Fantastic Health Benefits Of Opuntia (Prickly Pears), Nutrition, Uses & Caution

Opuntia also called prickly pear belongs to the cactus family, Cactaceae. Opuntia is, in fact, the scientific name of the plant and the pears are the fruits. It is also known by the name cactus fruit. There are more than 200 different species of Opuntia, out of which only a few varieties are edible. That's right, you can eat the prickly pears! Out of the vast varieties of the cactus plant, the most common one is the Indian Fig Opuntia^[1] .

Prickly pears grow at the edge of the leaves and are covered in thorns, owing to its name. Colour of the fruit can range from yellow and light green to orange, pink, and red. Packed with various health benefits, opuntia can help lower high cholesterol levels, improve the digestive process, and decrease the risk of diabetes^[2] .

Continue reading to know more about the fascinating health benefits of Opuntia.

Nutritional Value Of Opuntia

100 grams of prickly pears contain 41 calories of energy, 0.5 g fat, 0.7 g protein, 0.1 mg riboflavin, 0.5 mg niacin, 0.1 mg vitamin B6, 0.3 mg iron and 0.1 mg zinc ^[3] .

The remaining nutrients in opuntia are as follows:

• 9.6 g carbohydrates
• 3.6 g dietary fibre
• 88 g water
• 25 mcg vitamin A equiv.
• 6 mcg folate
• 14 mg vitamin C
• 56 mg of calcium
• 85 mg magnesium
• 24 mg phosphorus
• 220 mg potassium

Uses Of Opuntia

Some of the most common uses of cactus fruit are mentioned below ^[4] .

• Used for making jellies and jams, candies or alcoholic beverages like vodka.
• Used for making colonche.
• An effective hangover cure.

Health Benefits Of Opuntia

Rich in various nutrients, vitamins and minerals, prickly pears can help improve your health in various ways ^{[5] [6] [7]} .

1. Boosts immunity

The high levels of vitamin C in opuntia aids in toxin removal. Likewise, the antioxidant property of the fruits helps boost the immune system and stimulate the production of white blood cells. It helps protect your body against various infections and eliminates the infectious microorganisms from your body. The vitamin C content also helps get rid of the free radicals from your body, giving a boost to your immune system.

2. Improves digestion

The dietary fibre content in opuntia plays a significant role in regulating your digestive process. The fibre helps by aiding the movement of food through the digestive tract and prevent the possibilities of constipation, bloating, and gastrointestinal issues such as gastric ulcers

3. Strengthens bones and teeth

Calcium content in opuntia help improves the strength of your bones and teeth. It plays a major role in the development of bone tissue and thereby acting as an efficient supplier of required calcium to your body. This help prevents age-related bone disorders like osteoporosis and dental issues.

4. Protects heart health

Packed with dietary fibre, potassium and betalain - prickly pears help improve your heart health. That is, the fibre content helps lower the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body. Potassium helps by lowering blood pressure, relaxing the blood vessels and reducing stress on the cardiovascular system. Along with that, the betalains strengthens the endothelial walls of blood vessels which reduce the risk of a weak circulatory system. Consuming the fruit help prevent the onset of atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, and stroke^[8] .

5. Aids weight loss

Opuntia is low in calories, high in fibre, and packed with various other nutrients that help prevent unnecessary weight gain. Not only that, the fibre content help reduce your weight in a healthy manner - in which carbohydrates also play a role by keeping you feeling full ^[9] .

6. Reduces inflammation

The antioxidants and minerals found in opuntia are beneficial for treating arthritis, gout, or muscle strain as it can help lower inflammation. It has been used for treating inflammation and the associated swelling since ages.

7. Lowers cholesterol

As aforementioned, opuntia can successfully manage one's cholesterol levels by eliminating LDL cholesterol from the body. The fibre content in the fruit is capable of reducing the plasma levels and hepatic levels of cholesterol, studies reveal.

8. Fights free radical cells

One of the major health benefits posed by opuntia is that it can help reduce the risk of breast, prostate, stomach, pancreatic, ovarian, cervical, and lung cancers. The flavonoid compounds present in prickly pears prevent the growth of the cancerous cells by attacking the free radical cells ^[10] .

9. Protects the liver

Packed with plenty of antioxidants, prickly pears or opuntia can help prevent liver damage. The antioxidants aid you by reducing the oxidative stress caused by toxins and unwanted particles in your body. It also helps by eliminating the free radicals that could attack your liver^[11] .

10. Prevents ulcers

The compound called betanin in opuntia help reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals found in your body, which are the causal factors of ulcers. Consuming prickly pears can be beneficial in preventing the onset of ulcers as it helps regulate the gastric mucus production as well.

Healthy Opuntia Recipes

1. Prickly pear juice

Ingredients^[12]

• 3 prickly pears
• 1 cup of water
• ½ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed

Directions

• Slice both ends of the prickly pear off.
• Peel back the skin, by pushing it back with a knife or your hand.
• Place peeled prickly pears in a blender with 1 cup of water.
• Blend at the lowest speed for 1 minute.
• Strain and discard the seeds and pulp.
• Pour the prickly pear juice back in the blender, with orange juice.
• Blend until smooth.

2. Prickly pear, orange and mint salad

Ingredients

• 2 prickly pears, wedged
• 1 orange, wedged
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped loosely
• ½ teaspoon honey

Directions

• Cut pears and oranges into wedges.
• Add the mint to it.
• Toss the ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.

Side Effects Of Opuntia

• It can cause upset stomach, diarrhoea, bloating, and headache in some cases.
• In some individuals, it can cause allergic reactions resulting in nasal inflammation or asthma ^[13] .

• It may interfere with your body's ability to absorb certain medications due to the diuretic property.
• Pregnant or women who are breastfeeding should avoid consuming the fruit as it can with the foetus development.
• Always remove the peel of the pear before consumption ^[14] .