I have no idea who’s reading this blog. I
started writing it three days after my birthday which means it’s probably another
new turn in my life !
I’m doing it just for fun/self satisfaction and to indulge my love for writing. If anybody is reading this right now, I say
‘h-e-l-l-o,
greetings from Kuala Penyu, Sabah, nice to meet you!’
Anyway, today I’m posting pictures of my dragon
fruit (also known as pitaya elsewhere)
fruiting for the first time. I had bought a couple of plants a year ago (I
always buy two of each plant in case one dies) when it was just about a foot
high, and how they have grown! From the
picture, you can see that they have multiplied many times.
This is one fruit that I really enjoy
eating. Blended with papaya, banana
and yogurt, I can never have enough of it!
Dragon fruit can be quite costly from the market, but luckily for me,
there is a big plantation nearby and all I have to do is give Mrs Lai a call to
see if she has ripe fruit. I get a
very good price from her and sometimes I even get some free, bless her.
In case you’re not familiar with the fruit and its
health benefits (so many!), just google it, but for starters, here’s an excerpt
from one website :
Because
of the multiple scales on the outside of it, dragon fruit was originally known
as pitaya. This night-flowering cactus plant is also known as strawberry pear,
mood flower, skogkaktus, pa-ni-ni, catobarse and long gou. Originating in
Mexico and South America, this fruit is now also grown commercially in Asia.
There are a few different varieties of dragon fruit. While some are dark pink,
others are yellow or white. They have a taste similar to that of kiwi fruit,
pear and watermelon. Health benefits of this unusual fruit range from improving
memory to boosting the body's metabolism.
Because of its ability to lower blood glucose levels naturally, those suffering from diabetes can also benefit from eating dragon fruit. Its high protein content makes it beneficial for those needing to boost metabolism. Its Calcium content enables it to assist with strengthening teeth and bones naturally. Having a high fibre content, it is ideal for those suffering from constipation or irregular bowel movements. It possesses natural skin moisturizing properties.
Dragon fruit is also known to be a natural appetite stimulant, making it a good choice for anyone recovering from a loss of appetite after illness. It is an excellent antioxidant, which helps prevent the spread of free radicals within the body. It is able to lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure naturally. It has also been shown to help those suffering from respiratory infections and asthma.
Besides calcium, this spiky fruit contains a host of other nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), carotene, phosphorus, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), iron, protein, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), carbohydrates, fibre and Vitamin C. It contains a small amount of ash and is approximately 83% moisture.
Because of its ability to lower blood glucose levels naturally, those suffering from diabetes can also benefit from eating dragon fruit. Its high protein content makes it beneficial for those needing to boost metabolism. Its Calcium content enables it to assist with strengthening teeth and bones naturally. Having a high fibre content, it is ideal for those suffering from constipation or irregular bowel movements. It possesses natural skin moisturizing properties.
Dragon fruit is also known to be a natural appetite stimulant, making it a good choice for anyone recovering from a loss of appetite after illness. It is an excellent antioxidant, which helps prevent the spread of free radicals within the body. It is able to lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure naturally. It has also been shown to help those suffering from respiratory infections and asthma.
Besides calcium, this spiky fruit contains a host of other nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), carotene, phosphorus, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), iron, protein, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), carbohydrates, fibre and Vitamin C. It contains a small amount of ash and is approximately 83% moisture.
The
Vitamin C in dragon fruit enables
it to help build the immune system and heal bruises and cuts naturally. It also
acts as a natural detoxing agent, because it is able to help the body
neutralize substances like heavy metals.
This versatile fruit can be served whole, in salads, on homemade pizza and as a beverage if squeezed. It can also be used to make spreads, jams and preserves.
http://www.naturalnews.com/034163_dragon_fruit_health_benefits.html
This versatile fruit can be served whole, in salads, on homemade pizza and as a beverage if squeezed. It can also be used to make spreads, jams and preserves.
http://www.naturalnews.com/034163_dragon_fruit_health_benefits.html
JUST TO
LET YOU KNOW: After eating a lot of dragon fruit (meaning 2 or more at one
time) of the dark pink variety, I noticed ‘blood’ when I went to the loo.
Luckily my sis-in-law had already warned me in advance about the result
of eating dragon fruit otherwise I would have had a shock! So be informed.
From 2 mother plants to so many branches!
Fruit not yet bloomed
Another fruit not yet bloomed
Unfortunately I did not manage to capture the flowering which happened
while I was away. What is left after the flowering is the actual fruit
which looks like it's going to be rather large!
vkm
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