31 Beneficios De La Nopal Para La Piel, El Cabello Y La Salud

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Vídeo: 31 Beneficios De La Nopal Para La Piel, El Cabello Y La Salud

Vídeo: 31 Beneficios De La Nopal Para La Piel, El Cabello Y La Salud
Vídeo: 🌵 Extraordinarios Beneficios Del Nopal Para El Cabello 👩 2024, Marzo
31 Beneficios De La Nopal Para La Piel, El Cabello Y La Salud
31 Beneficios De La Nopal Para La Piel, El Cabello Y La Salud
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Fruta perteneciente a la familia de los cactus que posee una amplia gama de beneficios. Eso es lo que es la tuna. No se deje intimidar por su aspecto, ya que la pulpa de la fruta es deliciosa, más de lo que esperaría. A menudo se considera una excelente cura para la resaca. Y no solo eso, los beneficios de la tuna se extienden por todas partes.

Echemos un vistazo a todos los de esta publicación. ¡Sigue leyendo!

Tabla de contenido

  • ¿Qué es la tuna?
  • ¿Cuál es la historia de la tuna?
  • ¿Por qué las tunas son buenas para ti?
  • Información nutricional de las tunas
  • ¿Cuáles son los beneficios para la salud del nopal?
  • ¿Cuáles son los beneficios de la tuna para la piel?
  • ¿Cómo beneficia la tuna a tu cabello?
  • ¿Cómo incorporar la higo chumbo a su dieta?
  • Usos del nopal
  • Cómo seleccionar y almacenar cactus pera
  • Cómo comer nopal
  • ¿Alguna receta de higo chumbo?
  • ¿Dónde comprar la fruta de nopal?
  • ¿Cuáles son los hechos sobre la tuna que necesito saber?
  • Efectos secundarios del nopal

¿Qué es la tuna?

La tuna es un fruto que crece en las hojas de los cactus Nopales, pertenece al género Opuntia, su nombre científico es Opuntia ficus-indica. También se le conoce como Nagfani en hindi, Nagajemudu en telugu, Kallimullpazham en malayalam y Dindla en gujarati. Las plantas más jóvenes son comestibles y a menudo forman parte de la dieta mexicana. Las otras partes comestibles del nopal son las flores, los tallos y las hojas.

Ampliamente conocido como “nopal”, nopal con diferentes nombres en diferentes países y regiones como atún, nopal, nopales, higos agracejo, higos indios. El higo chumbo es una fruta cilíndrica que tiene una piel exterior firme con púas y una pulpa interior más suave, que es comestible. Es verde inicialmente y se vuelve rosa rojizo a medida que madura en la mayoría de las plantas (1). Se puede comer crudo, hervido o a la parrilla. También se utiliza para hacer zumos y mermeladas. Estas frutas ovaladas y sabrosas brotan de la parte superior de las hojas de los cactus espinosos y varían en varios colores, desde el rojo verdoso hasta el amarillo o el púrpura. Su sabor es similar al de la sandía / frambuesa y tiene una fragancia similar a la del pepino.

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¿Cuál es la historia de la tuna?

Al ser un cactus, la planta de tuna puede sobrevivir en condiciones de clima seco. Se dice que se originó en México y los países del norte de América del Sur, que se clasifican en las categorías de clima árido a semiárido. En estas regiones, ha sido un alimento básico durante miles de años. Más tarde se descubrió que también se usaba en el Medio Oriente y el subcontinente indio.

Con una popularidad creciente, los cactus de higo chumbo ahora también se cultivan en Europa y Australia. La fruta se disfruta no solo por su sabor sino también por sus beneficios para la salud. Sus propiedades antiinflamatorias, antioxidantes y antienvejecimiento han hecho que esta fruta espinosa sea popular.

Entonces, ¿por qué estas frutas son alimento para ti?

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¿Por qué las tunas son buenas para ti?

