Nopal Cactus:Advertisment text
a staple food in Mexico
A large percentage of the Western World’s
What would be the benefits to people who
population is falling short on their consumption
suffer from an ongoing complaint such as:
of Dietary fibre – The British Nutrition Foundation
puts the average daily consumption at 12g, far
Diabetes?
Nopal helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels via two
short of the RDA of 18-22g per day.
separate pathways. First, the broad spectrum of soluble
The over-consumption of sugar and other refined car-
and insoluble fibres prevent the rapid absorption of carbo-
bohydrates are compounding public health problems
hydrates, such as simple sugars which helps prevent post
related to high blood sugar. The Nopal Cactus, a healthy
prandial hyperglycemia (high blood sugar after a meal).
whole food solution, is demonstrating through clinical
Second, Nopal has been clinically shown to improve the
trials what ancient cultures have known for thousands of
metabolism of sugar from the bloodstream. Nopal was
years. Scientists are ‘re-discovering Nopal’ as a healthy
given to hyperglycemic individuals in the morning be-
food supplement that delivers functional fibre and a host
fore breakfast and within an hour their blood sugar was
of beneficial phytonutrients which promote healthy blood
significantly reduced. Furthermore Nopal did not reduce
sugar levels.
blood sugar in healthy individuals unless they entered into
Marco Aurilio is a BSc in Chemistry with a second BSc in
a hyperglycemic condition.
Microbiology - with an emphasis on nutrition and natural
product chemistry; we put the following questions to him.
Inflammatory Bowel Conditions?
Nopal contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory com-
pounds which act synergistically with the dietary fibre to
What is Nopal and where does it come from?
clean, soothe and heal problematic bowels.
The Nopal cactus, scientifically known as Opuntia ficus- Hypertension?
indica, is a medicinal food with a 12,000-year safety Nopal has demonstrated the reduction of metabolic syn-
record. All Opuntia cactus species worldwide originated drome and if the Hypertension is related to that condition
in Meso-America, now known as Mexico. The high moun- then regular consumption of Nopal will promote healthy
tain volcanic region Opuntia species known as Nopal, has blood pressure.
been used as a food and healing plant for thousands of
years before the ancient Aztecs migrated to that area. Hyperlipidemia?
According to historical texts, they followed the guidance Nopal has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by 15%
of a prophetic Nopal vision, and established what is now and normalize HDL and triglycerides. Furthermore the
known as Mexico City. Nopal was treasured by 15th cen- anti-inflammatory activity would certainly help promote a
tury explorers for its ability to prevent scurvy, and stave off healthier cardiovascular system and likely show reductions
hunger, thus it was consequently introduced to Europe, in plasma CRP.
Africa and Asia, where it rapidly adapted to various envi-
ronments and proliferated into the nearly 200 species that
Nopal contains prebiotics – how beneficial
have been botanically defined.
are these?
What are the main benefits and why is it so
Nopal’s spectrum of soluble polysaccharides includes
valued?
fructans in short and long chains. These fibres are known
as prebiotics which are not digested or absorbed but
Although Nopal has remained a popular food in Mexican promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as lacto-
cuisine and a traditional medicine in rural communities, bacillus in the bowel and help the absorption of important
current research is revealing a rich phytonutrient profile minerals from the diet. Furthermore the by-products from
and timely health benefits. Ethnobotanical studies of bacterial metabolism of prebiotics have been correlated
Nopal have guided modern clinical research to confirm with a reduction in the risk of colon cancer.
activity in the areas of: blood sugar management, blood
lipid management, inflammation, gastrointestinal disease,
There are a host of manufactured ‘added
oxidative stress and weight management.
fibre products’ on the market at the moment,
what is your opinion on these?
What clinical trials have been carried out?
Any increase in natural food based fibre to our diets is a
positive step; however it is best to consume fibre as part
At least 12 human clinical studies have been performed of the whole food with which it is delivered. Whole foods
specifically investigating Nopal, blood sugar and insulin help provide a balanced nutrient and caloric load in our
reduction. Others: at least three human studies on Nopal meals. When we eat a refined food it will likely cause an
and blood lipids, at least one human study on metabolic imbalance that we would need to supplement in order
syndrome, and one on prevention and treatment of to correct. Nopal is possibly the most functional and bal-
hangovers from over-consumption of alcohol. I believe anced fibre available as a food and provides an excellent
that several human studies are in progress, two of which complement to any diet or as a dried powder can be
are in the USA. added as a functional ingredient to nearly any recipe.
References available on request
NHDmag.com Aug/Sep ‘08 - issue 3725
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