Nopal : The complete guide

Origin of nopal

 

The ancestral Nopal

There is a legend that the Aztecs crossed the continent in search of a place to create their own state. They stopped near a nopal grove and founded the city of Tenochtitlan, which would mean “the place where the nopal grows”, which later became better known as Mexico City.

This miraculous plant allowed the Aztecs to survive in the arid and desert lands of the north during their nomadic period, before settling down.

Today, the nopal is the symbol of Mexico. Moreover, it appears on the national flag.

 

Long live Mexico !

The nopal is rightly considered as a plant from Mexico, which has spread widely throughout the world and especially in the Mediterranean area. However, it is in Mexico that it is most exploited and is consumed as a vegetable almost daily!

You will find nopal in the streets frying or grilling under the hot Mexico sun with a touch of jalapeño pepper. In restaurants, it will be present in your salad and will accompany your main course with pleasure. And to refresh you, nothing like a 100% natural nopal juice that will give you a boost from the first sip!

 

Composition of Nopal

 

But what can he hide from us?

Behind its dangerous appearance, with its threatening spines, the nopal hides in it a treasure in which there are 17 amino acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and C, as well as minerals including calcium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium and iron. Not to mention soluble dietary fibers (mucilages, pectins, gums) and insoluble (cellulose, hemicellulose, lineage).

All these priceless goodies are the source of the antioxidant virtues of our friend the nopal.

 

Yes, I want it!

The amino acids contained in the nopal, in combination with the vitamins and minerals, therefore represent for us an effective and natural food supplement, especially for vegetarians.

Do you want it? Good news! Nopal is harvested for export in capsule and powder form as a natural health supplement.

So you don’t have to go all the way to Mexico to enjoy all its benefits.

The properties and benefits of Nopal

 

Detox superfood

Every day we are exposed to the harmful effects of different toxins from various sources.

This is why many nutrition experts suggest cleansing the body first before starting to take supplements (vitamins, minerals etc.).

Nopal performs both tasks. By eliminating harmful substances from the body, it simultaneously fills the deficit with the necessary nutritional components.

It is possible to combine it with wheatgrass which cleanses the body in depth and protects from external aggressions.

 

Nopal against diabetes

In 2017, the number of diabetics in the world reached the alarming figure of 425 million people, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF Atlas 2017). Not to mention all those who suffer from it without even knowing it.

About 130 plants have been recognized by medicine as having a positive effect on diabetics and nopal is one of them!

Indeed, it has been found that nopal juice reduces the risk of diabetes by lowering and stabilizing the blood sugar level, thanks to the soluble fibers it contains.

Nopal can therefore become an alternative food for diabetics but also for healthy people, in order to prevent various diseases.

 

Anti-inflammatory action

Thanks to its anti-ulcer, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, nopal allows the prevention of ulcers and intestinal disorders, in addition to attenuating the inflammatory process.

 

Nopal for weight loss

The popularity of nopal is also associated with its ability to regulate body weight. Indeed, its high fiber content improves digestion and cleanses the body. Nopal is also rich in polysaccharides that play the role of appetite suppressant, which helps to stabilize weight. In addition, we recommend the nopal – chlorella combo. We assure you an appetite suppressant effect as well as the regulation of the level of bad fats and sugar in the blood.

Nopal can be an effective natural supplement to a diet aimed at reducing body weight, without resorting to chemical compounds that could cause undesirable side effects.

 

Get a makeover

The therapeutic properties of nopal can also include its use for certain skin diseases and for burns, as it helps in healing, heals wounds and treats infections.

Mexicans also use this plant in beauty care, as a day cream, after-sun, anti-stretch marks, anti-wrinkle … The list is long.

 

Hangover when you hold us 

According to the studies of the American Institute of Health (NIH), the nopal can make the hangover pass or at least, decrease it. Indeed, taking an extract of nopal a few hours before abusive alcohol consumption (5 hours on average), reduces the symptoms of “hangover” such as nausea and dry mouth among others, while decreasing the production of substances triggering the inflammation process.

To help you through this difficult ordeal, we recommend our article on hangovers!

Nopal, expert opinion

 

A doctor’s opinion

Doctor Mehmet Öz, heart surgeon and professor at Columbia University, claims that nopal is a natural sugar sensor, which helps in the prevention of diabetes and obesity.

 

A nutritionist’s opinion

According to Dr. Swapan Banerjee, nutritionist, fitness expert and dietician for Icliniq, nopal could be considered a hypoglycemic agent in the treatment of diabetes.

Nopal, Side effects? Danger?

 

In moderation

As with any other food, you should not abuse the nopal. If you are allergic to it, it goes without saying that you should not touch it.

In addition, nopal can lead in very rare cases to slight intestinal disorders since it contains a high concentration of fiber.

And if you use nopal powder, be sure to drink a glass of water or more to prevent the risk of intestinal blockages.

Buy Nopal

 

Nopal is not dangerous at all. However, be very careful with the consumption of nopal sold in Mexican markets, without prior control of the quality and content of the components.

In addition, it is strongly advisable to opt for an organic brand to take full advantage of the product.

Nopal, dosage

Comply with the dosages indicated on the product as well as the recommendations of health professionals.