What Type of Cactus Is Good to Eat for Diabetes?

The prickly pear cactus is a plant and is also a popular food in Mexico, Europe, India, North Africa and Australia. In the United States, edible cactus is gaining popularity and can be found in Mexican grocery stores and specialty food markets.

Function

• A prickly pear cactus's fleshy oval leaves have a soft yet crunchy skin that turns sticky when cooked, tasting much like a green pepper. When prepared correctly, this specific plant can be both tasty and medicinal, according to WebMD. The medicinal value of the cactus has been appreciated by those with high cholesterol, obesity, alcohol hangover, colitis, diarrhea and viral infections, as well as by those with diabetes.

How It Works

• Medical research has found that eating this cactus can help those suffering from Type II diabetes. The explanation for this is that the prickly pear contains fiber and pectin, which lower the absorption of sugar in both the stomach and intestine. This in turn lowers a person's blood glucose.

  Bear in mind, not just any prickly pear will do this. It is only the stems of the Opuntia streptacantha species that are capable of lowering blood sugar levels. WebMD reports that this unique plant has produced for some people a reduced blood sugar level of about 17 to 46 percent after a single dose.

Purchasing

• The plant is available year round, with its peak season in mid-spring; the best time to buy is between early spring and late fall. When purchasing, choose small, firm, pale green plants showing few wrinkles. Do not buy if the skin is dry or if the leaf is limp. The cactus can be refrigerated more than a week if plastic wrapped.

Eating

• WebMD recommends a person consume between 100 and 500 grams of stems daily, and if possible space this in three equal servings throughout the day. To prepare your cactus you must first be sure the prickly parts are removed. If you purchased your stems in the grocery store, they should come already de-spined, but make sure you take the time to trim out the remaining pokers. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the edge of the plant. You can eat the cactus either raw or cooked. It can be steamed, sautéed, added to eggs or even scattered across your yogurt or cereal in the morning.

Notes

• It is not yet known if extended daily use consistently lowers a diabetic's blood sugar.

  Other species of prickly pears do not have the same effect.

  If you are on diabetic medicine, be sure to monitor yourself for low blood sugar if you combine medication with a diet containing this cactus.