Prickly Pear Cactus; the Cactus That Produces Betalains

Healthforus

Prickly pear cactus may be one of the strange plants if you don’t like planting. I don’t know it at first. Because I don’t really like to plant and I don’t really like gardening. So if you don’t like to plant plants, then you surely will don’t know this plant. But if you are living near Mexico, then you probably will know this prickly pear cactus. Because these cactuses grow fine in deserts. Since Mexico is having a warm temperature and also having few deserts, then they will surely grow best there.

The shape of this cactus is not very different from other cactus. Prickly pear cactus has Cholas and large spines. This cactus is one of a member from Opuntia genus. What makes this cactus is unique is because of their clusters of fine, tiny, barbed spines that is called glochids. This glochids comes with a beautiful yellow or red color. And it is detach from the pads. But you will rarely see this beautiful glochids. Because they will be difficult to be seen and removed once they lodged in the skin. So you will rarely see this pretty glochids.

Prickly Pear Cactus Juice

If you live on the South America, you will see the fruit of this prickly pear cactus on the market. You might be surprised that cactus can have a fruit. Well, they do have fruits. They are probably not the only cactus that produces fruits. I believe that there is few other cactus that produces fruits too. We just don’t know yet. The color is very beautiful. It has a red color like a dragon fruit. It looks very delicious to be eaten. But it would be more delicious if you do make it as a juice.

Prickly pear cactus can also be produced as several drink products. You will see the syrup and the nectar of this cactus. You can make it as a margarita. And the nectar can be used to make tea. You can even combine the syrup with other fruits like lemonade. If you don’t like an alcoholic drink, then you can try to juice it. It will be more delicious if you do juice it with yoghurt. Or if you want more sweetness, then you can add an ice cream to your juice and make it as smoothie.

Prickly Pear Cactus Extract

You probably have heard about Betalains before. That is the most important contains on the fruit of this cactus. This Betalains has been a main ingredient for several health products. One of them is the prickly pear cactus extract. The Betalains on this prickly pear cactus extract do have the same function as the Nopalea cactus juice drink. You will only need to put a drop of this prickly pear cactus extract on your tongue and done. There is a lot of product that you will find nowadays using this cactus. Maybe because they have invented that this Betalains are very useful and it can only be found on prickly pear cactus drink.