Prickly Pear Cactus is also known as Opuntia or Nopal. The name of Prickly Pear comes from its fruit shape. It's widely found in Southern part of America and Mexico and has been natives" food source of sustaining good health.
The fruit has various kinds of nutrition to survive in a desert. So it is very succulent like a watermelon. It's also delicately sweet and subtle acidity gives you sensations.
It is used as juice, jelly, candy, dressing and sauce.
Nutritional component
■Antioxidant component
The fruit has a brilliant magenta color which comes from Betalain pigment. Betalain is preciously found only in red beet, Dragon fruit and Prickly Pear in food.
Its antioxidative potency is stronger than Catechin and Rutin. Prickly Pear Cactus also has other antioxidant material, Vitamin C and Anthocyanin. So, it is taken notice as an antiaging food.
■Amino Acid
18 kinds of amino acids, which include all 9 amino acid essentials, are comprehended in the fruit.
■Pectin
Our cactus juice triple strength has 5% Pectin. Its amount is five times more than Grape fruit juice (100%). Pectin regulates the functions of the intestines and decrease LDL, Bad cholesterol.
Capabilities
The food capability is valued by people in a long history and is studied scientifically in recent years.
We entrust the study, from NO.1 to NO.4, to Dr. Ariga, Nihon University of Applied Life Science.
- Decrease of blood glucose level (Type 2 diabetes)
- Decrease of cholesterol in blood
- Antioxidant action
- Making the skin beautiful
- Containment of enlarged prostate
- Abatement of hangover
- Diuretic Action
- Analgesic and anti-inflammatory action
- Intestinal regulation
Reference:
'Capabilities of Prickly Pear Cactus ', Dr. Ariga,
FOOD STYLE 21 ( vol VII / NO.2 ).