La tuna es rica en muchos nutrientes, vitaminas, minerales y fibra dietética. Estos lo convierten en una adición maravillosa y saludable a su dieta tanto con fines culinarios como medicinales. Su bajo contenido de colesterol y grasas saturadas los convierte en una opción adecuada para muchas personas en todo el mundo que padecen obesidad y enfermedades cardíacas. Estas frutas versátiles no son una molestia para cortar o preparar. Si tiene acceso a ellos, continúe y compre algunos.

Veamos ahora la información nutricional de esta fruta.

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Información nutricional de las tunas

Cuando hablamos del valor nutricional de la tuna, contiene magnesio, aminoácidos, antioxidantes, vitaminas C y B, betacaroteno, hierro, calcio, potasio y muchos otros nutrientes. Tomar una taza de esta fruta puede ser una buena fuente de una parte considerable del valor de la ingesta diaria de muchas vitaminas y minerales. Tenga en cuenta que el calcio que se encuentra en esta planta tradicional del desierto puede no estar presente en su forma biológicamente activa. Está presente en forma de complejo no absorbible (oxalato de calcio).

Tamaño de la porción 149g

Grasa saturada 0g Grasas trans Colesterol 0 mg Sodio 7 mg Carbohidratos totales 14g Fibra dietética 5g Azúcares Protien 1g Vitamina A Vitamina C Calcio Planchar
Vitamina C Vitamina D Vitamina E (alfa tocoferol) Vitamina K Tiamina Riboflavina Niacina Vitamina B6 Folato Vitamina B12 Ácido pantoténico Colina Betaína Vitamina C Cantidades por porción seleccionada Calcio Planchar Magnesio Fósforo Potasio Sodio Zinc Cobre Manganeso Selenio Fluoruro
Grasa total Grasa saturada Grasa monosaturada Grasa poli-insaturada Ácidos grasos trans totales Ácidos grasos trans-monoenoicos totales Ácidos grasos trans-polienóicos totales Ácidos grasos omega-3 totales Ácidos grasos omega-6 totales

Ahora que tenemos una breve comprensión de los nutrientes que se encuentran en la fruta de nopal, veamos lo que implica la presencia de estos nutrientes. Los muchos beneficios para la salud de esta fruta se analizan a continuación.

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¿Cuáles son los beneficios para la salud del nopal?

Algunos de los beneficios para la salud de la tuna incluyen su capacidad para reducir los niveles de colesterol, ayudar a perder peso, mejorar el proceso digestivo, combatir las células cancerosas, disminuir el riesgo de diabetes, estimular el sistema inmunológico y reducir el riesgo de Alzheimer. Siga leyendo para saber más.

1. Papel potencial en el control de peso

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna

La obesidad es una epidemia mundial y debe tratarse lo antes posible. En lugar de recurrir a medidas extremas como medicamentos dañinos o cirugía, una solución simple a este problema podría ser consumir mucha fibra dietética. La fruta de tuna contiene fibra que te hará sentir lleno por más tiempo y reducirá los dolores de hambre. También ayuda a eliminar la grasa de la dieta uniéndola y excretándola del sistema. Como los intestinos no tienen la oportunidad de absorber la grasa de la dieta, esta fruta ayuda eficazmente a controlar el peso e incluso a perderlo (2).

[ Leer: superalimentos para bajar de peso]

2. Ayuda a reducir el colesterol

Continuando en la tangente de la pérdida de peso, la tuna también puede ayudar a reducir los niveles de colesterol en la sangre. Su contenido de fibra (pectina) puede ser responsable de esto, ya que ayuda a eliminar el colesterol LDL del cuerpo. Los experimentos han demostrado que la tuna puede reducir tanto los niveles plasmáticos como los niveles hepáticos de colesterol (3, 4). Además, ciertos fitoesteroles que se encuentran en el aceite de semilla de cactus pueden alterar el metabolismo del colesterol de manera positiva (5). La hiperlipidemia, la condición de los niveles altos de colesterol, también se puede controlar.

