Make Ours A Spiky Smoothie: 5 Reasons Cactus Is The Latest Superfood
The latest superfood on the block is cactus [Photo: Rex Features]
Move over kale there’s a new superfood on the health block and it’s every bit as good for you. While you might think twice about plucking a prickly cactus leaf from the manky old plant languishing on your bathroom shelf, restaurants nationwide are serving up cactus leaves, stems and fruit in everything from salads, smoothies and even sandwiches (egg and cactus sarnie anyone?) And forget coconut water, for the health set it’s all about cactus juice these days.
So why exactly is a prickly plant fast becoming the go-to superfood of choice for healthistas?
It reduces blood sugar
We know the sugar drill, high blood sugar can lead to diabetes, heart disease and even strokes, according to the National Institutes of Health. But did you realise that cactus leaves can have a positive effect on blood sugar levels? Researchers at the University of Vienna tested nopal cactus leaf on 24 non-obese subjects who were suffering from high cholesterol. The results of the eight-week study, not only showed a reduction in cholesterol, but an 11 percent reduction in blood sugar levels which is attributed to the high fibre and pectin content in cacti.
Cactus smoothie anyone? [Photo: Rex Features]
It helps lower cholesterol
Nopal cactus, AKA prickly pear cactus has been linked to reducing cholesterol levels in the body. A 2007 French study tested the impact of cactus leaf on 68 patients suffering from metabolic syndrome. After four weeks, “bad cholesterol” and triglyceride levels decreased, while “good cholesterol” increased. Researchers concluded that cactus leaf helps decrease cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.
It can help with weight loss
If you’re struggling to shift a few excess pounds, cactus extract supplements could help with weight loss by acting as a diuretic. A 2010 study found that cactus extract reduced weight gain in rats by almost 20 percent. The rats were divided into three groups: one group was administered the cactus extract at a dose of 240 milligrams (mg) a day for seven days, the second group was given the pharmaceutical diuretic hydrochlorothiazide at a dose of 10 mg a day, and the third group acted as the control. The research concluded that the cactus extract did not deplete the body’s minerals and exerted an antioxidant effect.
Bars and restaurants are catching on to the health benefits of cactus [Photo: Rex Features]
It can prevent a hangover
About to head to the pub? Maybe pop some cactus extract first. Cactus contains a range of nutrients and antioxidants, including vitamins C, E, A, iron, calcium, and carotenoids, which help reduce inflammation in the body and can help hold off a hangover. In a 2004 study, researchers from the Tulane Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, observed the effects of a cactus on adults consuming five to seven alcoholic drinks. When the participants took the cactus extract five hours before consuming alcohol, they experienced fewer hangover symptoms and cut their risk of getting a killer hangover by almost half. Plus, cacti contain a lot of water, which makes them hydrating. And at just 14 calories per cacti cup, they’re super low cal too.
It fights cancer cells
Cactus leaf contains phenolics and flavonoids, plant compounds that credited for its antioxidant properties. The National Cancer Institute believes that antioxidants protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are byproducts of oxidation. Free radical damage can lead to illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. A 2009 issue of “Plant Foods for Human Nutrition” concludes that when tested against colon, liver, breast and prostate cancer, cactus pear’s phytochemical compounds helped prevent the growth of cells in all four cancers without affecting healthy cells. Pretty amazing huh?
Would you fancy trying a cactus smoothie? Let us know @YahooStyleUK
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