Edible fruits of cactus

Many believe that cacti, although they have a peculiar beauty, do not have any practical benefit. Well, except that they make tequila, and camels eat them. In fact, some representatives of cacti not only have edible fruits, but even at certain times become for man a real salvation from hunger.

Cacti with edible fruits

The most famous edible cactus in the world is the prickly pear . This is a large plant with flat juicy leaves, which, incidentally, can also be used for food - young shoots are added to salads, they are made from jelly and sauces. The fruits of the prickly pear are sour-sweet and outwardly resemble a pear or lemon, covered with tiny needles. Despite the temptation, the fruits of the prickly pear should in no case be taken with bare hands, only with special tongs or a spoon, otherwise the evening will have to pass for removing the needles from the skin.

The fruits of another representative of cacti - the gilocereus got to our stores. On domestic counters this fruit can be found under the name of Pitaya or Pitahaya. Homeland of the "dragon fruit" is Vietnam, where it has been successfully cultivated for many years, due to its unpretentiousness and ability to bear fruit five or six times a year. The slightly acidic pulp of Pitaya slightly tastes like strawberries, but without a specific smell. Dragon fruit can be eaten raw, as well as boil jam, make candied fruits and use as additives to various desserts.

Benefits of edible cactus fruits

The fruits of edible cacti have an impressive baggage of various "utilities":

1. In its composition, the fruits of cacti are in many respects similar to the usual all watermelons and cucumbers: they have plenty of water and vitamins with a minimum of calories. That is why they benefit people suffering from various metabolic disorders, kidney diseases and hypertension.
2. Behind the fruits of the prickly pear and giloceræus, it is noted that the property reduces blood sugar levels, facilitates sputum evacuation and reduces temperature.
3. Due to the high content of alkaloids, fruits can be used to prepare medicinal broths for the treatment of colds, viral and bacterial diseases.
4. They are also useful in the treatment of various wounds and skin irritations - compresses and rubbing juice of the fruit of the prickly pear, for example, can not only heal minor damage, but also stop serious inflammation.