3. Fuente de micronutrientes esenciales

The essential micronutrients found in prickly pear are vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin, niacin, iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Of these, the highest % DV is held by vitamin C and magnesium (6). Consumption of one cup of this fruit on a regular basis can provide your body with these micronutrients that are required for various physiological and metabolic processes.

4. Fights Cancer Cells

The flavonoid compounds in prickly pear lower the risk of breast, prostate, stomach, pancreatic, ovarian, cervical, and lung cancers. They were shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the lab and mice models. They also caused the death of these cancerous cells at higher concentrations (7). These compounds also have the ability to remove free radicals and improve the activities of pro-oxidant enzymes.

5. Prevents Ulcers

Both physical and mental stress can cause changes in the gastrointestinal mucosa and result in gastric ulcers. Inflammation occurs as there is an increase in the pro-inflammatory compounds that damage the gastric wall. Prickly pear exerts a positive effect on the gastric mucosa, and this activity is mainly facilitated by a compound called betanin found in this fruit. The gastric mucus production is regulated, and there is also a reduction in the pro-inflammatory chemicals. As a result of this, the chances of developing ulcers are highly reduced by the consumption of prickly pear (8).

[Read: Home Remedies for Stomach Ulcers]

6. Blood Sugar Regulation

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna

Cactus pear is often touted for its hypoglycemic activity. This means that the ingestion of this fruit or its extract can lower high blood glucose levels as well as maintain normal levels. Different experiments on both diabetic and antidiabetic rats have shown a decrease in blood glucose levels. The main mechanism of this reduction is a decrease in the intestinal absorption of glucose (9, 10). Prickly pear cactus fruit’s fiber and pectin content are considered responsible for this activity. Once the blood sugar levels are brought under control, type II diabetes can be managed easily.

7. Nopal Cactus Cleans The Colon

The high fiber content of prickly pear not only helps in lowering blood sugar/glucose and cholesterol levels but also helps in regulating the general functioning of the colon. Enough glucose is absorbed, and unhealthy fats and excess bile are eliminated from the body. This keeps the colon in optimum health. The inflammation and oxidative stress that the colon is being subjected to are also alleviated. The antioxidants present in prickly pear eliminate the free radicals and inflammation-inducing compounds, thus cleansing and protecting the colon (11).

8. Soothes The Stomach

In Mexico, prickly pear is commonly used as a dietary supplement. People consume prickly pear daily to regularize their bowel movements. This helps to maintain a healthy digestive system and prevents constipation. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of compounds found in cactus pear are also responsible for aiding stomach health and soothing it (12).

9. Protects The Liver

We often consume carcinogens and other compounds that can damage the liver without realizing the damage they can cause. Here’s a solution. Consume prickly pear as a juice or in the form of jams or jellies to prevent liver damage. It contains plenty of antioxidants that can reduce the oxidative stress caused by such compounds on the liver. It exerts hepatoprotective activity that mainly involves eliminating free radicals and increasing the body’s antioxidant activity against these compounds (13).

[Read: Foods For A Healthy Liver]

10. Reduces Hangovers

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna

This fruit has the ability to reduce the effects of a hangover. Prickly pear juice reduces the production of inflammatory mediators that induce the uncomfortable feeling during alcohol hangovers. It also reduces other symptoms like nausea and dry mouth (14).

11. Immune System Booster

The vitamin C content of prickly pear is responsible for this particular health benefit. Vitamin C boosts the body’s immune response against various infections. It increases the production of white blood cells that undertake the process of killing and eliminating infectious microorganisms from the body. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant and reduces the free radical damage throughout the body. This also gives the immune system a boost (15, 16).

12. Reduces Risk Of Colon Cancer

Prickly pear contains various types of antioxidants like flavonoids, quercetins, gallic acid, phenolic compounds, betacyanins, etc. The antioxidant activity of these was tested against colon cancer cell lines, and the viability of these cells was greatly affected by them (17). Quercetin, especially, plays a key role in the disruption of a certain pathway involved in the development of cancer cells (18).

