First of all, Nopales are a healthy type of cacti. In its health benefits, you can include:

• Weight loss;
• Cancer prevention;
• Protecting the heart;
• Treats insomnia
• Help in the metabolic activity;
• Improves the bone structure;
• Helps with the digestive system;
• Boosts immunity.

But what exactly are Nopales?

Is a vegetable made of soft pads of underdeveloped prickly pear cacti. They are either green or purple and have somewhere around 25-30 centimeters. They have a green bean, green peppers texture and can be cooked along with eggs. The original place of growing if Central America, but they are mainly found fresh in Mexico. In the Southwestern United States and Texas, they can be bought canned or pickled.

Nutritive Information

The health benefits of the nopales are given by its composition. It contains vitamins such as Vit. B6, Vit. A, Vit. C, Vit K, and riboflavin, but also other nutrients: copper, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. But this is not all. Nopal is also a source of organic compounds like phytochemicals and certain polysaccharides that contribute to its health-boosting power.

Why Nopales is good for the health

The health benefits of  nopales are known for thousands of years, so let’s explore them in the next part:

Nopales help the weight loss process

Nopales are involved in the process of losing weight through multiple mechanisms. One of the reasons nopales helps in the fight with pounds are the fiber from its composition. Fiber will make the body feel full and inhibit the release of the hunger hormone ghrelin.

Also, nopales are very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. However, they are packed with metabolic potential, so the body works at a higher level without gaining weight.

Last, but not least, the presence of vitamin B6, thiamin, and riboflavin also makes the metabolic function work quickly. These vitamins will maximize fat burning and the transformation of food into usable energy.

Nopales help in cancer prevention

An experiment made on mice that this plant has a property that can suppress tumor growth in them. The results are not 100% sure, but other cancer prevention studies are still being made,

In 2014 a case stud showed that cacti seed oil has high levels of polyphenols which exhibit anticancer properties. The same study revealed that this cactus also is a source of gallic acid. The gallic acid exerts cytotoxic activity against tumoral cells from leukemia, some kind of cancer types.

Nopales help the digestive system

This cactus is very fibrous and contains a great deal of dietary fiber which is essential in the digestive process. This happens because the fiber adds bulk to the bowel movements. By doing so, it ensures the passage through the smooth muscles of the digestive tract.

Nopales also stimulates peristaltic motion to move the bowels. With this action, the symptoms of diarrhea and constipation are reduced.

Also, the mucilage and fibrous material in nopales inhibit the development of gastric ulcers that develop due to excessive consumption of alcohol, so people who regularly suffer from this painful condition should add some of these powerful plants to their diet and improve their health.

Nopales improve the Skin

Due to its phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics, nopales offer a  good defensive mechanism against premature aging symptoms such as wrinkles and age spots. By eating nopales, you can combat the free radicals and keep your skin looking healthy and young.

Nopales is an anti-inflammatory agent

For the anti-inflammatory effects, it is recommended to use the juice from the cactus’ leaves. The juice needs to be applied topically and it improves the symptoms associated with arthritis, joint pain, and muscle strain.

Nopales improves Bone System

Nopales also contain a small level of calcium and because of it, the plant improves the bone structure.

Nopales helps in insomnia problems

Due to the magnesium from its composition, the cactus will help to induce sleep in people suffering from insomnia, chronic anxiety or restlessness.  It releases serotonin and this results in an increased level of melatonin. Nopales also present a small sedative effect that will help to calm the body.

Nopales help in diabetes

The juice extracted from nopales’ leaves can decrease the glucose levels, making the management of diabetes easier for patients that have type 2 diabetes.

However, for people who don’t have a high blood sugar level, nopales can induce a hypoglycemic state and therefore should not be  consumed excessively before an operation

Nopales help in the metabolic activity

Due to its composition nopales will help regulate the enzyme activity throughout the body and therefore the cellular metabolism.