Pitahaya Reached SuperFood Status

pitahaya fruit, photo by Vicki Schwartz

(also known as Dragon Fruit or Pitaya)

 

fresh squeezed pitahaya juice Nicaragua summer 2010

            Remember when I went to Nicaragua three years ago and came back obsessed with the fruit Pitahaya, the popular Nicaraguan fruit that when juiced produces a brilliantly colored purple juice? Well apparently a year ago, this beautiful fruit was also dubbed a SuperFood by bloggers galore. How did I miss my favorite exotic fruit in the media? Who knows… As soon as I found out this news, I wanted to see what makes Pitahaya so nutritious. To the internet I went!

pitahaya pulp, photo by Vicki Schwartz

            I raked through pages and pages of pitahaya, pitaya and dragon fruit related Google searches trying to investigate this fruit, but I could not find an accurate nutrient analysis. It was not listed in the USDA nutrient database, meaning the USDA has not analyzed the pitahaya’s nutrients. The only research I found on the nutrients in the Pitahaya fruit were from the research center at Cavite State University in the Philippines. The nutrition information about the pitahaya fruit based on Cavite University’s research is listed below.  

Fruit and pulp, photo by Vicki Schwartz

            Beware of blogs bragging that this fruit has a significant amount of fiber, monounsaturated fats and vitamin C. It has a normal amount of fiber, a moderate amount of vitamin C and an unknown amount of monounsaturated fats (according to the information available to the American public). It is a good source of vitamin C (important for skin health, wound healing and for absorbing iron), Niacin (a B vitamin and precursor for an amino acid – important for metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats), and carotene (a precursor for Vitamin A – important for skin and vision). Thus, it is a good fruit to include in your diet… but I haven’t seen anything that makes it extra special. Although, the high amount of carotene is impressive. Carotene is not something that I read about in blogs talking about pitahaya.

            I still love it for its color and deliciousness. But why was it labeled a SuperFood? Maybe it’s the vitamin A… but I still don’t know! 

  

pitahaya flavored ice cream, Nicaragua summer 2010

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size	1 small fruit (3.6 ounces)
Calories	60
Fat	1 g
Fiber	1 g
Protein	0 g
Vitamin B2	4%
Niacin	43%
Iron	5%
Phosphorus	5 %
Vitamin C	10%
Vitamin A	1500%

me and a pitahaya in my college world foods class, photo by Vicki Schwartz

Abbreviations:

g = gram

References:

“Dragon Fruit: Enter the Dragon.” Agriculture Business Week. Date accessed 26 January 2014 http://www.agribusinessweek.com/dragon-fruit-enter-the-dragon/

“The Potential Of The Dragon Fruit.” Bureau of Agricultural Research. Date accessed 26      January 2014 http://www.bar.gov.ph/digest-home/digest-archives/368-2012-4th-quarter/4607-octdec2012-dragon-fruit

Cavite State University. http://www.cvsu.edu.ph/