13. Protects Against Heart Disease

The fiber content of prickly pear helps reduce cholesterol levels in the body and maintain blood pressure. Hence, hypertension and bad cholesterol are brought under control. These factors are associated with atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and other heart diseases. Cactus fruit’s antioxidants also help to enhance cardiovascular health (19, 20). The biologically active flavonoids in prickly pears normalize the blood platelet stickiness, which helps to maintain good cardiovascular health (21). Hence, herbal doctors often recommend consuming prickly pear for alleviating cardiovascular disease.

14. Alleviates Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Prickly pear is rich in the mineral potassium. When ingested, this mineral can reduce the pressure on the blood vessels and lower the elevated blood pressure levels. Regular intake of prickly pear can maintain normal blood pressure levels and give relief from hypertension. The betalain found in this fruit also strengthens the inner walls of the blood vessels, further aiding in the promotion of cardiovascular health (22).

[Read: Home Remedies for High Blood Pressue]

15. Osteoporosis Protection

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna

This fruit is anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antihistamine in nature. It also contains flavonoids that prevent the release of the compounds that help in inflammation of the joints and muscles caused due to gout, arthritis, exercise, fibromyalgia, and allergies. Osteoporosis, which is essentially an inflammatory disease, can be prevented and treated with prickly pear supplementation (23).

16. Stroke Prevention

A decrease in total body fat and elevated cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure levels can all impact cardiovascular health in a very positive way. As these levels are reduced in the body, the risk of stroke or heart attack goes down (24, 25).

17. Reduces Frequency Of Migraine Headaches

Migraine is a chronic inflammatory condition that is characterized by the presence of a severe headache (usually on one side of the head) with disturbances in digestion and vision. And to alleviate this inflammation, anti-inflammatory compounds are needed. These are found in abundance in the prickly pear fruit, especially the compound indicaxanthin. This is technically a dietary pigment that can reduce various pro-inflammatory factors in the body (26). If consumed frequently, this fruit can help people deal with migraines. It also reduces their intensity and frequency.

18. Alleviates Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Cramps, back pain, headaches, and breast tenderness are common symptoms that woman experience during PMS. Most of these symptoms are associated with an increase in the levels of prostaglandins (hormone-like chemicals) in the body. Prickly pear is known to inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, thus alleviating PMS symptoms (27).

19. Strengthens Bones And Teeth

Our teeth and bones are composed of calcium, and our diet is the only source of this mineral. The body obviously cannot synthesize calcium by itself. One cup of fresh prickly pear fruit contains 83 milligrams of calcium, which constitutes about 8% of the daily intake recommended by the FDA. This calcium intake will strengthen our bones and teeth (28).

20. Promotes Digestive Health

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna

Fiber is an important part of our diet when it comes to digestive health. And prickly pear is loaded with fiber. This aids smooth digestion of various components of the food we eat and enhances the activity of the digestive enzymes. Additionally, the fiber from the fruit can help in the smooth elimination of wastes from the body (29).

21. Makes Your Nails Healthy

Prickly pear seed oil can be used to moisturize dry and damaged nails and restore the health of the nails and cuticles. It contains moisturizing fatty acids like linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Small concentrations of other fatty acids are also found (30).

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What Are The Benefits Of Prickly Pear For The Skin?

The seeds of this fruit are cold pressed to prepare a beauty oil. It possesses many properties that give it the following benefits:

22. Anti-Aging Properties

It contains skin-softening vitamins E and K. It also contains a good amount of skin hydrating and nourishing fatty acids. These prevent the formation of wrinkles and fine lines, thus making prickly pear oil a good anti-aging agent (30).

[Read: Homemade Tips For Anti-Aging]

23. Anti-Inflammatory Agent

This xerophytic plant’s oil has great inflammation-fighting capabilities because of the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds. The betalains and phenolic compounds exert this effect when the oil is applied topically on the skin. Swelling and irritation due to insect bites, scrapes, or inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis can be reduced by the application of this oil.

