You can take care of your health in various ways, but it is best to use only natural methods that do not cause simultaneous side effects. Plants with research-proven therapeutic properties, comprehensively and positively affecting the body, are perfect for this. This includes those that do not grow in nature in our country, such as prickly pear, used both in natural medicine and cosmetics.

Learning about the composition and all the properties of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), we will deal with in a moment, first we should learn what this plant actually is, where it comes from and what it looks like. It is included in the large cactus family, in the wild it grows primarily in North and South America, including countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Of course, it can also be found on our continent, on a fairly large scale it is cultivated in southern Italy.

It is also known by other names, Indian fig or cactus fig, tuberous prickly pear, or Indian pear, and nearly 150 species are known. Considering this plant botanically, we can say that it is an edible cactus, its height often exceeds 5 meters, and edible are mainly the fruits.

They can be green, red or orange, about 10 centimeters long, comparable in size to a kiwi, for example, and of considerable weight. They are usually egg-shaped or oval, and inside they hide juicy flesh, red or yellow, with small, also edible seeds. The taste of prickly pear is typical of exotic fruits, resembling watermelon at the same time, but very refreshing, but it is important to eat only healthy fruits, without any signs of spoilage.

Since prickly pear has such a perfectly beneficial effect on human health, this fact must have some basis. As with other fruits, exotic or native, this is due to the chemical composition, and the Indian fig in this regard can really impress. It contains almost everything we need to make us feel better, and this is determined by such active compounds as:

Prickly pear is famous for its exceptionally wide range of uses, so it has received special attention from specialists in phytotherapy, or herbal medicine. Contrary to its name, it does not use only herbs, but also other plants that can affect the human body in a specific, but always positive, way.

It is definitely worth introducing it into your daily diet, both in fresh form, which we can buy in good stores with organic products, and in processed form. Without too much trouble we will be able to find Indian fig dried, candied, in the form of preserves, as well as made from it oil or tea, in which it is one of the main ingredients. Regardless of which one we decide on, we can count on its following medicinal properties:

Problems associated with increasing overweight and obesity are affecting more and more people not only in our country, and these two ailments have already begun to be classified as diseases of civilization. That is why it is worth appreciating the importance of using prickly pear in the process leading to noticeable weight reduction.

Its action consists primarily in regulating the body’s carbohydrate metabolism, that is, preventing rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels and inhibiting excessive appetite for sweets, empty calories that cause rapid weight gain. Contributing to this, among other things, is the content of dietary fiber, filling the stomach and providing a long-lasting feeling of satiety.

Extracts of prickly pear, used, for example, in weight loss supplements, can simultaneously accelerate fat burning and reduce the amount of fat absorbed in the digestive tract. Some active compounds in prickly pear fruit have a high ability to bind excess fat molecules and accelerate their excretion after metabolic processes.

There is no denying that diabetes is another disease of our time, after overweight and obesity, which can, if not treated properly, even end in death. Prevention of diabetes is equally important, and one of its elements is worth making Indian fig fruits. Their action in this regard boils down to the activation of insulin production processes taking place in the pancreas and to the aforementioned normalization of blood sugar levels.

Particularly important, for example, after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, which almost completely disrupts the work of internal organs and systems, to which the growing level of harmful toxins contributes precisely. Indian fig supports detoxification of the body, facilitating the removal of not only the toxins themselves, usually from external sources.

It also helps the body expel more quickly all unnecessary substances left over from metabolic processes that can pose the same health risks. This is facilitated, among other things, by the diuretic effect of prickly pear and the support of the liver, the most important organ responsible for effective detoxification.

Digestion and metabolism, or metabolism, can safely be counted among the most important processes in the human body, without which there can be no proper functioning of the entire body. Among other things, they help maintain proper with calculated BMI body weight, and they also assist in cleansing the system of toxins.

A beneficial factor that can counteract possible disorders of digestive and metabolic processes is prickly pear, or more precisely, the presence in it of large amounts of dietary fiber. At the same time it is worth appreciating other compounds, especially pectin, causing a reduction in the amount of LDL cholesterol and regulating the body’s disturbed lipid metabolism, which also has a not inconsiderable effect on the digestive system.

Our body’s natural immunity can be weakened under the influence of various factors, which we feel especially in the autumn and winter. A malfunctioning immune system opens the way for seasonal infections or inflammation, which can quickly develop into more serious diseases.

In such a case, prickly pear can be an effective prophylaxis, which, thanks to its exceptionally rich composition, has strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antifungal properties.

Of course, we can’t say that Indian fig can be used to treat various types of cancer, but it is worth considering as part of cancer prevention. This is favored by the presence of a large amount of antioxidants, substances responsible for eliminating pathogenic free radicals from the body. Preliminary studies have also shown that flavonoids and beta-carotene can inhibit the proliferation of cells of some varieties of this disease.

The fruit and other parts of this plant have gained great recognition not only in natural medicine, in herbal medicine, but also in cosmetics. This is facilitated by their composition, so they have found use in many cosmetics used for daily skin care. As an interesting fact, we can mention that prickly pear oil is one of the most difficult to prepare, for one liter of it as much as 470 kg of fruit is used, which of course is reflected in its high price. However, the health of the skin is priceless, so it is worth using cosmetics with prickly pear, whose effects include:

Despite the undoubted advantages of including prickly pear in your daily diet, not everyone can do so. This is because there are, fortunately, minor contraindications to its consumption, usually felt in overdose. It should be watched out for people with diabetes and hypersensitivity of the digestive system, in whichin whom an excess of fiber can cause digestive problems, quite troublesome stomach or intestinal discomfort.

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