Prickly pear is a cactus found all over the world. In the United States, it grows in the Southwest deserts and varies in height from less than a foot tall to 7 feet tall. All the plants have flat, fleshy pads with yellow, red or purple flowers.

The fruit of the prickly pear plant is edible. Stores sell it, and call it “tuna.” The pads are also sold in stores. They are called “Nopalito.” Besides being stunning, the prickly pear plant has some medicinal uses, one of which being weight loss.

Prickly Pear and weight loss

Prickly pear, an all-natural way to lose weight, is a beneficial supplement in several ways. Both the fruit and the pads are rich in soluble fibers that might stabilize blood sugar. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology reported that the prickly pear’s extract could stabilize blood glucose levels.

Prickly Pear stabilizes blood sugar

“..once blood sugar stabilizes, craving for sugary foods and high-calorie carbs subside.”

This is significant for weight loss because once blood sugar stabilizes, craving for sugary foods and high-calorie carbs subside.

Having steady blood sugar also keeps energy levels high, which can lead to exercise.

Prickly pear is also a good source of magnesium, which is important for maintaining a regular heartbeat and for helping muscles to contract properly. It contains calcium, potassium and vitamin C.

Prickly pear acts as an antioxidant, which protects cells from environmental contaminants such as radiation and tobacco smoke. It can also reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, while leaving the body’s HDL (good) cholesterol alone. The pectin in the fruit might help lower a diabetic’s need for insulin.

Prickly pear can minimize hangovers

Another benefit of prickly pear is that it can minimize hangovers. Sometimes people do not realize they had too much to drink until they wake up the next morning and swear that they will never drink again. The pain is just too difficult to take – the headache, the dehydration, the nausea, the sensitivity to light, the dizziness and the general feeling of malaise.

Taking prickly pear can reduce these symptoms and can help hangover sufferers recover more quickly, especially if taken about five hours before drinking.

 

Lose weight with prickly pear in Proactol

One way to get prickly pear extract is to take Proactol Plus, a 100 percent organic diet pill. Proactal Plus contains a patented medicinal herb called NeOpuntia that comes from dehydrated prickly pears. This is the active ingredient in the diet pill.

It works by binding with fat, stopping the body from absorbing about 27 percent of dietary fat. This means that less fat will stay on the body. Proactal is non-addictive, and is effective for weight loss and as a hangover cure. Read our Proactol Plus review here