24. Brightens The Skin Tone

This oil is also often used for its skin brightening properties. Linoleic acid, which is a fatty acid, not only nourishes the skin but also eliminates dullness. It also protects the skin from UV radiation (31).

25. Helps Achieve Smoother Skin

It is super hydrating for dull and dry skin. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic fatty acids, which are found in major proportions in prickly pear seed oil, supply the skin with the oils it lacks.

26. Heals Cuts, Wounds, And Blemishes

Phenolic compounds are also found in good concentrations in prickly pear oil, which exert antioxidant effects on the skin and help repair damaged skin (32). Cut wounds, scars, and other blemishes that may have formed due to various reasons will start healing and fading over time. Apply this oil regularly to reap its healing benefits.

27. Reduces Dark Circles

Dark circles under the eyes are formed due to many reasons. Lack of sleep, dehydration, and oxidative stress are the major factors that can cause your under eye area to become dull and get a bluish-purplish tinge. Prickly pear seed oil contains skin nourishing fatty acids that also possess skin brightening properties. In conjunction, these properties can help to lighten your dark circles.

All of these properties make prickly pear seed oil an excellent choice for mature, aging, and/or damaged skin.

Let us now look at the benefits of prickly pear for your hair.

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How Does Prickly Pear Benefit Your Hair?

Both the fruit and the oil from its seeds can be used to smoothen hair texture, reduce hair fall, increase hair growth, and improve hair health overall.

28. Nourishes Hair

We already know that the oil from the seeds of this cactus fruit contains plenty of fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins that can benefit the skin. Similarly, these can also nourish the scalp and hair by providing the healthy oils they may be lacking. A special mention is required for prickly pear’s vitamin E content that can deeply condition the hair.

29. Makes Your Hair Shiny

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna

You can use prickly pear oil to make your hair glossy. This oil can give you double the amount of fatty acids and protein than argan oil, which is a popular oil used for restoring the natural hair shine.

30. Reduces Hair Loss

The pulp of this fruit is often added to hair care products as its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds can give relief from many scalp conditions and, in turn, reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth (33, 34).

31. Natural Hair Conditioner

Here’s a simple recipe to concoct your own hair conditioner at home using prickly pear cactus:

You Will Need
  • 1-2 large nopal cactus pads
  • 1/2 cucumber
  • 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons coconut milk (optional)
What You Have To Do

1. Wash the cactus carefully and peel it to remove all the thorns and barbs.

2. Dice this into small squares and add chopped cucumber to it.

3. Add the olive oil and coconut milk and blend everything.

4. Apply this on the scalp and hair.

5. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes and then rinse it off thoroughly. Make sure no residue remains in your hair.

This cactus pear hair mask will make your hair healthy, silky, and soft. It is also useful to protect your hair from the scorching sun and rejuvenate heat-damaged hair.

Those were the best benefits of prickly pear for your skin, hair and health. See the next section to know how to make prickly pear a wonderful addition to your diet.

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How To Incorporate Prickly Pear Into Your Diet?

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna

The prickly pear cactus plant has different parts that are edible. The pad of the cactus, which is often referred to as the nopal, is used as a vegetable in Mexican dishes. Its texture is similar to that of okra when cooked. It is boiled or grilled and is added to soups and salads mostly. Apart from the cactus pad, the fruit or the pear itself can be eaten. Like any other fruit, you can simply rinse it, peel it, and eat it fresh. The flowers of this plant are often used as garnishing or added to salads for extra flavor.

Eating the prickly pear fruit is not a difficult process. All you need to do is peel the skin and eat the fleshy pulp present inside. Be careful of the spines when you are handling the fruit initially and the seeds when you are eating it. Many people also prepare jams and jellies from prickly pear fruit.

