Nopal: what it is, benefits and properties
Historically, nopal It was made known in the independence era of Mexico approximately during the year 1810 and since then, it has spread throughout the American continent, from the north of the United States to Patagonia due to its multiple medicinal and nutritional contributions.
However, its origins go back many centuries, since the Aztecs used this plant thousands of years ago as a natural remedy to heal infections and heal wounds.
Although most of their species are found in Mexico, their country of origin, they grow wild throughout the Americas. During the various cultural exchanges, the nopal has transcended to other geographical spaces where its benefits and properties do not cease to amaze, given its diverse utilities and mineral wealth.
Benefits of nopal
In Mexico, cactus is consumed in many gastronomic dishes. It is also a perfect ally in green smoothies and its juice from the pulp provides the body with multiple benefits, including: it helps improve digestion, weight loss, reduce inflammation and accelerate metabolism.
The cactus intervenes in the digestive processes in an efficient way, since it has a lot of soluble and insoluble fiber that decrease constipation and stimulates a better stimulation of minerals and nutrients, of which, the cactus possess in high quantities.
Nutritional properties of nopal
Also know as Opuntia or scientifically as ficus indica, this plant is a cactus plant rich in potassium, phosphorus and sodium.
Further, It has multiple vitamins such as A, B, B2, C and K and various proportions of proteins and carbohydrates. Nutritionally, nopal is consumed as a food, as well as its fruit called tuna.
This is partly due to its various mineral and vitamin components, which for years, absorb the subsoil and organic matter in it. These nutrients powerfully benefit the immune, nervous, circulatory and digestive systems.
Because It is a great source of fiber, the digestive system manages to better stimulate its processes of absorption of nutrients. In addition to being an organic and plant compound, it has phytochemicals, an extremely beneficial component for health.
Being one of the most generous plants with human health, the cactus not only provides multiple benefits, it also has a rich flavor that makes its intake more pleasant in combination with other vegetables and vegetables.
Medicinal qualities of nopal
Since cactus, also has various healing properties, is a food that contains high levels of calcium helps the formation of bones, teeth, hair and nails and drink their pulp may be recommended in people with decalcification of bones and children in growth stage.
In fact, 100g of raw nopales equals 80 mg of calcium, which may even be better than consuming a glass of milk. Many of the benefits of cactus are used more in the body when it is fasting.
During the digestion process, many of the nutrients in the food that are consumed are discarded, because the small intestine does not possess the ability to absorb as much.
However, fasting, the body is free of other foods that can be digested at the same time, since consuming cactus in this period of the day, helps to better absorb its multiple vitamins and minerals. In this way, its nutritional value and especially the medicinal value increases.
In relation to its effects on the skin, nopales have a high content of antioxidants. When these act in conjunction with their phytochemicals, they become an excellent defense against free radicals, which excessively manage to age the skin prematurely.
In this way, the nopal regenerates skin cells, nourishes and hydrates them. Considering its medicinal contribution to the regulation of diabetes, this cactus plant is ideal for diabetic patients, since it prevents that within your organism, glucose level differences occur after each meal.
On the other hand, nopal is also characterized as a natural antibiotic that prevents the growth of bacterial species in the body. Its slime (pulp) is widely used as an ointment to clean wounds and to fight mycosis and fungi on the skin. This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist. ThemesFood Medicinal plants
