Have you heard of cactus fruit or Opuntia? This fruit grows on the top of the Nopales cacti’s leaves. It is also grown in North and South America. The shape of the fruit is in oval and has the yellow and light green to orange, pink, and red color as well. This fruit can be eaten raw and can be processed into kind of foods such as jellies, jams, and candies.
Consequently, this prickly pear fruit has the great nutrients to promote the body health. It contains the great source of vitamin C, vitamin B, and minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, and dietary fiber. Some of them are beneficial to reduce the level of cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes, and promote the strong immune system. After that, to know more information about this fruit, let’s check the health benefits of cactus fruit below.
1. Source of Antioxidant
The amazing fact comes from cactus fruit is its ability to provide the antioxidant power. This is also linked with the article published in “Nutrients” in October 2013 that pointed cactus fruit has antioxidant activities to prevent certain chronic diabetes such as diabetes.
Indeed, antioxidant content in cactus fruit will help to reduce the risk of certain degenerative diseases. Moreover, it takes part to protect the body against free radicals damage. Thus, if you want to protect your body, then consuming antioxidant foods is the best way to go.
2. Reduces Inflammation
As you have read before, cactus fruit has the good content of the antioxidant source. As the consequence, this will help to reduce the inflammation in the body. The antioxidant will prevent the inflammation-related from the free radicals damage. Hence, consuming cactus fruit regularly will help you to have the body protection against inflammation for sure.
3. Helps to Lose Weight
If you are the ones who want to manage the body weight, then cactus fruit can be your good food options. This is created by the presence of low-calorie content and saturated fat in cactus fruit. Not only for that, citrus fruit has the fiber and carbohydrates to make you feel full longer.
Indeed, this fruit can be good for your healthy diet food. For the tips, you also have to do exercise to balance the diet and get the best health results as well. You can also check for Foods and Drinks Calories Table
4. Promotes Digestive Health
As described before, cactus fruit has the source of dietary fiber. In fact, by consuming 4 ounces of cactus fruit will give you 3.7 grams of fiber. As a result, you can get the health benefits of fiber and this will help you to aid in digestion.
Indeed, fiber is the major nutrient to protect the digestive health and prevent digestive problems such as constipation and bloating. This fruit will help to regulate the digestive process and help food to pass through the digestive tract.
For the tips, you can fulfill the fiber needs in the body by consuming cactus fruits together with other vegetables as well. Then, you can have the healthier body for sure.
5. Promotes Bones Health
Not only for containing the fiber source, but the cactus fruit is also good to provide the minerals such as calcium. Consequently, calcium as the major nutrient to promote bones health will give you the best benefits of calcium.
In this case, calcium in cactus fruit will help to promote the strong bones and strong teeth as well. What is even greater of this nutrient is the ability to prevent the risks of osteoporosis.
6. Promotes Healthy Heart
The content of fiber in cactus fruit does not only affect the digestive process, but it also takes part in maintaining the healthy heart. This is due to the ability of a fiber to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the body.
Not only for that, the presence of potassium can help to reduce the blood pressure level. As a result, the blood vessels will be relaxed and it plays a role in promoting the healthy cardiovascular system.
Moreover, there are betalains in cactus fruit which has a good role in promoting the strong endothelial walls of blood vessels. Indeed, those benefits will bring the positive effect to the heart. They will help to prevent the certain heart diseases including heart attack and stroke as well.
7. Prevents Cancer
People must be aware of cancer. This chronic disease can attack everyone. As a result, it is a must to find a good prevention. One of the good ways is by consuming healthy foods. Then, at this point, you can choose cactus fruit for the option.
As cactus fruit has the high levels of antioxidant content including flavonoids, polyphenols, and betalains, then they will help to neutralize free radicals and prevent the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, start your day by eating cactus fruit for healthier life. You can also check on How to Prevent Cancer Naturally
8. Boosts Energy
One of the great health benefits of cactus fruit is to boost the energy production in the body. This benefit is linked to the content and benefits of magnesium, fiber, and carbohydrates in it. It is known that magnesium has a role in producing the body energy.
Moreover, the carbohydrates will convert the sugar into energy. Hence, if you need more energy to do hard activities, then pick cactus fruit for the great meal every day!
9. Promotes Immune System
Due to the presence of high level of vitamin C in cactus fruit, then it will help to promote the strong immune system. In fact, by consuming a single serving of cactus fruit, it will fulfill more than 1/3 of your entire daily requirement of vitamin C.
As a result, vitamin C in cactus fruit will help to produce white blood cells and acting as an antioxidant to protect the body for sure. Moreover, it will prevent the body infection as well.
To conclude, cactus fruit can be the fruit option for you. You can eat it as a light snack or make it into juice. You can simply combine it with green tea or cucumber for the healthiest beverage. Then, with a healthy consumption, you will also achieve the healthier life for sure.