If you do not have access to a store where you can purchase this fruit from, there are extracts available in the market. The dosage of these extracts would depend on the concentration, and it is best if the manufacturer’s recommendation is followed. Prickly pear water is also available in the market these days. This is prepared from the juice of the fruit and filtered water, along with some additional ingredients like lemon juice.

Prickly pear is used in various forms to serve various purposes. These uses are given below.

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Uses Of Prickly Pear Cactus

Here we discuss many various ways to use prickly pear. Check out what are they.

As A Supplement

Due to its benefits for lowering blood sugar levels, supplements for type 2 diabetes patients have been designed. The extract is also used to lower cholesterol, target obesity, and lower the risk of heart disease. This supplement is available usually in a powder or a pill form. People also use the supplement before drinking alcohol to reduce the symptoms of an alcoholic hangover.

Juice And Pulp

The juice or the pulp (without seeds) of the prickly pear fruit is extracted to make jams and jellies. The juice, by itself, can be very tart. It is often added to lemonade or margaritas for that extra zing. To reduce the tartness and still benefit from this amazing xerophyte, jams and jellies are prepared.

Medicinal Uses

When it comes to usage in medicine, prickly pear is used in medications for:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Alcohol hangover
  • Heart disease
  • Colitis
  • Diarrhea
  • Viral infections
  • Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) (35)

Now that we covered the many uses of this fruit, it is also important to know how to select the best fruit and store it so that you can derive the maximum benefits. Read on to know how.

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How To Select And Store Cactus Pear

Mid-August is considered the best time to harvest prickly pear cactus fruit. Once you have located a plant, follow these steps:

  • Using a pair of tongs, gently pluck the fruit from the cactus pad. It should come off easily. Beware of the spines on the nopales and also the glochids (microscopic spines) on the fruit. Using gardening or leather
  • gloves can help prevent any spines from piercing your skin.
  • Transfer the fruits to a large, clean bowl or bucket. Make sure to leave at least one fruit per cactus pad so that your harvesting does not interfere with the plants’ reproduction process.
  • Pick fruits that are ruby colored (or other colors seen in prickly pear). Do not pick the ones that are still green at the ends.
  • Rinse the fruits with water thoroughly. Swirl them around gently while doing this to get rid of the spines.

Cactus pear fruits remain ripe for about a week. They can also be refrigerated for 3-4 days in a plastic bag.

Here is how you can cut and prepare prickly pear fruit.

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How To Eat Prickly Pear Cactus

  • Rinse the fruit thoroughly in a colander using cold water. Keep swirling it around gently while doing this to get rid of the all the spines.
  • Once all the spines have been removed, gently pat the fruit dry using a soft napkin.
  • Take a sharp knife and cut the top and bottom parts of the fruit and discard them.
  • Cut lengthwise to peel off the skin, similar to how you would peel an orange with a knife.
  • Chop or slice the fruit, as per your preference, and eat it. Though the seeds are safe to ingest, many people prefer not to as they are too hard.

If you are still confused about how to consume this exotic fruit, we have some simple but delicious recipes for you below.

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Any Prickly Pear Recipes?

1. Prickly Pear Lemonade

Beneficios de la tuna
Beneficios de la tuna
You Will Need
  • 1 prickly pear
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 tablespoon sugar
  • 5-6 ice cubes
  • Mint leaves for garnishing
Recipe
  1. Add the sugar and lemon juice to water and mix well.
  2. Cut the prickly pear in half and remove the pulp present inside. Add this to the lemonade.
  3. Blend all of these for 15-30 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture to remove the seeds.
  5. Add ice cubes and drink this refreshing lemonade with a twist.

2. Prickly Pear Puree

You Will Need

Prickly pear

Recipe
  1. Rinse and peel the fruit. De-seed it.
  2. Squash the flesh thoroughly for a couple of minutes until you get a smooth puree.
  3. Store this in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

3. Prickly Pear Ice Cream

You Will Need
  • 1 cup prickly pear juice
  • 1/8 cup lemon juice
  • 1 quart half and half
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon tangerine zest
  • A pinch of lemon zest
Recipe
  1. Combine all the ingredients and pour into an ice cream maker.
  2. Let it run for about 20 minutes.
  3. Freeze the ice cream overnight or for at least six hours.

