Health Benefits of Cactus Leaves
Health Benefits of Cactus Leaves
People presently appear to
be interested in the nutritional advantages of food and much more conscious of
the foods they consume on a daily basis. Since many diseases that are on the
rise in the modern period and they cause high mortality, such as cancer,
diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and others, people want to start eating well
and healthily. Since plants have been the primary source of wholesome food
since the dawn of humanity, the majority of dietary benefits today concentrate
more on plant-based foods. People are constantly looking for ways to optimize
the benefits of various plants.
Cactus leavesCactus leaves
or known as Nopal leaves are the parts of Cactus plants (Opuntia ficusindica) .
They are popularly known as prickly pears. Cactus plant belongs to Cactaceae
family. All members of Cactaceae family have leaves, flower, roots and even
flowers. There are almost 130 genera and 1500 species of cactus around the
world. The plant of Opuntia ficusindica produces sweet fruits and a green bulky
leaves. The cactus leaves are used as common green vegetable and consumed as
salad or juice.
Cactus thrives in arid
climates because they are succulent plants, or plants that require little water
to survive. The water is absorbed by the cactus plants, who then store it in
their stem. The majority of the world's cacti are grown in America, the
Mediterranean, the Middle East, Australia, Africa, and India. According to some
writing, the nopal or cactus evolved in the Mexican mountain ranges. Later,
South Africa began cultivating this cactus plant, specifically Opuntia, and
began using the cactus as a component in culinary and cosmetic products.
Nutritional Value
In many nations throughout
the world, cactus leaves have been utilized for centuries in traditional
medicine and cooking. According to recent studies, cactus leaves contain a
variety of minerals and active substances like polyphenols and flavonoids that may
prevent the onset of some diseases.
Nutrients contained in
cactus include the following
Protein ,Water, Ash, Calories,
Carbohydrates, Dietary Fiber, Sugars, Fat,Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B6,Folate,PantothenicAcid,Choline,Calcium,Iron,Magnesium,Phosphorus,Potassium,Sodium,Zinc,Manganese,Selenium,
Vitamin K, Niacin,Vitamin
Health Benefits of Cactus Leaves
Since cactus leaves contains
lots of nutrients, they bring many benefits to human health. Below are the
benefits of cactus leaves that you didn’t notice before
Lower cholesterol level
The rich polysaccharide
fibers and sterols found in cactus leaves can slightly raise levels of good
fat, or HDL (High Density Lipoprotein), and lower levels of LDL (Low Density
Lipoprotein), or bad fat, in the blood. Cactus leaves have helped the body in
maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system by lowering cholesterol levels.
Stabilizing blood sugar
The anti-hyperglycemic properties of cactus leaves make them advantageous for those with diabetes and other metabolic syndrome diseases. By regularly consuming cactus leaves, the body can better control the blood sugar level. The ability of cactus leaves to control blood sugar is due to dietary fiber.
Prevent diabetes
If you are worried about
developing diabetes yourself because of a family history of the disease, eating
cactus leaves may be a great option. The danger of acquiring diabetes,
particularly type 2 diabetes, in the body is significantly decreased by the
ability of cactus leaves to maintain a normal blood sugar level. According to a
study, diabetic patients' prescription blood sugar drugs can be entirely
replaced by cactus or nopal leaves.
Help in weight lose
High fiber content found in
cactus leaves may aid in weight loss. Nopal or cactus leaves include fiber, which
helps to increase satiety, curb hunger, and regulate the body's calorie intake.
Fiber also helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels. A terrific meal
throughout your diet weeks will undoubtedly be cactus leaves.
Treat inflammation
Cactus leaves contain a lot
of antioxidants and also have anti-inflammatory properties. The body's
inflammatory response to free radical impacts will be lessened and prevented by
the antioxidant content in cactus leaves.
Prevent obesity
Nowadays, obesity is a
serious public health issue on a global scale. According to a WHO research from
1998, obesity is a direct cause of 30–40% of cardiovascular disease, which is
on the rise, and 90% of type 2 diabetes. Cactus leaves include antioxidants
that can assist to prevent the body cells from mutations that can lead to
obesity as well as fiber that can aid to maintain a normal body weight.
