It offers minerals and antioxidants while being minimal in calories and sugar.
Cactus water’s antioxidant content suggests that it can aid with a variety of conditions, including inflammation and stomach ulcers.
Unsweetened cactus water, like this product, is available in some stores and online if you’re seeking for a novel, all-natural beverage with potential health advantages.
What effects does cactus water have on the body?
A brand-new sports beverage called “cactus water” contains cacti as its major component. Because it includes electrolytes, which are crucial for athletes and exercisers, it is well-liked. Because it contains potassium, which balances out sodium levels in the body and aids in muscle recovery following an intense workout, cactus water is also generally beneficial. Even some cactus waters include antioxidants in them to help combat free radicals and lessen inflammation.
Does cactus water benefit the skin?
It’s not very novel to go to nature for the best ingredients for cosmetics. In our own quest for beautiful skin, we’ve applied everything to our bodies, from carrots to roses. The cactus, on the other hand, appears to be enjoying a moment in the industry. These spiky little plants typically grow in arid, dusty conditions, so they don’t exactly scream “alive.” The cactus’ major strength, though, is that it is virtually unbreakable. It retains moisture under the driest and toughest conditions, remaining pliant and full of life—exactly what we want for our skin, don’t we? We should therefore use this unstoppable herb for our skincare regimen.
Why is cactus water so good for you?
Cactus water has a ton of various uses and is packed with electrolytes. Drinking cactus water regularly can seriously energize your body and help you show yourself some internal love. Prickly pear water, sometimes referred to as cactus water, contains a high concentration of electrolytes.
Our blood contains electrolytes, which are essential for maintaining a healthy balance of water in our bodies. We lose electrolytes when we sweat or urinate and are dehydrated, which can leave us feeling lethargic and exhausted. Even if you merely sip it, cactus water is a fantastic natural alternative to energy drinks because it helps to restore electrolytes. Because they give us that wonderful, dewy, healthy glow, electrolytes are also essential for our skin and hair.
Antioxidants in cactus water: Antioxidants in cactus water can help cleanse your body and skin of pollutants. Cactus oil’s combination of electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamins works to prevent UV damage, aging, and even helps your skin’s collagen levels restock.
Why we love cactus water!
It’s fantastic for your skin: Cactus water replenishes moisture to your skin, making it especially beneficial if you have dry skin. We tend to be the least hydrated during the winter because we forget to drink water as the temperature drops. Additionally, the chilly air may seriously dehydrate your skin, which is why we find ourselves using two moisturizers throughout the cooler months. But cactus water also has antibacterial properties that help fight acne and other bacterial-caused skin conditions.
Background
In a 3-month clinical study, cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) fiber was found to encourage weight loss. In vitro studies have shown that cactus fiber binds to dietary fat, reducing absorption, which in turn reduces energy absorption and, eventually, reduces body weight.
Subjects and Methods
For about 45 days, healthy volunteers participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study for this clinical investigation. Twenty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive 2 tablets of cactus fiber or a placebo with each of their three main meals. During the research period, all subjects received meals (with the exception of washout) in accordance with a predefined meal plan, with fat making up 35% of the daily energy requirement. Both the baseline and treatment periods saw the collection of two 24-hour feces samples for the evaluation of the fat content.
Does anyone consume cactus water?
Along with other plant-based beverages like aloe vera juice and coconut water, cactus water is the newest beverage on the market.
Prickly pear fruit juice is squeezed to create the cactus water that is sold in stores. Because of this, the cactus water that is sold commercially is pink rather than clear.
Although the water is naturally low in sugar and calories, it is high in minerals that promote good health and potent antioxidants. Since it includes a considerable number of electrolytes that help with hydration, it is frequently promoted to athletes.
Even if there are many different brands of cactus water available, you can still brew your own at home with prickly pears and some basic ingredients.
When consuming the bottled cactus water, you should still use caution. The fact that it’s made from prickly pear fruit means that it can have a laxative impact. In certain people, it might also result in diarrhea and digestive issues.
Some cactus water beverages also have added sugar, and eating too much sugar might increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and weight gain.
Is cactus juice safe to consume?
You may have heard that if you ever become stranded and dehydrated in the desert, a cactus may provide you with water. Although it seems like a good survival tip to keep on hand, is it really that simple? It transpires that a cactus is not essentially a freshwater basin covered in spines. In a dry environment full of thirsty creatures, such a plant would not survive for very long. In addition to their frightening spines, most cactus species further guard their spongy flesh with acids and powerful alkaloids since water is a very valuable resource in a desert. Most people find these substances to be too bitter to tolerate, and ingesting them puts a strain on the kidneys. Some cactus species’ meat can also result in temporary paralysis, vomiting, and diarrhea—none of which are helpful for your survival in a crisis. The prickly pear and one species of barrel cactus, the fishhook barrel, stand out as prominent outliers to this norm (Ferocactus wislizeni). While both of these plants are fairly unpleasant to consume raw, they contain fewer harmful compounds and could provide some hydration in an emergency. Better options include cactus fruits, however many are unpleasant to eat raw.
*Of course, all of this assumes that you are stranded in a desert in the New World with real cacti. Members of the Euphorbiaceae family, which resemble cactus plants, are poisonous and can be found in the deserts of Madagascar and southern Africa. If this plant’s milky sap gets in your eyes, it can permanently blind you and burn your skin and mucous membranes. Do not attempt to consume those.
Christopher Columbus claimed to have seen mermaids off the coast of what is now the Dominican Republic; however, they were manatees, and he described them as “not half as beautiful as how they were drawn.”
