We all know how good pears are for our health. But, have you heard of prickly pears? Prickly pear, also popularly known as nopal, is the edible fruit of the cactus plant. This fruit is found mainly in the Western Hemisphere. You will find this amazing fruit in the hot, arid climates of Arizona, Mexico, India, and Australia. Besides, these fruits are also found in some parts of Spain, Italy, France, and Bulgaria.
Reading about the surprising health benefits of prickly pear, we bet you will search for it in the market. Prickly pears are good for your liver, heart, digestion, hair, skin, and immunity. Prickly pears are very low in calories and still so high in antioxidant content. These cacti fruits are a rich source of Vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and other nutrients.
Prickly Pear – One Fruit Multiple Names
An interesting thing about prickly pear is that it has several names. Other than nopal, this fruit of cactus is also known as Opuntia, Tuna, Sabra, Cactus Fig, and Cactus Pear. This nutritious fruit comes in two colors, greenish-yellow and purple.
With a very mild sweet taste, a prickly pear fruit comes loaded with crunchy seeds. It is optional to eat the seeds or you can spit them out. For some people, the taste of prickly pear is somewhat similar to bubble gum.
Prickly Pear – Nutritional Fact Sheet
Why are we talking about prickly pear and its health benefits? The reason is very clear because it has some astonishing nutritional values. The health benefits of Artichokes are not known to many, Likewise, people are not aware of the health benefits of prickly pear. So, listed below are the nutritional values found in 100 grams of prickly pear fruit.
- Calories- 40
- Carbohydrate – 10 g
- Protein – 0.7 g
- Fat – 0.5 g
- Magnesium – 125 mg
- Potassium – 220 mg
- Sodium – 5 mg
- Zinc- 0.2 mg
- Copper – 0.1 mg
Besides, prickly pear is also a rich source of Vitamin A, C, D, Dietary Fiber, Folate, Selenium, and other useful nutrients.
Health Benefits of Prickly Pear
#1. Aids in Digestion
The best health benefit of eating prickly pear fruit is that it helps indigestion. It is due to its rich fiber content. Nutrients found in the prickly pear fruit help to activate digestive enzymes. This aids in digestion in the body. It helps to eliminate toxins and offers relief from constipation symptoms.
#2. Boosts Weight Loss
The second surprising benefit of prickly pear is that it helps in weight loss. Consuming prickly pear is a better solution for your weight management issues. Full of fiber, prickly pear helps to keep you fuller for a longer period. As a result, your calorie intake decreases, and you can control your weight.
#3. Good for Bones and Teeth
Prickly pear also helps to strengthen your bones and teeth. It is no less effective than Khus Khus seeds for your bone health. One cup of fresh prickly pear will give you a dose of about 80 milligrams of calcium. This amount of calcium is about 8% of your daily requirements recommended by the FDA.
#4. Good for Heart Health
The Fourth miraculous benefit of prickly pear is that it is good for your heart health. The high fiber content of this fruit helps to reduce cholesterol levels. It also regulates blood pressure levels too. Once both these levels are under control, the chances of heart disease diminish. Moreover, the active flavonoids found in prickly pear help to normalize the blood platelet stickiness. This further helps to improve your cardiovascular health.
#5. Healing Properties
Furthermore, also note that cactus fruit is full of phenolic compounds. These compounds help to emit healing properties on the skin. A good concentration of these compounds in this fruit helps to heal cuts, wounds, and blemishes on your skin.
#6. Keeps Ulcers at Bay
Another surprising benefit of prickly pears is that they help to keep ulcers at bay. Eating prickly pear will help to manage gastric mucosa. The gastric mucosa is responsible for causing gastric ulcers. Once the gastric mucus is regulated, there are fewer chances of suffering from ulcers.
#7. Regulates Blood Sugar
Consuming prickly pear or cactus fruit helps to lower high blood sugar levels in the body. Rich in fiber and pectin, prickly pear helps to regulate type II diabetes. Moreover, this fruit helps to decrease the absorption of glucose which helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
#8. Fades Away Dark Circles
Prickly pear seed oil boasts skin-nourishing properties. It helps to fade away the dark circles. Moreover, the oil of this fruit helps to brighten up your skin. Not just for dark circles, prickly pear oil helps to prevent aging and prevents skin damage.
#9. Good for Hair Health
Prickly pear oil is considered miraculous for your hair health. Oil extracted from this fruit is rich in minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and other useful nutrients. Besides, this fruit oil is rich in Vitamin E, which is a perfect medicine for your hair nourishment.
#10. Prevents Hangover Symptoms
Nopal fruit is wonderful to treat a hangover. If consumed before alcohol consumption, this thorny fruit helps to prevent hangover symptoms. It prevents hangover symptoms like nausea, dry mouth, and vomiting.
Side Effects of Eating Prickly Pear
The cactus fruit is considered safe to be eaten if consumed within the recommended dosage. All parts of the prickly pear be it the leaves, flowers, stems, or fruit is safe to eat. However, some people may experience little discomfort due to prickly pear. Some common side effects are bloating, headaches, nausea, mild diarrhea, and frequent stool. Besides, we are not sure whether consuming this cactus fruit is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. So, they are advised to stay away from it as a precaution.
How to Consume Prickly Pear?
For many people, eating a prickly pear is an art. Being a cactus fruit, it has sharp thorns on its skin, which need to be carefully removed before eating. Although, when sold in the market, they come already with all the thorns removed. Still, you need to see that not a single thorn remains. For this, you must wear gloves and roll the prickly pear on a paper towel and check its skin thoroughly for thorns.
Once all the thorns are removed, remove the skin to be sure that there are no thorns left. Now, cut the top and the bottom of the fruit. You can then slice it the way you want and eat them raw or add them to several dishes. You can use the prickly pear in soups, salads, appetizers, and even in jams, jellies, and drinks.
The Bottom Line
So, aren’t you amazed reading about so many health benefits of a prickly pear fruit? Never thought that cactus can be useful and edible too? Well, this misconception must vanish by now. Now, you know the thorny plant gives you a very nutritional fruit to eat. Do grab this fruit when you go grocery shopping and you will get addicted to it once you start consuming it! Those who encounter difficulty finding this rare fruit in the market may buy prickly pear online.
