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Best Health Benefits Of Kamalam (Dragon Fruit)

Kamalam? 

Many of us are not aware of this name, but we know dragon fruit!!

Recently, The Government of Gujarat (India)  renamed the dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’. Kamalam, in Sanskrit means lotus. The outer layer of the fruit resembles a lotus. It is a bright pink and green colored fruit with a scaly external look. 

Kamalam belongs to the cactus family. It is a tropical and subtropical region-fruit in South America and Asia. It is present with white fleshy material with black, tiny seeds that are sweet.

Nutritional facts of kamalam

It is a super nutritious fruit with a lot of health benefits. It is less in calories and rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, dietary fibers, minerals and antioxidants. Beyond essential nutrients, kamalam supplies beneficial plant compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and beta-cyanins.

Health benefits of kamalam 

It is known as Pitaya in Hindi. It is a powerhouse of nutrition, equipped with many health benefiting properties. They are as follows –

1: May boost immunity 

Various factors make your immunity strong and diet is one of them. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants helps to boost your immunity. Since kamalam is rich in vitamin C, carotenoids and antioxidants, it may increase your immunity to fight against infection. All you need to do is consume 1 cup of this fruit every day and stay healthy. 

In my experience, dragon fruit has shown potential antimicrobial, especially anti-viral properties. This may be attributed to its content of betacyanins, phenolics, fatty acids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, terpenes, and α-terpineol. These components have been associated with inhibiting the growth of viruses and microorganisms, which can help protect against infections.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

2: Helps to control blood sugar levels 

Kamalam contains a high amount of dietary fibers. It may help to control blood sugar levels and also help to suppress sugar spikes. Regular consumption of this fruit helps to stabilize blood sugar. According to a study, kamalam may help replace cells in the pancreas that have become inactive and do not produce insulin. However, more research is required to understand this mechanism. 

3: Help for good digestion 

Kamalam contains prebiotics that help promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the stomach. Thus it may help to prevent indigestion. Prebiotic is a type of fiber that gut-friendly bacteria need to grow.

4: Beneficial for the heart 

Kamalam has some superpower that may keep your heart healthy. The juice pulp of the fruit contains betalains that may reduce the bad cholesterol. Also, the tiny seeds of kamalam contain omega-3 fatty acids that help heart health. 

Did you know that dragon fruit pulp and peels have a high water content and are rich in fibers? Not only that, but they also contain a wide range of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So, if you’re looking for a refreshing and nutritious fruit, dragon fruit is definitely worth considering!

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

5: Great for the skin 

A food rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants always helps healthy skin. Kamalam is rich in all these nutrients that can help in sunburn, dry skin and acne problems. You can make a face mask using the fruit combined with honey as a natural alternative to anti-ageing masks. You can also drink kamalam juice regularly for healthy benefits. 

6: May treat damaged hair: 

Are you dreaming about thick, shiny black and healthy hair? Kamalam may help you with all of this. Kamalam powder may help you by reducing the hair damage caused by artificial hair coloring. It helps keep the hair follicles open, allowing your hair to breathe and remain healthy and smooth. You can also use kamalam juice that may work as a conditioner for your hair.

7: Helps for strong bones

Kamalam is rich in magnesium that helps your bones to get stronger. It also helps to fight against joint inflammations (arthritis). It may act as an anti-inflammatory super-fruit. For better results, you can drink a glass of kamalam juice regularly. 

8: May reduce the risk of cancer:

Kamalam helps to reduce the risk of cancer due to the presence of vitamin C and antioxidants. Some studies suggest that kamalam may be beneficial against stomach cancer. 

9: A good source of iron 

Kamalam contains iron that may help our body to refill the iron requirement. It is also rich in vitamin C that helps to absorb iron rapidly. Kamalam is a magical fruit to eat during pregnancy as it contains iron, vitamins, other minerals and antioxidants.  

Including pitaya in your diet may help replenish vital nutrients and support healthy blood production, potentially aiding in preventing or addressing anemia. Pitaya, also known as dragon fruit, contains essential nutrients that may be beneficial for the body, particularly for individuals susceptible to anaemia, such as postpartum mothers. Pitaya is rich in nutrients like iron, vitamins C, E, B1, B2, and B12 that play a crucial role in supporting the formation of red blood cells.

Dr. Smita Barode, BAMS

Also Read: 10 Health Benefits And Recipes Of Dragon Fruit (Pitaya)

How To Eat Dragon Fruit

Now that you know more about the benefits of dragon fruit, you may want to include it in your diet more often. Dragon fruit or Kamalam is a versatile fruit that can be consumed in several ways:  

It will take some time to get habitual with the new name of dragon fruit. However, due to its unique appearance, it won’t be tough to remember its new name. Kamalam is the best tropical fruit with numerous health benefits. It is a delicious option to try when you are looking for health benefits with taste.. 

