Is it better to eat white or red dragon fruit?

Answer:

Generally speaking, either kind of dragon fruits is good for human health.

Compared to other fruits, the Glycemic Index of dragon fruits is low, ranging between 48-52 only. The fruit is also rich in fiber, which helps slow down the process of absorbing sugar and carbohydrates, so consuming it is beneficial for people with diabetes.

However, there are some minor differences between the two types of dragon fruits and people can choose to have red or white ones depending on their preferences.

Red dragon fruits taste sweeter than their white counterparts because they contain more sugar. Photo illustration by Freepik

Red dragon fruits taste sweeter than their white counterparts because they contain more sugar. The amount of sugar in 100 grams of red dragon fruit is 11.5 grams, while the figure in white dragon fruit is only 7.65 grams. Thus, doctors suggest people who want to lose weight or have diabetes consume white dragon fruits.

The amount of antioxidants such as anthocyanin, vitamin C, and carotene in red dragon fruits is higher than that in white dragon fruits. as well

These chemicals help neutralize free radicals in the human body and reduce cell damage. Antioxidants also help prevent humans from inflammation, which is caused by gout, diabetes, or other forms of arthritis diseases.

White dragon fruits also contain those antioxidants, but a low amount only.

Dr. Huynh Tan Vu

Department of Traditional Medicine, HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy