Dragon Fruit - Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products

Jicama Citrus Salad

Vincent Stevens — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:52:00 +0000

This is not your average fruit salad, people. This jicama salad, known as xec, is a citrus salad from the Yucatan state in Mexico. Xec is actually the Mayan word for salad, or ensalada. It is a quick and easy dish that is a classical side during the Day of the Dead. The ingredients in this salad may change depending on the time of year, as people use the seasonal produce that is available. Typically, though, the salad is made up of jicama, citrus fruit, and either chili powder or freshly diced serrano or habañero peppers. A classic ingredient list is as follows:

Jicama
Orange
Grapefruit
Mandarin (or tangerine)
Sour orange
chili powder
Salt
Pepper

In Yucatan, jicama is in season from November to January. It’s very common to see this salad sold by local vendors in markets in Mexico, but the ingredients can vary with the seasons. Mangos come into season during February and dragon fruit, pineapples, and other fruits and vegetables arrive during spring. Feel free to get adventurous with seasonal produce or use this recipe that is a great mix of fresh flavors.

The hardest part of making this fruit salad is the prep work, specifically the peeling of the jicama. Make sure to remove any excess skin and then dice the jicama up into bite-size pieces. It’s very common to squeeze half of a lime over the jicama to help awaken some natural flavor. This process also helps to prevent the jicama from browning.

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The Top 5 Health Benefits Of Pitaya

Vincent Stevens — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:17:00 +0000

You have undoubtedly ordered, or at least heard of, an acai bowl. Although acai berries and bananas typically make up the base for these bowls, dragon fruit, also known as pitaya or strawberry pear, is another common base. Are pitaya and dragon fruit the same thing, though? We will cover all that and more in this article.

What Is Pitaya?

Pitaya, or dragon fruit, is a low-calorie tropical fruit that has a subtly sweet and somewhat neutral flavor. The fruit has a pink exterior with green leaves, but it can either have white or vibrantly pink flesh inside. The pink pitaya is slightly richer in flavor and nutrients and exhibits a flavor similar to that of an earthy watermelon, but the seeds give it the consistency of a kiwi.

First discovered in Central America hundreds of years ago, this vibrant, tropical fruit has expanded across the globe. According to historians, early missionaries brought pitaya to Asia, where it is commonly known as dragon fruit. It’s not just a pretty fruit, though. Continue reading to learn more about its health benefits.

May Promote Gut Health

There are trillions of microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome. In various human and animal studies, imbalances in the gut have been linked to poor immune health and more serious problems, such as heart disease. Having a greater amount of beneficial bacteria in the gut positively impacts your overall health.

Pitaya is a natural source of prebiotics, which work to feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics, just like all fibers, are not broken down by the gut. The bacteria in the gut can’t digest them, so bacteria essentially use prebiotics as fuel for growth. Regular consumption of prebiotics and probiotics can help reduce the risk of gut disorders. That said, more research is necessary to determine the direct effects of pitaya on gut health.

Great Source Of Fiber

Fiber is best known for its role in digestion, but many research studies indicate that it may benefit heart function and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Some preliminary research found that diets rich in fiber may help ward off colon cancer, but more research is still necessary in this field. It should be noted that there are no direct studies linking the consumption of pitaya to any of the aforementioned conditions. One cup of pitaya provides 5.6 grams (g) of fiber, which fulfills about one-fifth of the recommended daily intake (RDI). Generally speaking, the average adult should consume 25 to 30 g of fiber per day from food, not supplements.

May Prevent Against Chronic Disease

According to various studies, pitaya contains powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Betacyanins are the antioxidants that give pitaya its beautiful pink exterior. Studies confirm that these antioxidants work to reduce oxidative stress, or damage to cells, caused by an overabundance of free radicals in the body. The body produces free radicals when it breaks down food, or when you expose yourself to radiation, environmental pollution, or cigarette smoke. A buildup of these free radicals can accelerate cell aging and increase the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, arthritis, or cancer.

The pink-fleshed pitaya contains phenolic compounds, which contribute to the taste, color, and health benefits. A 2021 report found that pitaya has the highest concentration of total polyphenols and antioxidant activity compared to white or yellow dragon fruits. Researchers believe that the microbiome shift caused by the prebiotics in pitaya may help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Protection against other types of cancer may be attributed to the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and other antioxidant compounds, but more research is necessary.

