Tuna plant is of the cactus family, growing with prickly nodes on its broad leaves or stems. It has been utilized for many years as a shampoo for the hair, restoring refulgence and a healthy appearance to over processed hair. It is currently being used as an ingredient in various shampoos. Tuna plant has been used since ancient times for food and many different medicinal purposes. It grows all over Jamaica and is actually cultivated around the world, tuna plant is generally believed to indigenous to North America, particularly Mexico. Not only for the Mexicans it is an important food source and is such an integral part of their culture that it appears on the Mexican flag.
The tuna plant consists of fleshy oval pads, dark_ colored fruit and in certain seasons, colorful flowers. The pads are called "nopales" and once stripped of their spines can be added to a variety of food dishes. They can be used fresh in salads, grilled, pickled, sauteed and even be used as filling in tacos and enchiladas. The tuna plant leaf/ pads provide a great amount of beta-carotene, iron, some B vitamins, vitamin C, and calcium. The little reddish tuna fruit of the " cactus" averages 2 to 4 inches in length and shaped like an avocado has a sweet and juicy flesh can be eaten fresh or cooked. Pads and Tuna plant fruit are good sources of dietary fiber to keep your colon always in good shape.
The Flesh of the tuna plant leaves is sometimes applied directly to minor cuts, burns, and musculoskeletal injuries to stimulate healing and reduce pain, which is similar to how the aloe vera plant is used. The fresh sap from the tuna plant leaves is used to eliminate dandruff and other scalp problems. There are almost 130 genera and 1500 species of tuna plants around the world. The plant of Opuntia ficusindica produces sweet fruits and green bulky leaves. The tuna plant leaves used as a common green vegetable and consumed as salad or juice. Tuna plant lives well in the dry area since it belongs to succulent plant or plant which need not much water to live. The tuna plants absorb the water and store it in their stem.
1. Reduces Inflammation
In traditional medicine, the tuna plant was mashed and applied topically to parts of the body that were inflamed. When consumed, the antioxidants and minerals in tuna plant can lower inflammation, particularly in conditions like arthritis, gout, or muscle strain. It can also be topically applied to eliminate the swelling of bug bites, which in fact is a method in use for hundreds of years.
2. Prevent Cancer
Tuna plant has high levels of flavonoids, polyphenols, and betalains. These act as antioxidant compounds and neutralize free radicals before they cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells. Studies have shown lower chances of cancer in people who regularly add these types of antioxidants to their diet.
3. Good Source of Vitamin C And Magnesium
Tuna plant fruit provides around 85mg of dietary magnesium, a mineral that further contributes to cardiovascular health by supporting the activity of the heart muscle as well as 14mg of vitamin C, a vitamin with potent antioxidant, antiviral and anti_ inflammatory activity. It is believed that the fruit's vitamin C content is responsible for its AntiViral properties and explains its generation_ long use for the treatment of viral infections.
4. Cholesterol_ Lowering Effect
Tuna plant provides generous amounts of dietary fiber( from 3.6g to 5.3g for every 100g of fruit). Dietary fiber works at the intestinal level, preventing too much fat from being absorbed and reaching the bloodstream. This, in turn, reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. An animal study on guinea pigs ( Pectin isolated from tuna plant ( Opuntia sp.) modifies low-density lipoprotein metabolism in cholesterol _ fed guinea pigs) showed that the soluble fiber in the fruit decreased cholesterol levels up to 33% and hepatic cholesterol levels by 40 to 85 %.
5. Constipation Relief
Eating tuna plant helps relieve constipation naturally due to the fruit's high dietary fiber content ( 3.6 to 5.3g ). Pectin, a form of soluble dietary fiber in tuna plant, not only reduces fat assimilation and slows glucose absorption, hence that fruit's cholesterol _ lowering and antidiabetic properties, but also improves digestion and digestive tract health.
6. Dietary Fiber
Dietary fiber is a form of carbohydrate found in plants, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, that humans cannot digest. Fiber contributes to digestive system health and helps prevent constipation. Dietary fiber is also linked to lower cholesterol levels, decreased risk of heart disease and strokes, and improved glucose tolerance. Tuna plant is packed with fiber. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Set a daily value of A 1_ cup serving contains 5.4grams of fiber, which is 22 percent.
7. Strengthen Bones and Teeth
Calcium is crucial not only for the development but also the ongoing maintenance of the bones and teeth. This mineral helps prevent osteoporosis, too. About 99 percent of your body's calcium is found in your bones and teeth. Wasting a 1_ cup serving of fresh tuna plant provides your body with 83 milligrams of calcium, or approximately 8 percent of the DV set by the FDA.
8. For Healthy Skin
Tuna plant contains abundant mucilage and cellulose components resulting in emollients, which is why it can be used in a poultice on wounds, bruises and also act on irritated skin. In order to use it as a poultice, all you have to do is chop and mash the tuna plant and apply to the affected area. Another way in which this plant can contribute to the health of the skin is by ingesting it. Drinking a glass of cactus juice with pineapple juice or the juice of two lemons with a little-added honey. This helps to detoxify and cleanse your body from the inside, preventing and fighting acne.
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