Nopal: origin, benefits, deficiencies
Publié le 28-12-2023 et mis à jour le 17-10-2024
The nopal is known for its slimming and appetite-suppressing properties. Often presented in the form of a fat-burning dietary supplement, it is recommended for people wishing to regulate their appetite and control their weight.
I. The origins of the nopal
The nopal, also called "prickly pear cactus," is a cactus native to Mexico. Very important in Mexican culture, it is depicted on the national flag. It is known for its fruits, the prickly pears, which have a delicately sweet flavor.
The flesh of the nopal is particularly prized today for culinary purposes.
It is a cactus that can grow up to 5 meters tall! It is recognized by its oval and flattened leaves. It can produce flowers in yellow, orange, pink, or red colors. Various virtues have been attributed to the nopal leaf over the centuries, notably for relieving digestive problems, treating burns, wounds, and edema.
Today, mainly their slimming and antidiabetic qualities have attracted worldwide interest.
In herbal medicine, it is the leaf that is most used for its content of soluble fibers. It is harvested, prepared, and then supplied in various forms such as powders, extracts, tablets...
II. The Benefits of Nopal
The benefits of nopal are numerous!
It is your number 1 ally in the context of a diet aimed at weight loss. It mainly limits cravings and the desire to snack. It has a fat-binding effect thanks to the high amount of fiber it contains, present in its leaves.
In addition to absorbing fats in the digestive system, fibers allow for appetite regulation, making them an excellent appetite suppressant.
The presence of nopal fibers in the digestive system is also a factor in reducing the absorption of sugars in the body after a meal. This notably helps to avoid a blood sugar spike, especially to control diabetes. However, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor to avoid any interactions with certain ongoing medical treatments.
The nopal can also be used as a remedy for stomach pains, indeed, the fibers present in the leaves would form a "gel" that would protect the walls of the stomach. It would help soothe certain symptoms caused by excessive alcohol consumption such as nausea, dry mouth, or loss of appetite.
Applied as a poultice on the skin, it has an antibiotic power that would stop the development of many bacteria, and it is very beneficial for the skin as it would help heal wounds and infections.
At D-LAB NUTRICOSMETICS, we offer Absolu de Nopal as a complement to our Fat-Burning Program to capture and eliminate lipids before they are absorbed by the body.
We commit with a high dose of nopal to activate weight loss through three complementary actions: it controls blood sugar levels, increases the feeling of fullness, and absorbs sugars and fats to reduce calorie intake.
The Fat-Burning Program will, for its part, activate four interdependent levers. It will increase the basal metabolism to burn more fat at rest, deploy thermogenesis to increase calorie expenditure, stimulate elimination systems to prevent fat storage, and cleanse the filtering organs to improve their detoxifying power and restart the cycle.
Also read: how to boost your metabolism? and top 5 natural fat burners
III. Effective Appetite-Suppressing Foods
The problem encountered by many people trying to lose weight is snacking. Nopal supplements are very effective in limiting cravings and fighting hunger, but there are also many appetite-suppressing foods. These are rich in fiber and contain little or no fat. They swell in the stomach upon contact with water, thereby reducing appetite.
The apple: Rich in pectin and fiber, the apple is a powerful natural appetite suppressant.
Lemon: Highly appreciated for its detoxifying properties and thanks to the citric acid and vitamin C it contains, it is known for its ability to reduce blood sugar and thus keep the stomach feeling full for longer.
Konjac: Konjac is a plant native to Japan, which contains glucomannan, a dietary fiber that, like nopal, creates a gel in the stomach and reduces the feeling of hunger.
White cheese: 0% fat white cheese creates a feeling of fullness thanks to the proteins it contains without adding unnecessary fat.
The egg: Egg white is rich in protein, so it takes longer to digest and helps reduce snacking between meals.
Oat bran: Very rich in fiber, oat bran quickly satisfies hunger.
Green tea: In addition to being an appetite suppressant, green tea also has fat-burning properties and is an effective diuretic!
Coffee: Just like green tea, coffee activates metabolism and limits snack cravings.
