Plant Food – Cactus

What is Cactus?
Cacti live in dry environments, typically under the hot desert sun. Only a few out of the 1,750 known species are edible. Edible parts of a cactus usually include the stem and the fruit.

Cactus grows very slowly. Some species take a decade for 1 inch of growth. Cactus has a lengthy lifespan. Some species live up to 200 years.

What Superfood Should I Eat?
Cactus – Research shows that the phytochemicals in cactus can:
– Inhibit cancer cell growth.
– Suppress tumor growth.
– Increase the number of cells undergoing self-destruction as a protection against abnormalities.

Phytochemicals are plentiful in cactus

What are Phytochemicals?
Phytochemicals are a type of phytonutrients that help plants defend against damage from the environment. Only about 150 out of over 5,00 known phytochemicals have been studied in depth.

Phytochemicals Can Help Protect Against Diseases and Prevent Cancer
Phytochemicals are plant compounds to protect against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Eating large amounts of plant foods containing phytochemicals may decrease the risk of developing certain cancers as well as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. The action of phytochemicals varies by the type of plant food. They may act as antioxidants and help prevent carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) from forming. Some scientists believe the risk of cancer could be reduced by as much as 40% through eating more vegetables, fruits, and other plant foods that have certain phytochemicals in them.


The America Institute for cancer Research states that Phytochemicals have the potential to:
– Block some of the actions of carcinogens
– Stimulate your immune system
– Prevent DBNA damage and enhance DNA repair
– Slow growth rate of cancer cells
– Reduce inflammation
– Reduce oxidative damage
– Help regulate hormones

What Other Benefits Does Cactus Have?
Studies suggest cactus contains many antioxidants with healthful properties:
1. Antiviral – Can inhibit the replication of several viruses
2. Anti-diabetic – Has hypoglycaemic activity
3. Cardioprotective – Lowers cholesterol levels and can modify LDL (bad) cholesterol composition
4. Neuroprotective – Quercetin 3-methyl ether, a flavonoid extract from cactus, can be a potent neuroprotector
5. Anti-inflammatory – Beta-sitosterol causes the key anti-inflammatory action in cactus


There is no evidence that taking isolated phytochemical supplements is as good as eating the wholesome plant foods that contain them. Most experts strongly believe that it is the combination of different phytochemicals from wholesome plant foods that is beneficial for our body.
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-clinics/cancer-nutrition-services/reducing-cancer-risk/phytochemicals.html
https://www.breastcancer.org/tips/nutrition/reduce_risk/foods/phytochem


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