Opuntia

Saguaro123 · Post by **Saguaro123** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:03 pm

What health factors can a Opuntia do to you?

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:11 pm

Dramatically reduce it if you fall into one!

I've seen it used in vitamins, but i have no idea what benefits it has. Not even sure if they are legit FDA approved vitamins either...

Post by **daiv** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:55 pm

Yep, I'm not aware of any benefits specifically. I supposed eating it has good vitamins and such like most veggies do. If there is anything to the whole acupuncture thing, then growers are sure to benefit from that!

DieTer-Xz · Post by **DieTer-Xz** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:16 pm

Hey... After growing Opuntia for a while you won't feel the pain anymore! ...Okay, I'm lying...

ihc6480 · Post by **ihc6480** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:48 am

I've got a frontyard full if you want to experiment a little

I'm not really sure if all the benefits you read about are true or not but heres an example of some proclaimed benefits.
http://www.nopalmx.com/What%20is%20Nopal.htm

Saguaro123 · Post by **Saguaro123** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:14 am

ihc6480 wrote:I've got a frontyard full if you want to experiment a little

It's okay, I have a couple of big Ficus Indicas in my yard.

Thanks for the website Bill.

ihc6480 · Post by **ihc6480** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:28 am

Saguaro123 wrote:
ihc6480 wrote:I've got a frontyard full if you want to experiment a little
It's okay, I have a couple of big Ficus Indicas in my yard.

Thanks for the website Bill.

But mine are more of a challenge to eat, they have spines and lots of glochids

Saguaro123 · Post by **Saguaro123** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:37 am

ihc6480 wrote:
Saguaro123 wrote:
ihc6480 wrote:I've got a frontyard full if you want to experiment a little
It's okay, I have a couple of big Ficus Indicas in my yard.

Thanks for the website Bill.
But mine are more of a challenge to eat, they have spines and lots of glochids

Its okay, I don't want to have to go to the hospital with a mouth full of spines and glochids.

Earl Grey · Post by **Earl Grey** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:59 am

Here's how I clean mine:
http://ranchogordo.typepad.com/rancho_g ... cactu.html
I eat them all the time. And the fruit. I use tongs to harvest and I wear heavy gloves to de-glochidize them. The fruits on mine are worse than the paddles, as you can't see glochids!

Saguaro123 · Post by **Saguaro123** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:45 am

Thanks Earl.

I'm going to see if I can make some home cooking with that.

Post by **daiv** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:18 pm

Nice tutorial - did you write that?

I like the term "paddle"

!

Loph · Post by **Loph** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:49 am

i think like dave said, like a veggie

i can say for certain, you eat enough opuntia fruits at a time and it gives you the runs

maybe if your backed up...?

Loph · Post by **Loph** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:17 pm

found this, thought it was interesting. wish i had the whole article, but at least the abstract gives some numbers.
http://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf ... rnr=728_39

IN SITU DIGESTIBILITY OF FOUR CACTUS PEAR (OPUNTIA SPP.) SPECIES

There are relatively few studies related to the real utilization of the forage cactus pear nutrients. This study was undertaken for the determination of in situ dry matter digestibility (ISDMD) and chemical analysis of four cactus species: (Opuntia lindheimeri var. lindheimeri, O. rastrera, O. megacantha and O. lindheimeri var. subarmatha). The nylon bag technique was used for the determination of the ISDMD. A chemical analysis of the four cactus species was performed. Results showed that the ISDMD of the four cactus species varied from 56 to 86.27%. The ISDMD at 72 h of incubation were 86.27% for O. lindheimeri var. lindheimeri, 54.67% for O. rastrera, 57.25% for O. megacantha and 62.56% for O. lindheimeri var. subarmatha. The chemical analysis found that protein ranged between 5 and 14%; ether extract between 1.62 and 2.09% and crude fiber between 10.7 and 14%.

dustin0352 · Post by **dustin0352** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:44 pm

While in Chile back in November, I came across a street vendor selling green gooey pads cut like french fries. Tried a few, one of the english speaking locals said that Optunia makes strong muscles... perhaps another myth.

Post by **daiv** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:13 am

I can see why it "gets you going" - lots of fiber. And that makes good sense too.