Nopal: origin, benefits, deficiencies
Publié le 28-12-2023 et mis à jour le 17-10-2024
Nopal is known for its slimming and appetite suppressant properties. Often presented in the form of a fat-burning food supplement , it is recommended for people wishing to regulate their appetite and control their weight.
I. The origins of the nopal
Thenopal, also called “prickly pear” is a cactus native to Mexico. Very important in the culture of Mexico, it is represented on the national flag. It is known for its fruits, prickly pears, which have a delicately sweet flavor.
The flesh of the nopal tree is particularly prized today for culinary purposes.
It’s a cactus that can grow up to 5 meters high! It is recognized by its oval, flattened leaves. It can produce yellow, orange, pink or red flowers. Various virtues have been attributed to the nopal leaf over the centuries, notably to relieve digestive problems, treat burns, wounds and edema.
Today, mainly their slimming and antidiabetic qualities have aroused worldwide interest.
In herbal medicine, it is the leaf that is most used for itssoluble fiber content. It is harvested, prepared then supplied in different formats such as powders, extracts, tablets, etc.
II. The benefits of Nopal
The benefits of nopal are multiple!
It is your number 1 ally in the context of a diet for weight loss . It mainly limits cravings and the desire to snack. It has a fat-trapping effect thanks to the high quantity of fiber it contains, present in its leaves.
In addition to absorbing fats in the digestive system, fiber allows regulation of appetite, it is therefore 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 makes it possible to avoid a spike in blood sugar levels in particular to control diabetes. However, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor to avoid any interactions with certain current medical treatments.
Nopalcan also be used as a remedy for stomach pain, in fact, the fibers present in the leaves form a "gel" which would protect the walls of the stomach. It would help alleviate certain symptoms due to excessive alcohol consumption such as nausea, dry mouth or lack of appetite.
Applied as a poultice to the skin, it has an antibiotic power which would stop the development of many bacteria, and it is very beneficial for the skin since it would treat wounds and infections.
At D-LAB NUTRICOSMETICS, we offer Nopal Absolute as a complement to our Fat Burning Program to capture and eliminate lipids before they are assimilated by the body.
We engage with a high dose of nopal to activate weight loss through three complementary actions: it controls sugar levels, increases the feeling of satiety and absorbs sugars and fats in order to reduce caloric intake.
The Fat Burning Program will activate four interdependent levers. It will increase basic metabolism to burn more fat at rest, deploy thermogenesis to increase caloric expenditure, stimulate the elimination systems to avoid fat storage and clean the filter organs in order 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 suppressant foods
The problem faced by a lot of people trying to lose weight is snacking. Nopal supplements are very effective in limiting cravings and fighting hunger, but there are also many appetite suppressant foods. These are rich in fiber and contain little or no fat. They will swell in the stomach on contact with water and thus reduce the appetite.
Apple: Rich in pectin and fiber, apples are a powerful natural appetite suppressant.
Lemon: Very 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 therefore satiate the stomach more lastingly.
Konjac: Konjac is a plant native to Japan, which contains glucomannan, a dietary fiber which, like nopal, creates a gel in the stomach and reduces the feeling of hunger.
Quark: 0% fat quark causes a feeling of satiety thanks to the proteins it contains without providing unnecessary fat.
Egg: Egg white is rich in protein, so it takes longer to digest and helps reduce the urge to snack between meals.
Oat bran: Very rich in fiber, oat bran quickly fills you up.
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 the metabolism and limits the urge to snack.