Improve digestion
Insoluble dietary fiber
found in cactus leaves can promote regular bowel movements and make it easier
for food to pass through the digestive system. Cactus leaves have a high
dietary fiber content that also encourages peristaltic motion and makes the
food simpler to digest.
Relieve stomach upset
Cactus leaves can alleviate
nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant stomach-related feelings. Cactus leaves
are regarded as a cool vegetable and can aid in the relief of digestive tract
issues.
Prevent constipation
The high fiber content of
cactus leaves could promote bowel movement and give the stool more volume. The
cactus leaves also take up water from the colon, which facilitates feces.
Consuming cactus leaves with your meal might greatly ease constipation if you
experience it.
Colon cleansing
Fiber contents in cactus
leaves are known to clean the colon from toxic and other harmful substance which are
left inside the colon. By cleansing the colon, the fiber in cactus leaves can
improve your guts health .
Protects the liver
Antioxidants and flavonoids
are rich in cactus leaves. Before free radicals reach the liver, they can
nullify their effects. Cactus leaves include antioxidants that assist the liver
function to remove toxins from the body by absorbing them.
Reduce joints pain
Cactus leaves'
anti-inflammatory effects are effective everywhere, especially in joints. They
may alleviate arthritis symptoms and discomfort in the joints..
Prevent cancer
A 2007 study by
Rodrguez-Garca et al. revealed that calcium-rich cactus leaves are beneficial
at preventing colon cancer. Cactus leaves' strong antioxidant content also
protects against the majority of cancers.
Treat ulcer
Cactus leaves have a
controlling impact on the stomach's overproduction of gastric acid and they
also shield the gastrointestinal mucous membranes from the acid's powerful
corrosive effects. Those who have stomach ulcers would benefit greatly from
this.
Reduce the risk of heart disease
Cactus leaves can lower the
risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol, preventing atherosclerosis, and
preserving cardiovascular health. Additionally, cactus leaves contain a little
amount of minerals that can maintain a regular heartbeat and rhythm.
Treat urinary infection
Cactus leaves can be
consumed as juice and it can decrease pain from urination which caused by
urinary infection inside the dull ache in the urethra and bladder. Consuming
cactus leaves regularly removes the pain in urinary tract after some days.
Treat alcoholic symptoms
In several research findings,
cactus or Opuntia leaves benefits include treating alcoholic symptoms hangover in
humans. The alcohol symptom can be removed by cactus leaves since they have
anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants.
Healing wound
Cactus leaves has been used
by many cultures around the world since long ago to treat cuts, burns, wounds,
and other types of fractures. They believed that cactus leaves can remove pain
and promote healing. Nowadays study found that cactus leaves can treat such
wounds because thet have anti-inflammatory properties.
Maintain Healthy Eye sight
Cactus leaves contains Vitamin A that can help to maintain healthy
eyes and improve vision.
Prevent Anemia
Cactus leaves posses some
amount of iron to the body that can help to promotes red blood cells production
and prevent from anemia
Keeping strong bones
Cactus leaves contains calcium
refered to as minerals that build bones and maintain their strength. Consuming
cactus leaves can help keep the bones
mineral density in our bodies.
Traditional medication also used cactus leaves in several cases even they
still not proven ones. Those include :
Asthma
Fatigue
Corns
Diarrhea,
Dysentery
Dyspnea
Colitis
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
Measles
Nosebleed
Snakebite
Sore throat
Vaginitis
Headache
Migraines
Inflammation of the eyes
Rheumatic disorders
Erythema
Chronic skin conditions.
Health Risks
Cactus leaves can be well
tolerated by the body, however some few cases reported that they can cause mild
diarrhoea, nausea, stomach fullness, headache, increased stool volume and
frequency, and low colonic obstruction. People with liver or kidney disorder,diabetes
should consult a doctor before taking cactus leaves ,because it can result in building hypoglycemia (low
blood sugar) and other side effects. Children, pregnant women, and nursing
mothers should also avoid consuming cactus leaves.
Source:
https://drhealthbenefits.com/herbal/leaves/health-benefits-of-cactus-leaves