Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Prickly Pear

• Prickly pear is a versatile ingredient
• It's rich in vitamins C and E, fiber and potassium
• Its gelatinous pulp tastes like a watermelon

Prickly pear, also known as Opuntia ficus-indica, is a type of fruit that grows on the leaves of Nopales cactus. Aside from the fruit, the prickly pear cactus's other edible parts include its flowers, stems, and leaves.

The Prickly pear has different names including cactus pear, tuna, nopal, nopales, barberry figs, and Indian figs. It has quite a number of uses, including curing hangovers and promoting weight loss. It is sweet and nutritious, however many people avoid it because of its scary appearance. Nevertheless it has beneficial effects on your health as a whole.

Prickly pear attributes

Prickly pears are edible fruits with a strong, ribbed exterior and softer, pulpy interior. In most plants, it begins with green then changes to a reddish pink color as it matures.

It can be prepared in a variety of ways and to add to its versatility, it may also be used to create delicious jams and juices.

They grow from the tips of thorny cactus leaves and can be any colour from deep red-green to yellow or purple.

They smell like a cucumber, but have a flavour reminiscent of watermelon or raspberries.

Nutritional value of prickly pear

The Prickly pear is rich in several minerals, including magnesium, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins C and B, beta-carotene, iron, calcium, and potassium.

Just a cup of this fruit provides a significant portion of the recommended daily requirement for numerous vitamins and minerals.

Some of its health benefits include:

1. Increased immunity

Eating prickly pear fruit, which is rich in vitamins C and E, has been associated with improved detoxification and antioxidant performance.

The vitamin C content of only one serving of prickly pears can provide more than a third of the average person's daily needs.

2. Improves Bone Density and Dental Health

Prickly pears contain high calcium content, which is essential for healthy bone development.

3. Helps in digestion

Prickly pears aid in digestion thanks to their high fiber content. Increasing yiur fibre intake can help prevent issues like constipation, bloating, and more serious gastrointestinal problems including colon cancer and gastric ulcer.

4. It's rich in fiber e potassium

Prickly pears are good for the heart because they're rich of fiber content and potassium too.