Nopales Benefits: Why You Might Add Cactus to Your Diet
Explore nopales benefits: these edible cactus pads offer anti-inflammatory effects and may aid blood sugar management. Discover why this desert plant could be a nutritious addition to your diet.
Looking at a cactus with its threatening spikes and tough skin, you might not immediately think, “Yep, that’s a thing I could eat.” But guess what? Some forms of cacti are edible, tasty, and quite good for you!
Check out why it might be a good idea to pal around with nopales, the pads of the prickly pear cactus.
The nopal cactus, also known as the prickly pear or the opuntia, is a shrub-like, flowering cactus native to parts of Mexico, Arizona, the Mediterranean, Australia, and other desert regions. It might be recognized by its multitude of connected pads with flowering blooms. (A pad in bloom looks a little like a flat, green paw.)
Nopales flowers are filled with a viscous, seeded substance often used in jams, jellies, pies, cakes, and other sweets. But the stems, leaves, and entire pad (with spines removed, obvs) are also edible. Traditional Mexican preparations include boiling, grilling, and sautéing.
Science is still examining the possible benefits of nopales, so some touted wellness perks are fairly tentative. Here’s a look at what we know about these desert fruits.
Has anti-inflammatory properties
Almost any time you see bright colors in edible fruits, it’s a sign they contain antioxidants. This is def true for Nopales!
Older studies have found that the fruit inside their flowers is rich in antioxidants like ascorbic acid, phenolics, and a mixture of betacyanin and betaxanthin. These compounds help fight inflammation by kicking harmful free radicals out of your cells.
