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