The Benefits of Nopal Cactus

The Benefits of Nopal Cactus. The nopal cactus is a plant rich in fiber, vitamins A, B, B2, chlorophyll, protein, minerals and 17 amino acids between essential and nonessential.

Decreases blood glucose levels, total cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty acids).

It is important source of fiber.

Assistant in cases of constipation improve digestive tract function.

Controls the symptoms of diabetes achieving satisfactory stability of blood sugar levels and preventing unwanted reach.

As fibrous plant, Nopal contains pectin, mucilage and gums that are helpful to the digestive system.

The Nopal has traditionally been used as important food in the diet of the population that has developed exquisite dishes and enriched the great Mexican cuisine. Such extensive use of this plant has led to come to light its healing qualities.

The Nopal provides the following benefits:

Is a major source of fiber digestion and natural gums which help clean the digestive tract, the removal of fat and reduce constipation.

It is an aid to weight control.

It is hypoglycemic, ie reduces sugar levels of people with diabetes and helps them improve their quality of life. This plant does not run the risk of reducing the blood sugar levels as only unwanted regulates achieving satisfactory stability for the person.

The Nopal (Opuntia Cactus) contains lots of vitamins C and E, is a very important source of fiber digestion.

Food Properties

The cactus is used as fodder, but also tender pads sold as a vegetable, they can be prepared pickled, cooked broths and soups, in salads or cooked in main dishes, such as appetizers, sauces, beverages, desserts , jams and endless food uses that can be given to this plant so rich in properties. Recently there has been very popular cactus consumption with some fruit smoothies as a way to lose weight or for people with certain diseases will be described later. The only problem with this is that many people find it a bit rude mucilage or slime, and that making the smoothie stays there. The nopal or nopal powder dehydrated, has come to offer a solution to this problem. To avoid nopal slobber freezes or school, it is also recommended garlic, baking, peel tomatoes, corn leaf, lemon juice, ash or lava rock in the water.

Nutrition

With respect to the nutritional value of cactus, one can say that in 1 cup of raw nopales (86 g approximately) are 2.9 g of carbohydrates and 1.1 g of protein and only 14 kcal. But its main attraction is that it contains a lot of dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble): 2 g of fiber in a cup. There is a 30:70 ratio of soluble to insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber can prevent and relieve constipation and hemorrhoids at the same time prevents the development of colon cancer. Soluble fiber, has been used in many conditions because their presence retards the gastrointestinal tract and absorption of nutrients makes these do not pass the blood quickly. Are also a good source of calcium, and that 100 g of cactus, there are approximately 80 mg of calcium.

Medicinal Properties

It has been shown in several studies, mainly conducted in Mexico, the medicinal properties has the cactus. They are called "medicinal properties" as they help to control the disease more easily, but this does not mean to talk about a cure.

Obesity. It has become fashionable in all diets will take a cactus with orange juice or some other fruit. This is based on that, thanks to the large amount of fiber having this plant, help delay the time at which the nutrients are absorbed and enter the blood and thus facilitates their removal. Also, the insoluble fibers containing, create a feeling of fullness, thereby lowering the hunger of the people and help a good digestion. Furthermore, plant proteins promote fluid movement in the bloodstream diminishing cellulite and fluid retention.

Diabetes and Hyperglycemia. Speech also helps people with diabetes. The nopal increases levels and insulin sensitivity thus achieving stabilize and regulate the level of blood sugar. It has been scientifically proven hypoglycemic power cactus, that is, as an effective treatment for the prevention of diabetes. They have conducted research in the National Polytechnic Institute, where it is documented that the cactus reduces blood glucose concentrations. These studies demonstrated that ingestion of nopal before each meal, for 10 days, causes a reduction in body weight and reduces the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. This has been seen only in individuals who are insulin resistant, or in patients with Type II diabetes, but for people who have type I diabetes (not produce insulin), cactus intake injections not replace it.

