Many individuals keep a prickly pear cactus within their homes or gardens for decoration. Everything you might not realize, however, is that the prickly pear cactus is filled with antioxidants that are good for your health. It also has a high concentration of vitamin C. Here is the vitamin known to give a boost to the human disease fighting capability. Generally known as the nopal cactus, the prickly pear is native to Mexico and fares best in warm climates.
Weight Control and Diabetes
This type of cactus is specially good for diabetics. A 2005 study performed by researchers in Mexico City demonstrated that a diabetic who incorporates the nopal cactus into his daily food diet can get to see his glucose levels drop dramatically. This may be partially due to the fact that one nutrients within the pads of the cactus prevent the body from absorbing excess sugar from other food stuffs.
This information is not only pertinent to diabetics, however. Folks who are actively attempting to lose weight can also reap the benefits of lower blood sugar levels. High glucose levels can result in more acute hunger that may, in turn, lead to overeating. As well as controlling glucose, the cactus is a high fiber food. Individuals who consume foods saturated in fiber have a tendency to feel full for a lot longer than those who snack on foods saturated in sugar. Thus, the cactus might be a good dietary addition for those wanting to control their weight.
The Digestive System
Nopal cactus has been used for a large number of years by Mexican Indians as a dietary supplement to regulate the digestive tract. Individuals who incorporate nopal cactus supplements to their diets can expect to see a greater degree of regularity in their bowel movements. The cactus also contains high degrees of insoluble fibers. For that reason, it serves as an all natural colon cleanser and rids the body of impurities found within the colon that may interfere with your body’s digestive health.
For people who have struggled with pancreatitis during the past, nopal cactus may present a delicious solution to a painful problem. The same insoluble fibers that serve as colon cleansers also absorb excess bile excreted by the pancreas. Excess bile that’s not absorbed is stored by the gallbladder and will lead to gall stones. Gall stones can cause further episodes of pancreatitis for chronic sufferers.
How to Take Prickly Pear
Nopal cactus could be eaten raw or cooked. Should buy a cactus be feeling particularly brave, you might cultivate a cactus in the home and carefully strip its pads of their needles before roasting the pads or chopping them up right into a salad. For some, however, the work involved to get ready a dish with the cactus proves to be too much effort. If you need to enjoy the health benefits without the risk of biting into one of its sharp needles, you can purchase herbal supplements in pill form. These supplements contain cactus powder that delivers you with similar health benefits as eating the cactus in its natural form. Additionally, you can also now purchase supplements in the form of liquid or juice. There are several companies offering a juice or concentration which has high levels of antioxidants within the nopal prickly pear cactus. And, if however you live in the southwestern USA, you may also be able to purchase the cactus already prepared at your neighborhood grocery store.
Modern research shows that the nopal cactus can lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, boost energy levels, and prevent nerve deterioration. Few vegetables can boast this wide of a repertoire of health advantages for the human body. If you are concerned about your wellbeing or weight, consider picking up some supplements or growing one of these versatile cacti is likely to garden. You may discover that, health benefits aside, you just love the taste.
