Cactus fruit; Weird but full of nutrients

Maybe until a few years ago, many of us did not know that the cactus plant bears fruit! Cactus fruit is rich in fiber and nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can help the body’s health. In the following, in addition to the properties and methods of consumption of cactus fruit, we will introduce some interesting recipes (preparation methods) with the carbonated drink of Sanich cactus.

About cactus fruit

The cactus fruit is pear-shaped and it has stinging thorns to protect itself exactly like cactus plant . This fruit is known by different names such as Prickly Pear, Cactus Pear, Opuntia, Cactus Fig and Mexican Tuna Fruit. Cactus fruit has many different colors including green, pink, yellow – orange, red and purple.

The flesh of this fruit is juicy and contains seeds and has a sweet taste similar to watermelon. You can eat cactus flesh cooked or raw. This fruit grows mainly in desert environments, and therefore the southwest of America and Mexico are the best place to grow it.

Nutritional value of cactus fruit

Cactus fruits may have different properties depending on their types . That is the type of fruit determines its nutritional value. Cactus fruit in general is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins and minerals.

A cup of raw cactus fruit contains the following ingredients.

Constituent materials	each cup of raw cactus fruit
calories	61
Protein	1 gram
fat	1 gram
carbohydrate	14 gram
fiber	5 gram (17 % of daily requirement)
magnesium	30 % of daily requirement
Vitamin C	23 % of daily requirement
potassium	7 % of daily requirement
Calcium	6 % of daily requirement
total fat	0 gram
Saturated fat	0 gram
trans fat	0 gram
Cholesterol	0 gram

Cactus fruit also contains significant amounts of beneficial compounds such as folic acid, flavonoids and pigments that act as antioxidants. The existing antioxidant in this fruit can neutralize the effect of free radicals, which are the main causes of cancer.

How to use cactus fruit

If you have picked the cactus fruit from the wild, you will see small and large spines on its skin, which are very sharp and stinging, so you must remove the spines before handling the fruit. One of the best ways to remove thorns is to wear very thick or leather gloves, Then you should wrap the fruits in a paper towel or cloth and roll them to remove the thorns, You can also use tweezers to remove the thorns.

Although the skin of the cactus fruit is edible but removing it helps to completely remove the thorns , for peeling this fruit first cut the top and bottom of it with a knife and then cut or remove the middle skin by hand.

One of the disadvantages of cactus fruit is its seeds which in rare cases lead to intestinal obstruction, So chop the fruit and pass it through a strainer to separate the seeds.

The applications of cactus fruit

You can use cactus fruit in your diet in different ways including jam, pickle, jelly, mixed salad, smoothie and fruit juice.

Properties of cactus fruit

Many properties of cactus fruit are related to its fiber and antioxidants Although few human studies have analyzed the effects of this fruit on health preliminary researches show promising results.

Cactus fruit during pregnancy

The properties of cactus fruit during pregnancy have not yet been proven and need more studies But some researches have shown that this fruit can have a negative effects or complications on the development of the fetus, Considering that cactus fruit is allergenic consult your doctor before consuming it during pregnancy

Cactus fruit for weight loss

The fiber in cactus fruit can help increase food excretion, reduce fat absorption by the intestine and reduce weight by binding to fat molecules in the diet. On the other hand fiber remains in the intestine for a longer time and creates a feeling of satiety.

In other words it can be said that according to scientists’ researches the fiber in this fruit leads to weight loss by reducing the amount of fat in the diet and increasing the excretion of fat. It should be noted that this research was conducted on tablets containing cactus fiber ; But because of its relatively low calorie content cactus can have the same weight loss properties as pills.

Cactus fruit for reducing blood sugar and blood fat

Some early studies have shown that cactus fruit consumption can reduce fasting blood sugar levels and postprandial insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes but this has not yet been scientifically proven.

Analyzing 20 studies showed that the consumption of cactus pads leads to a significant reduction of blood sugar and insulin levels; Therefore eating the flesh of the cactus pads on which the cactus fruit grows has a greater effect on reducing blood sugar compared with the cactus fruit itself. But on the other hand cactus fruit has a much greater effect on heart health compared to cactus pads.

