The pitaya we first saw in the market were all white, and now there are red pitaya, also known as Red Dragon Fruit, Dragon Pearl Fruit, Fairy Honey Fruit and Yulong Fruit. It is the fruit of Cactus, which is native to tropical desert areas such as Mexico and Central America. Like cactus, it has very strong drought and disease resistance.

Compared with white pitaya, the sugar-acid ratio of red pitaya is higher, which means that red pitaya is sweeter and has better flavor. The contents of protein and vitamin C in red pitaya and white pitaya are almost the same, and the contents of vitamin C are similar to those in peaches, bananas, cantaloupes and other fruits. The dietary fiber content of red pitaya is slightly different from that of white pitaya, which is higher than that of white pitaya.

The most prominent feature of red pitaya is that it is rose to purple from peel to pulp, and this pigment is lycopene. Different from anthocyanins in purple potato, mulberry and blueberry, it will not change color when it meets acid and alkali. This natural pigment is unique and generally exists in plants with particularly harsh growth environment, such as plants in desert areas where water is scarce and drought and ultraviolet radiation is particularly strong.

The special environment has created unique skills. On the one hand, pigments in plants are designed to attract bees and butterflies, on the other hand, they have special physiological functions. It is found that lycopene has the functions of regulating cell osmotic pressure, protecting plants from ultraviolet rays, scavenging free radicals, and resisting pests and diseases.

In the research of medical field, it is found that beet pigment has antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerosis effects.

Pitaya is a kind of fruit with the smallest seed, which has a strong laxative ability. Red pitaya has a better laxative effect than white pitaya. The small seed of pitaya is dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and accelerate the speed of feces passing through the intestine, which is very beneficial to prevent constipation. However, this advantage has become a disadvantage for people who have a bad stomach and are prone to abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Red pitaya is more expensive than white pitaya because of its high sweetness, good taste and low yield. As a fruit, pitaya can provide vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and phytochemicals for the body. The daily consumption is about 250 grams. Eating too much is easy to gain weight, and it is not very friendly to the stomach. Just eat it in moderation every day.

Having said the benefits of red pitaya, let's talk about its taboos.

Taboo: Pitaya should not be eaten with milk. People with cold constitution symptoms such as diabetes, female constitution deficiency and cold, pale face, limb weakness and frequent diarrhea should not eat more; And women should not eat pitaya during menstruation.

Taboo: The redder the surface, the better. The greener the green part, the fresher it is. If the green part turns yellow, it means it is not fresh.

(The picture comes from the Internet. )