Also Read: Nanches: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

9

Monsoon Special: 6 Fresh fruits You Should Eat!

Nature has provided us with all the promising comforts to keep ourselves fit and healthy in all the seasons, be it the dry summer or the humid monsoon. Though the monsoon brings many smiles and is a welcome change after the summer heat, it also brings along risks to your health with infections, flu, and seasonal cold. To prevent all these, you need to see that you make the correct choice of food. One of the best ways is to have fresh seasonal monsoon fruits.

Monsoon special fruits

During monsoon, the immune system of your body becomes weak due to change in the atmosphere. As a result, your body may be continuously affected by allergies and indigestion problems. Therefore, it is important to strengthen your body’s immunity with some proper intake of vitamins and antioxidants. So, if you are looking to eat something fresh, then a healthy fruit basket is an excellent option to keep you fit.

Mentioned below is a list of some of the fruits which can be consumed during monsoon to help you fight infections and increase your immunity. However, do not forget to wash them well and check whether they are ripe and ready to eat.

  1. Cherry

This is one of those monsoon fruits that you will find abundantly. They contain melatonin as an antioxidant that prevents the damage caused to your body cells by free radicals. Free radicals are the natural by-products of metabolism which can initiate a sequence of harmful chemical reactions which cause the cells to function poorly.

The antioxidant can also cross the blood-brain barrier, relax the neurons and calm the nervous system irritability. Thus, it helps in relieving insomnia and headaches. Further, cherries also help combat heart diseases as they reduce cholesterol levels and possess anti-carcinogenic properties. Cherries also decrease high blood pressure levels and uric acid levels.

  1. Peach

This is a fruit enriched with lots of Vitamin A, B carotene, and Vitamin C which ultimately increase immunity. Peach is helpful in protecting the skin and improving the vision. As it has high fiber content, it also helps with weight loss.

I would recommend eating starfruits during monsoons. Some studies show that starfruits possess many medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, immune-boosting properties to mention a few. Due to these properties, starfruits might be beneficial in combating infections during monsoons.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD
  1. Jamun or Jawa Plum

These oblong, dark purple coloured berries are one of the best sources to reduce blood sugar levels and diabetes. Jamuns have low-calorie content and are loaded with nutrients – iron, folate, potassium and vitamins. They are also used to treat various gastric disorders.

  1. Litchi

A rich source of dietary fibre, along with high Vitamin C, Vitamin B, potassium and antioxidants, litchis help to build resistance and boost the immune system. The fibre helps to clean the digestive system and Vitamin C fights against the common cold.

  1. Pomegranates

This monsoon fruit helps safeguard your body from various infections like cold, flu, etc. owing to the antioxidants it contains. These antioxidants present in pomegranate juice possess potent anti-inflammatory properties. Research studies have shown that pomegranate reduces the inflammatory activity of the digestive tract and colon cancer cells. The fruit’s extract also reduces cancer cell reproduction, prevents breast cancer and sometimes, even destroys cancer cells. It also helps reduce systolic blood pressure. The fruit is also beneficial against several forms of arthritis.

  1. Plums

Plums are small package fruits with great value. They greatly help in relieving constipation as plums contain a high amount of naturally occurring sugar sorbitol and plant fibre, thus acting as a laxative. Further, plums also increase iron absorption because they provide a high amount of vitamin C that boosts the haemoglobin content and ultimately, helps in preventing anaemia. The reddish-blue pigment (anthocyanin) present in these fruits also protects against cancer.

Monsoon brings several medical issues like infections. Many fruits might increase your immunity. One such fruit is the Indian gooseberry, Amla. Amla may show antimicrobial activities and might be beneficial against acquired infections during monsoon.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Foods to avoid during the monsoon:

  • Avoid deep-fried snacks like samosas and fries, these can contribute to monsoon weight gain since your metabolism is lower during these months. Weight gain can reduce your immunity.
  • High sugar, carbonated beverages can not only cause stomach issues but also lower your mineral levels. Try to avoid these or you risk making any healthy diet choices redundant.
  • Avoid street food as much as possible, they carry a higher risk of infection during the monsoons.

Thus, during the monsoon, your body is more vulnerable to infection and water-borne diseases which can take a toll on your health. Hence, it is essential to stay fit. So, if you don’t want to fall ill and suffer from some health issues, start consuming these special monsoon fruits and stay healthy.

Also Read: Health Benefits and Precautions: Can You Eat Pomegranate Seeds?

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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