According to the academic works conducted on 11 studies with they show that eating cactus fruit leads to a decrease in total cholesterol levels and a decrease in bad blood cholesterol (LDL), By reducing the level of cholesterol and blood fat blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the tissues are improved ; Therefore cactus fruit can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases .

Cactus fruit and liver health

In far past, cactus fruit was used to treat liver problems. It is believed that the antioxidant compounds in this fruit protect the body against inflammation and oxidative stress.

A study conducted on obese mice shows that eating cactus fruit reduces the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Another study has shown that drinking cactus fruit juice helps to prevent oxidative damage caused by alcohol consumption due to the presence of antioxidants and thus reduces the risk of liver damage

Cactus fruit and colon cleanser

The fiber in the cactus fruit can help regulate the function of the colon and thus eliminate excess unhealthy fats (saturated fats) from the body. The compounds of the cactus fruit cleanse and protect the intestines by eliminating the inflammation of the colon.

Properties of cactus fruit for skin and hair

One of the important ingredients in some hair conditioners and skin care products is cactus and aloe vera. Because this fruit contains nutrients such as vitamin C, pigments, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. This fruit also contains polyunsaturated fatty acids in its seeds and skin which play an effective role for skin and hair health.

A study conducted on laboratory mice shows that the pressed oil of cactus fruit seeds has antimicrobial effects for skin infections and also has wound healing properties Drinking cactus fruit juice helps to make the skin clear and shiny and makes dry skin fresh.

What are the harms of eating cactus fruit ?

Cactus fruit despite all the properties it has for the body can also have some harms. If this fruit is consumed properly, it will be safe. However it can have the following disadvantages:

If you eat too much cactus fruit you will experience the side effects of getting too much fiber. These complications include: diarrhea, bloating indigestion and nausea.
In rare cases the seeds of the cactus fruit lead to intestinal obstruction. With a large consumption of this fruit digestion of food will become difficult followed by intestinal obstruction and faecal retention.
Consuming cactus fruit may cause allergy in some people ; Therefore those who have asthma and severe respiratory sensitivities or children should consult a doctor before use.
One of the effects of cactus fruit is lowering blood sugar ; Therefore consuming a lot of this fruit can lead to a severe drop in blood sugar.

Is cactus fruit hot or cold?

Cactus fruit has different flavors some types of cactus fruit have a sour taste like kiwi and others have a sweet taste like strawberry. The sweetness of this fruit affects its character. But in general it can be said that the cactus fruit has a cold and moist nature and the sweeter its taste the warmer and moist its nature is.

The best recipes with cactus fruit

You can use cactus fruit in different ways. The following are the best way to prepare a drink with cactus fruit.

Cactus fruit margarita

One of the most versatile drinks is margarita, which has a pleasant taste.

ingredients

1 cup of Sunich Cactus carbonated drink
1 cup of soda water
½ fresh lime
Square pieces of cactus fruit
4 pieces of ice

Cactus fruit mojito

Mojito is one of the most popular summer drinks and now we want to prepare it with cactus fruit

ingredients

1 cup of Sunich Cactus carbonated drink
1 cup of Sunich Mojito carbonated drink
Juice of a fresh lime and slices for decoration
5 mint leaves for decoration
1 tablespoon of honey
Square pieces of cactus fruit
4 pieces of ice

Cactus and cranberry fruit drink

Cactus fruit with cranberry can be an excellent source of antioxidants

ingredients

1 cup of Sunich Cactus carbonated drink
1 cup of cranberry drink
1 cup of Sunich grapefruit drink
1 tablespoon of cranberry -flavored syrup
1 tablespoon of honey
Square pieces of cactus fruit
4 pieces of ice

Conclusion

Now that you are familiar with the cactus fruit and its properties it is better to consume it in different ways in your diet. For example cactus juice, jam, jelly, smoothie and cactus pickles, which have different and good tastes.