Encourages Healthy Blood Flow

By eating pitaya, you may help to improve overall blood flow throughout the body. It can’t be that simple, right? Not quite, unfortunately, but a small study of 18 younger, healthy people examined the effects of eating 24 g (just under an ounce) of pitaya powder daily, or a placebo. Researchers observed the outcomes that pitaya extract had on artery stiffness, blood pressure, and blood flow. All of these were measured one, two, three, and four hours after consumption, and after two weeks.

The researchers found that those who consumed pitaya extract showed significant improvements in blood flow two, three, and four hours post consumption compared to the placebo group. Those results remained consistent even after the two-week period. Finally, researchers attribute these benefits to betalain, the plant’s red pigment.

May Help Regulate Blood Sugar

Even though pitaya contains natural sugar, eating it could actually help control your blood sugar levels. Research indicates that the antioxidant compounds in pitaya may help regenerate beta cells in the pancreas. These beta cells make and secrete insulin and amylin, two hormones that help regulate blood sugar levels. The anti-inflammatory properties of pitaya may also play a role in this, as inflammation is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes.

A review from 2017 analyzed four previously published studies. The conclusion was that pitaya had a significant ability to help lower fasting blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. Although these results were not observed in people with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar reduced significantly when people consumed larger portions of pitaya.

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Refreshing Dragonfruit Smoothie

Vincent Stevens — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:50:00 +0000

A refreshing fruit smoothie is sometimes exactly what you need to cool you off on a hot day. Not only is this smoothie visually appealing, but it is also fruity, slightly sweet, and wonderfully creamy. Both the dragonfruit and banana are frozen, making for thicker, creamier smoothie. If the smoothie is too thick, you can always add a little more homemade almond milk to reach your desired consistency.

Dragonfruit, also known as pitaya, is an interesting fruit that either has red or white seed-speckled flesh. It is sweet, but not in an overpowering way. Dragonfruit is naturally rich in magnesium, fiber, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin E, in addition to beneficial plant compounds like carotenoids, polyphenols, and betacyanins. Several studies confirmed that dragonfruit can help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, enhancing your gut microbiome.

You’ll notice that this smoothie is a vibrant pink, but it may not be that color if you choose the dragonfruit that has a white flesh. Whichever variety you choose is completely fine and they have similar nutritional profiles. The only primary difference is the antioxidant profile because the pink flesh of the fruit exists because of different antioxidants present in the fruit. One thing you can count on is that this smoothie tastes great and delivers a lot of beneficial fiber, which may aid your effort in combatting digestive issues.

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Boost Your Immunity and Digestion with Dragon Fruits!

Dherbs — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:00:04 +0000

Did you know that dragon fruits can help with acne?! The Shocking Truth will take you on a road throughout some history facts on Dragon Fruit.

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How To Have A Raw Vegan Labor Day Celebration

Vincent Stevens — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 09:10:00 +0000

You can count on Labor Day being one thing: hot. If you live on the west coast of the U.S., you know that the heat is real, and spending time outside is difficult. Naturally, many people want to escape the congested city life and embrace nature before fall starts. People seek higher elevation in places like Big Bear, Mammoth, Sequoia National Forest, Lake Tahoe, and more to relish in cooler temperatures.

When you escape the city, you don’t have to abandon healthy eating habits as well. Your diet isn’t the hot weather that you are trying to escape! This is especially true if you are still cleansing. There are plenty of recipes in our cleanse-approved recipe section (click here) that are wonderfully refreshing and tasty. You can make snacks, dips, spreads, entrees, desserts, drinks, and more, and all of them are raw vegan!

Since the primary dishes during Labor Day celebrations tend to be appetizers, beverages, and snacks, we thought we’d focus on those for you. The great thing about the following recipes is that you don’t have to be cleansing in order to enjoy them. Surprise the taste buds of people at your gathering with a few raw vegan dishes. They might find them so delicious that they ask you where you got the recipes and what your journey is. There’s only one way to find out!

4-Ingredient Guacamole

Give your guacamole a boost of nutritional goodness! Learn how to do that by creating this classic 4-ingredient dip.