Cholesterol. In people with high cholesterol has been shown that consumption of nopal, helps eliminate absorbed preventing much of it and so does not accumulate in veins and arteries. Amino acids, fiber and niacin contained in nopal prevent excess blood sugar becomes fat, while on the other hand, acts metabolizing fat and fatty acids and cholesterol lowering. The contents of LDL (low density lipoprotein) in the nopal is believed to be the main cause of cholesterol from being expelled from the body, since they act at the level of LDL liver cholesterol stirring and removing the body has in excess. At the same time we have seen that this does not affect amount of LDL to HDL (high density lipoprotein) or "good" cholesterol. Nopal has a sufficient amount of amino acids and fiber, including the antioxidants vitamin C and A, which, prevent the possibility of damage to the walls of blood vessels, as well as platelet formation of fat, and it is thus also has a preventive power in relation to atherosclerosis.

Property antibiotic. Nopals have natural antibiotic, this property is related to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant, which in cacti or suspended inhibits the growth of several bacterial species. Hence, both the consumption of nopal as the application of poultices cactus leaves have beneficial effects on wounds and skin infections.

Anticancer properties. In an experiment using mice with cancerous tumors, aqueous extracts were given maximum Opuntia (substance found in the cactus) and found the extension of the latent period of such malignancies. No cancer cured but stopped. Not yet know the cause, but they are conducting several studies.

Gastrointestinal disorders and digestion. Finally, it is known that plant fibers and mucilage control excess gastric acid and protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa thus preventing gastric ulcers and all sorts of conditions. El Nopal contains vitamins A, B complex, C, minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, potassium, iron and fiber lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and mucilage which together with the 17 amino acids help to eliminate toxins. Environmental toxins caused by alcohol and cigarette smoke that inhibit the body's immune system, are removed by the cactus. Also cleanses the colon as it contains soluble and insoluble dietary fibers. Insoluble dietary fibers absorb water and accelerate the passage of food through the digestive tract and help regulate bowel movement, furthermore, the presence of insoluble fibers in the colon help dilute the concentration of cancer that may be present.

Physiological effect of nopal intake

Although the Cactus is a food with a high moisture content, fiber content on a dry basis is very important because the content and Total Dietary Fiber is greater than 20% saving a 30:70 ratio of soluble fiber to insoluble . Given this and its easy preparation for human consumption may be developing fiber-rich foods like those mentioned in the previous paragraph, as they have seen the benefits that causes their consumption through research linking fiber intake and the decrease of conditions such as colon cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes and others.

However, it is important to study the physiological behavior of fiber raw nopal, given that the trend is becoming more pronounced in recent years, of ingerirle in juice, mixed with other fruits and vegetables for dietary purposes to reduce weight.

The aim of this study is:

1. - Develop balanced diets with different levels of cactus fiber replacement

Two. - Record the weight gain, feed intake and feces production in Wistar rats during 14 days.

Three. - Evaluate the physiological response based on the parameters determined

April. - Identify a possible cause for loss of weight.

Dietary Use

Los Nopales have been a food source in Mexico for hundreds of years, now have also gained popularity in the United States both as a vegetable in the case of the leaves and fruit in the case of the tunas. As plant can be used in salads, Soups, Stews, Roasts, well in a wide range of applications and the fruit is used in making jam and jellies.

It has been mentioned that belongs to the genus Cactus "Opuntia" and you can tell that all the Opuntia species are edible from the time they are NOT Toxic. However, there are some species that are easier to use than others. And therein lies essentially in the content of thorns. The wild Nopales number of spines develop more since this is their means of survival, while the crops are improved species.

The State of Texas in the United States primarily in Kingsville, has worked extensively in cultivating a boneless variety containing less mucilage and resist low temperatures. However, there has also been much work on the mucilage as a dietary supplement to increase your intake of soluble fiber which provides several health benefits.

Los Nopales can be eaten raw in salads, but most people prefer them cooked and combined with other foods such as eggs, chili, shrimp, etc.. and even sauces.

Recently it has become very popular liquefied Nopal consumption combined with some fruit juice. However, some people find it a bit annoying sensation that causes the mucilage (Baba) that follows the Nopal.

The Nopal powder is nothing more than Nopal Dehydrated and Ground, has come to offer a solution to this problem so as also to the development of a wider range of products such as sweets, breads, biscuits, toast, tortillas , Etc. The Benefits of Nopal Cactus