Potential Interactions Between Dragon Fruit and Medications

Dragon Fruit is a cactus fruit, and there are several different species. It is also called Dragon Fruit, strawberry pear, and Dragon Fruit. Dragon Fruit can weigh from 150 to 600 g, with some specimens even weighing up to 1 kg. The smooth skin is covered with small, spiny leaves, giving it a pine cone-like appearance. The flesh is dense with a large number of small, dark seeds, reminiscent of poppy seeds. So, see below dragon fruit and medication interactions.

Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit:

The health benefits of Dragon Fruit…

Dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants:

A source of vitamins A and C, it also contains polyphenols. ” These three active ingredients are also found in greater quantities in the red-fleshed dragon fruit,” notes our expert. They act in synergy to help our body fight against cellular aging and thus prevent the development of diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases as well as neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s diseases.

Dragon fruit is low in calories:

With a contribution of about 36 Kcal per 100 gm, it is a particularly light and low-calorie fruit. It is ideal for people who are watching their weight closely, as a snack or dessert for a meal because it is not likely to increase the caloric intake of your day by much.

Dragon fruit is a source of fiber:

100 g of pitaya provides nearly 2 g of fiber. “If they gently restart sluggish intestinal transits, they are also beneficial for the balance of the intestinal microbiota, they participate in the fight against cancers, including those of the colon, breast, and stomach”, explains the dietician. Finally, they play a role in the good health of our heart by reducing the level of bad blood cholesterol.

Dragon fruit is remineralizing:

Dragon fruit provides magnesium, a mineral that helps to fix calcium in the bones and regulate blood sugar levels, helping us prevent type 2 diabetes. “It normalizes heart rate and blood pressure, thus playing an important role in preventing cardiovascular disorders,” says Raphaël Gruman, dietician-nutritionist. Finally, it ensures the proper functioning of intestinal transit.

Dragon Fruit And Medication Interactions:

Certain drugs, particularly those that are metabolized by the liver, such as anticoagulants and statins, may interact with dragon fruit. The body’s ability to metabolize certain medications may be hampered by the fruit’s strong antioxidant content. These are a few possible pairings:

Drugs for diabetes: Combining dragon fruit with diabetic drugs may cause blood sugar to drop dangerously low since dragon fruit can reduce blood sugar. You might need to change the dosage of your diabetes medication and keep a careful eye on your blood sugar levels.

Drugs for high blood pressure or cholesterol: The antioxidants in dragon fruit may interact with certain drugs.

Blood thinners: Dragon fruit and blood thinners may interact.

If you are currently taking any long-term drugs, you should speak with your doctor before including dragon fruit in your diet.