What’s So Particular About Prickly Pear?
by Sarah Villafranco, MD
Ingredient
Prickly pear seed oil
What is the fancy Latin identify for prickly pear?
Opuntia ficus indica
The place does prickly pear seed oil come from?
Prickly pear seed oil is extracted from the seeds discovered within the fruit of the cactus—the brightly-colored, flowering bulbs that emerge from the flat pads throughout summer time and fall. The fruits are hand-gathered in a laborious (and really pokey) course of. The seeds are extracted, dried, and pressed to acquire the light-colored oil. The prickly pear is native to Mexico and South America. It slowly made its strategy to North America by touring by way of the digestive tracts of animals, although you could not wish to contemplate the main points of that journey. The cactus was then taken abroad and has now tailored to many various climates internationally. In reality, it has flourished to such a level in Australia that it’s thought-about an environmentally invasive species there. At Osmia we use cold-pressed, licensed natural prickly pear seed oil from Tunisia.
What are the advantages of prickly pear?
Prickly pear is a nutrient-dense cactus that, regardless of being a little bit dicey to organize, is eaten as a seasonal deal with in lots of cultures. It’s known as nopal in Latin delicacies. Prickly pear is an efficient supply of a number of vital vitamins, together with calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, and betalains, the identical potent antioxidants present in beets. These vitamins might account for its alleged usefulness in stopping hangovers. The cactus is excessive in fiber, and is being studied in Sort II diabetes, as it might have some useful impact on blood glucose in these sufferers.
What are the pores and skin advantages of prickly pear?
Prickly pear seed oil has the uncommon mixture of a light-weight texture with deep penetration, leaving the pores and skin extraordinarily delicate and velvety. It’s wealthy in tocopherols (vitamin E) and omega-6 fatty acids, each of which nourish and shield the pores and skin. Excessive ranges of vitamin Ok and zinc assist heal darkish spots and scars. The amino acids and antioxidants within the oil enhance pores and skin elasticity and look, particularly for dry or mature pores and skin sorts. Prickly pear seed oil is without doubt one of the most costly magnificence oils on this planet as a result of its technique of extraction and the large variety of seeds it takes to make even one ounce of the oil. No solvents are used, so the oil retains all its skin-enhancing vitamins. The prickly seed oil is mild yellow in colour, and is fast to soak up, leaving your pores and skin velvety delicate. Filled with pure tocopherols (Vitamin E), this oil is a potent antioxidant that helps enhance pores and skin elasticity and retain moisture. With a excessive share of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-6, prickly pear seed oil proves highly effective in holding pores and skin hydrated, plump, and glowy, which is precisely why we use it in our Nectar Nourishing Drops.
Can I eat prickly pear cactus?
Prickly pear has been a staple within the Mexican and Central American food plan for hundreds of years. The pads, the petals of the flower, and the fruit could be ready in many various culinary fashions. The pads style like inexperienced beans, whereas the fruit tastes extra like watermelon. The cheap, fiber-rich leaves discover their approach into tacos and salads and bean dishes.
Enjoyable details about prickly pear:
- The prickly pear has a dramatic historical past, together with a legend that tells of an excellent cactus that grew from the guts of an Aztec warrior named Copil.
- Prickly pear was initially dropped at Australia by an enterprising captain who thought the plant would host tens of millions of tiny bugs that, when crushed, could possibly be used to make cochineal dye. The plant beloved Australia and have become a pest. The bugs didn’t like Australia, and died, together with the captain’s marketing strategy.
- The prickly pear plant is a hermaphrodite—who knew??
- Not the funnest reality: it hurts to sit down on a prickly pear. I do know this because the gospel fact. There are pictures to show it.
With love and a wonderfully prickly pear,
The knowledge contained on this submit is for instructional curiosity solely and isn’t meant to signify claims for actions of prickly pear. This info isn’t meant for use for prognosis or remedy of any bodily or psychological sickness or illness.
