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Dragon Fruit for Diabetes
Dragon fruit belongs to the cactus species, which is native to the Americas.
In Asian countries like Thailand, it is commonly known as Pitaya. It is very nutritious and can act as a potential diabetes treatment option.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, causing an elevated blood glucose level.
That’s why it is essential to follow up a balanced diet plan for diabetics.
A good diet plan helps in balancing the blood glucose level effectively.
Some animal studies conducted showed that dragon fruit produces an anti-diabetic effect by regenerating pancreatic beta cells.
High amounts of fruit consumption help in reducing blood glucose levels.
It protects against insulin resistance and diet-induced fatty liver problems.
Nutritional Facts of Dragon Fruit
It is an excellent source of antioxidants. The antioxidants act against the free radicals, which cause oxidative stress in diabetics.
It is packed with vitamin-c. During the strict diet management to full-fill, the nutritional requirement for normal body metabolism becomes harder.
To fill the deficiency of any nutritional component, it is essential to consume vitamin-c because it ensures that all the components are absorbed efficiently.
It is full of fiber. The health benefits of fiber are related to heart health and cholesterol. The soluble fiber helps in cleaning the cholesterol from the intestine wall by binding to it.
Glycemic Index of Dragon Fruit
Glycemic index(GI) is a number between 0 to 100 given to food which shows the rise in blood glucose level after 2 hours of consuming that food.
The range for a food to be in low GI is less than or equal to 55.
The high GI range is 70 or more, and the mid-range is 56-69.
It measures the carbohydrate content (total carbohydrate-fiber content) of the food.
The glycemic index of dragon fruit is about 48-52 same as a banana. So dragon fruit comes under a low glycemic index.
Can a Diabetic Eat Dragon Fruit?
Diabetics can eat dragon fruit because of its low glycemic index but in adequate quantity. As the glycemic index is near to medium GI range, the consumption on dragon fruit should be limited.
If a person with diabetes take insulin, he or she can calculate the carb intake with the insulin shot and vice versa.
Is Dragon Fruit Good for Diabetes?
Dragon fruit is a low GI fruit and can be eaten by a diabetic. Its also good and suitable for a person with diabetes. As its GI is near to the medium range of glycemic index the amount should be limited.
Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit
It is an excellent immunity booster. In diabetes, normal viral or bacterial infection can cause a disaster, so you need to build up a good immune system or defense system.
Dragon fruit consumption can help in building up resistance because of its high nutritional content.
Consumption of dragon fruit can stabilize the blood glucose level because of its low glycemic index.
Some studies have proved that you can manage your sugar level by regular consumption of dragon fruit in required amounts.
Most people think that after detection of diabetes, they can’t consume tasty food and have to eat only healthy food.
The choices for food become less for them, but dragon fruit is healthy and a delicious snack. So it is suitable for people with diabetes.
Dragon fruit is good for digestion. As we all know, having a good digestive system is the key to a healthy metabolism.
Dragon fruit contains potassium and essential minerals, which help maintain a healthy heart by eliminating excessive sodium.
How Can We Add Dragon Fruit to Our Diet?
- You can scoop it out with a spoon or cut it in half, then add some honey to it to enjoy it as a mid-meal treat.
- You can add this as a salad.
- You can make smoothies without adding any sugar component.
- You can add this as a snack, along with some yogurt.
Health-Related Issues Due to Dragon Fruit
Though many studies have been done on the consumption of dragon fruit, they are on animals. It showed a great response in animals, but on humans, it might have some different responses.
So you should always consult your doctor before adding it to your diet plan.
You should always consume fresh dragon fruit. Because when you drink processed juice, jam, or any other packaged product, it might have added sugar or preservative present in it.
Moreover, it would be best if you first asked your doctor about any food product you want to add to your diet. This is necessary to avoid any health issues in the future.
The Bottom Line :
It is evident from all the above points that a person with diabetes can add dragon fruit (fresh) to their diet chart.
Because of its low Glycemic index and high nutritional value, it is helpful in diabetes management. Do consult your doctor or dietitian first and then enjoy its goodness.
References:
- Diabetes tip: Eat dragon fruit to manage your blood sugar levels | TheHealthSite.com
- Dragon Fruit Benefits for Diabetes Treatments – DrHealthBenefits.com
- http://www.kidneyservicechina.com/diabetes-healthy-lifestyle/4057.html#:~:text=Dragon%20fruit%20is%20just%20rich%20in%20iron,%20so,this%20point,%20dragon%20fruit%20is%20good%20for%20diabetics.