Those were the yummy recipes of this fruit. Now, let’s see where you can buy these delectable fruits.

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Where To Buy Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit?

Prickly pears can be easily found in regular grocery stores. If you cannot find them there, try the Mexican or Middle Eastern vegetable markets.

Let me now summarize some key facts about prickly pear for you.

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What Are The Facts About Prickly Pear I Need To Know?

  • Prickly pear is also known as the nopal cactus and has flat, oval green leaves called pads, which are covered in spines.
  • The fruits arise from the top of the cactus pads and are edible.
  • This fruit, which is also called as the cactus pear, cactus fig or tuna, is usually red.
  • Prickly pear is rich in vitamin C, magnesium, and omega fatty acids. It contains zero cholesterol.
  • Even the pads of this plant are edible. They are commonly used in soups and salads.
  • The fruits can be ingested by themselves or in the form of juice, jams, jellies, and even candy.
  • Cactus fig is beneficial for the treatment of many ailments like high cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and stomach issues.

Even though this fruit has plenty of benefits, it can, at times, cause reactions in a few people. Here are the side effects experienced.

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Side Effects Of Prickly Pear Cactus

  • Upset stomach, diarrhea, bloating, and headache are the most common side effects noticed (36).
  • Nasal inflammation or asthma can be caused due to an allergy to it.
  • Eating broiled nopal stem can have an extreme hypoglycemic effect. This is not seen when raw stems or ripe fruit are eaten.
  • It can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb certain medications due to its diuretic properties.
  • Pregnant or women who are breastfeeding should not intake prickly pear in any form as it can interfere with the fetus’ or child’s development.

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Let us now look at some of the commonly asked questions by our readers about prickly pear.

Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

What can reduce the skin irritation caused by prickly pear contact?

The spines (glochids) present on prickly pear can come in contact with the skin and at times, cause allergic reactions such as hives. These usually subside within an hour or so. If the spines have pierced the skin, carefully pluck them using tweezers or cellophane tape. To reduce the itching and irritation, you can use over-the-counter steroids or antihistamines.

Does prickly pear/tuna increase hemoglobin? Is it safe to consume?

Prickly pear has been known to increase hemoglobin. However, there is no clinical proof for this. However, it is absolutely safe to consume. So, go ahead and try it.

Does prickly pear cause constipation?

Prickly pear is often used to relieve constipation because of its fiber content. Irrespective of this, excessive intake can actually cause constipation because of the high amount of fiber blocking the intestines. Hence, it is best to consume it in moderate amounts.

How to prune prickly pear cactus?

Pruning is best done in spring or late summer to remove damaged, poorly formed, or excessive cactus pads. Using protective hand gear and clothing, carefully trim the pads at their bases. It might be best to cut off some of the top parts of the pads first to get better access to the base. If you are unsure about pruning the plant yourself or the cactus has grown out too much, get professional help.

Are all prickly pear cactus edible? What kind of cactus is edible?

The genus Opuntia consists of different species of cacti that are edible. You can identify these plants by their oval, flattened, green, and spine covered pads. The prickly pear cactus (O. Ficus-indica) is the most commonly eaten species.

How many calories are in cactus pears?

One cup of cactus pear contains around 61 calories.

Is a cactus a fruit or a vegetable?

El nopal es una de esas plantas que es un vegetal y una fruta. Las almohadillas verdes son la verdura, mientras que la pera roja es la fruta.

¿Has probado alguna vez la tuna? ¿O ha tenido la oportunidad de tener uno de esos deliciosos platillos mexicanos con los cactus? Comparte tu experiencia con nosotros en la sección de comentarios. ¡Mantenerse sano!

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