All about the cactus

All about the nopal Copy Cwp April 8, 2018 No Comments WE ARE VERY LUCKY FOR THE GREAT VARIETY AND QUANTITY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT WE HAVE IN MEXICO. ONE OF THEM IS THE NOPAL. ALSO, IT GIVES US MANY PROPERTIES THAT THE AZTECS ALREADY KNEW HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. Nutritional content In 1 cup of raw nopales there are 3 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of protein and 14 kcal. But its attraction is the amount of fiber (soluble and insoluble): 2 g of fiber in a cup, in a 30:70 ratio of soluble fiber: insoluble. Nopal contains vitamin A, B Complex, C, minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Iron) and fiber (lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and mucilage) that together with the 17 amino acids help eliminate toxins. Fiber Insoluble fiber prevents and relieves constipation and hemorrhoids. At the same time it prevents the appearance of colon cancer. Soluble fiber slows the absorption of nutrients and prevents them from entering the blood quickly. They are also a good source of calcium (75 mg calcium/cup). Helps prevent obesity. Due to the amount of fiber that this plant has, it delays the time in which nutrients are absorbed and enter the blood and therefore facilitates their elimination. The insoluble fiber it contains creates a feeling of satiety, ceasing the feeling of hunger. Likewise, vegetable proteins promote fluid mobilization, reducing cellulite and fluid retention. Helps in Diabetes and hyperglycemia. Nopal increases insulin levels and sensitivity, managing to stabilize and regulate the blood sugar level of people with insulin resistance, or with DM II, but for people with DM I (who do not produce insulin), the consumption of nopal does not replace the insulin injection. ina. Reduces cholesterol. It helps eliminate cholesterol by preventing much of it from being absorbed and from accumulating in veins and arteries. 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, and the formation of fatty platelets, as well as having preventive power against atherosclerosis. Antibiotic property. Nopales have natural antibiotics. This property comes from the crassulaceous acid (CAM) of plants. Which, in cacti inhibits or suspends the growth of several bacterial species. Cancer. In an experiment carried out on mice with cancerous tumors, aqueous extracts of Opuntia maxima (a substance found in the cactus) were administered and a prolongation of the latency period of said malignant tumors was found. It didn’t cure cancer but it stopped it. Several studies are being carried out in this regard. Controls gastrointestinal disorders and digestion. Vegetable fiber and mucilage control excess gastric acids and protect the gastrointestinal mucosa. Thus preventing gastric ulcers and all these types of conditions.