a lid. Freeze for about 2 hours. Beat with the aid of an electric mixer and return to the freezer until serving time.

In addition to weight loss, pitaya is good for helping to regulate the intestines and facilitate digestion.

2. Pitaya juice with lemon

Pitaya juice with lemon is rich in antioxidants, making it an excellent option to take on a slimming diet.

Ingredients:

2 pitayas;

2 lemons;

1/2 glass of water

Method of preparation:

Cut the fruit in half and extract the pulp. Then cut the pulp into pieces and place it in a blender with the lemon and water.

Then add ice and sweeten with sweetener, preferably stevia.

3. Yogurt with pitaya

The fruit yogurt with pitaya is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and low in calories, and can be consumed both for breakfast and lunch.

Ingredients:

1/2 banana;

3 raspberries;

2 strawberries;

1 slice of pineapple;

1 pitaya;

4 walnuts;

1 tablespoon of chia seed;

1 dessert spoon of rolled oats;

Natural yogurt.

Method of preparation:

Cut all the fruit into pieces and place them in a container.

Then add the natural yogurt, the chia seeds, and the oats and consume them afterward.