Monday, December 14, 2015

Dragon fruit? For your hair!?

10-Dragon-Fruit

Dragon fruit is one of my go-to-fruits. Not because of it's name (Let's be serious. Dragon fruit is a cool name. No?) but I like the taste and texture of it. Enough about me. If you are not a big fan of dragon fruit, you might just be one after I introduced the benefits of dragon fruit to your hair!

Pitaya, which is also know as Dragon Fruit, has an interesting story being it.

According to the legend the fruit was created thousands of years ago by fire breathing dragons. During a battle when the dragon breathed fire the last thing to emerge would be the fruit. When the dragon was slain the fruit was collected by the victorious soldiers and presented to the Emperor as a coveted treasure.

The soldiers would then butcher the dragon and eat the flesh. It was believed that those who feasted on the flesh would be endowed with the strength and ferocity of the dragon and that they too would be coveted by the Emperor.


Why is dragon fruit beneficial for you?


Well, it is full of goodness for your entire body and that starts with its richness in vitamin C, but it also has vitamins B1, B2, and B3. It has calcium, iron, and phosphorus, high in dietary fiber and phytoalbumins, which contain antioxidant properties. Dragon fruit is filled with those tiny black seeds and they are not only edible but also an asset to the fruit and to us. The seeds are extremely high in polyunsaturated fatty acids like Omega 3 and 6 and it contains carotene. This fruit is blood sugar regulating and an immune boosting asset to your diet.

Then, how does the dragon fruit helps with your hair?


Just about everything mentioned for benefiting your body will also benefit your hair. The fatty acids are excellent supporters for healthy hair with the Omega 3s keeping your hair lustrous and shiny while the Omega 6s stimulate hair growth. Those Omega 3s are also vital to our body’s production of collagen and collagen helps each strand of hair maintain its thickness. Unfortunately, as we age this delivery slows down, so this is very important for our aging hair to get this type of help.

Just how do I use dragon fruit to help me hair?


Dragonfruit juice

Dragon fruit is great for softening color-treated or chemically-treated tresses. Apply dragon fruit juice on your scalp and hair for 15-20 minutes before shampooing for scalp calming benefits from the antioxidants. This in turn increases blood circulation and good blood circulation allows oxygen to get to the hair follicles for proper growth. Dragon fruit also has niacin, which dilates the blood vessels and allows for better circulation of blood to nourish the scalp and hair follicles.


Here is a tasty and healthy dragon fruit smoothie pumped with protein, iron, and vitamin C that will benefit your skin, hair and body.

DRAGON FRUIT SMOOTHIE BOWL

PREP TIME
10 mins
TOTAL TIME
10 mins
A thick and creamy fiber rich smoothie bowl made with dragon fruit (pitaya) and topped with superfood ingredients.
Author: McKel Hill, MS, RD, LDN
Recipe type: dessert, breakfast
Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS
  • 1 pack of frozen and pureed pink dragon fruit (pitaya)
  • ½ frozen banana
  • 1 cup frozen raspberries
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon bee pollen
  • 1 teaspoon maca powder
  • Garnish toppings, optional: shredded coconut, bee pollen, cacao nibs, fresh dragon fruit, fresh sliced figs, fresh raspberries
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Add ice to thicken as desired.
  2. Pour into a bowl and top with optional garnish ingredients to add flavor and nutrient density.
  3. Enjoy immediately.
Via NutritionStripped.com

There are no health risks associated with dragon fruits, and studies have even shown that pregnant women and breast-feeding women are safe to eat dragon fruits without any worry of risks. So, go out to your nearest exotic market and grab some delicious and wildly nutritious dragon fruit.


After learning about all these, are you going to the nearest market to grab these gems yet? Stay tuned for more posts like these! As we, LaoFoYe, share more hair tips and facts to you!

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