Can cactus promote hair growth?
Cactus is a fantastic element since it immediately absorbs instead of sitting on surfaces. According to Remi, the high concentrations of linoleic, oleic, vitamin E, and phytosterols in prickly pear seed oil promote the growth of healthy cells and maintain moisture in the skin. “Both Cereus grandiflorus and prickly pear are rich in fatty acids. These fatty acids lubricate, soften, and stop moisture evaporation. Since the components enable you to retain moisture (like the cactus) that persists even after usage, cacti is also preventive.
Actually, a little cactus oil goes a long way “With little more than 30% pure prickly pear seed oil, LIL PRICK is a powerful product. According to Remi, her delectable serum contains oleic acid, which improves skin texture, and linoleic acid, which is a skin restorer, an antioxidant, and a skin-soothing agent. Together, they make up over 85% of the fatty acid content of prickly pear seed oil.
The key lesson? Essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids included in cactus oil are important for maintaining the balance and health of your hair follicles and promoting healthy development. Cactus can indeed help with hair growth. The hair cycle is kept in check by fatty acids, so when your hair enters the telogen phase (or fall-out phase), there will be fresh strands (anagen) available to support it.
Can I use cactus to apply to my face?
I love using fresh aloe pulp, so it was only a matter of time until I decided to use cacti on my face to manage oil production while still maintaining moisturized, radiant skin. The highlight of a pretty dull/grueling/painful supermarket trip with my roommate was accidentally finding a cactus leaf. You see, I personally find shopping with others to be as painful as getting my teeth cleaned and having a pap smear done at the same time while listening to Donald Trump’s speeches on repeat. It really is that serious, everyone. I literally ran into a box of cactus leaves just as I was ready to run out of the third grocery store. I grabbed one, gave it a wild whiff, and made the decision to fulfill my DIY beauty fantasies.
In addition, cactus leaf has a similar reputation to aloe vera for easing minor cramps. These two powerful substances can be combined to create a fantastic hair or face pack that won’t bother your skin. Believing a cactus to be prickly is a mistake because these recipes won’t hurt at all!
Choose The Best Cactus Leaf
You’ll need to find a speciality food store to choose your cactus leaf for your DIY beauty indulgence; I was able to get my cactus leaf in a chance bodega with a good selection of veggies. Pick a cactus leaf that is soft, green all throughout, and not too floppy.
Prepare Your Cactus
The cactus preparation was a little intimidating. I only needed one cactus prick to realize that you’ll need to wear gloves for this task. I washed my leaves in cold water, peeled only where it was rough, thinking there was a thorn there, leaving some of the skin on my leaf. Like you would with aloe vera, if you have a fat cactus, I would suggest only utilizing the pulp and tossing the skin entirely.
Get Your Cactus Game On
Your cactus is now ready for use, and you may either use it straight on your face or puree it up for later use to mix with other ingredients. If you frequently do DIY projects, you probably already know that cactus has a similar, slimy-yet-soothing effect on your face to aloe. To make sure your cactus is suitable for you, I advise trying it on the inside of your arm.
Make An Acne Fighting, Oil Control Mask
I’m obviously attempting to use my cactus to make a fantastic face mask that will keep my complexion shining during the gloomy winter mornings and keep pimples at bay. For this one, I used roughly a tablespoon each of cactus and aloe vera, as well as one tablespoon of raw honey and one teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Blend all of your ingredients in a blender, and presto! There is a new face mask. Since I used raw honey in the mask, my skin was also gently exfoliated, leaving my face feeling really soft afterward. It smells quite bad pretty quickly, but the cactus mask felt fantastic, so I’d suggest creating tiny batches.
Is cactus juice beneficial for hair?
Cactus water can be quite effective at moisturizing both your skin and your hair. Therefore, cactus water might save your hair if it is dry, damaged, or brittle. Your hair will be moisturized while also gaining luster and shine from it. You might choose one of the many skincare companies that now choose to add cactus water in their products.
Cactus water — does it make you poop?
Cactus water may have a laxative effect in some people. Avoid consuming a lot of cactus water if you are using a blood sugar-lowering medication since it may cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low.
Does cactus water cause hallucinations?
Similar to LSD and psilocybin in its hallucinogenic effects is the alkaloid mescaline (magic mushrooms). It naturally occurs in a number of cactus species, most notably the peyote (a Mexican native) and the San Pedro cactus (native to Peru).
Native Americans have employed ‘psychedelic cactus’ as a component of sacred ceremonies for thousands of years, according to historians and archaeologists. But German scientist Karl Heffter didn’t discover mescaline as the cacti’s active component until 1897. Due to his eagerness to experiment with his newly discovered chemicals on himself, Heffter was the first scientist to be called a “pychonaut.” Ernst Spth, an Austrian chemist, created it for the first time in 1919.
The cactus is typically broken up into small pieces and boiled for a few hours before being consumed as water to make mescaline. Chewing the buds that emerge from the cactus stem after it is cut off at ground level is another way to consume it. Additionally, these buds can be dried, crushed, and combined with liquids. The majority of people complain that the cactus has a very strong, disagreeable flavor.
Usage of mescaline typically results in profoundly altered states of consciousness and visual hallucinations (both open and closed eye). Although they are typically enjoyable and enlightening, they can also be accompanied by feelings of dread or disgust. Other unfavorable side effects may include headache, nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea. Traditional Native American users particularly enjoyed the extreme nausea and vomiting that mescaline-containing cacti may induce since it was thought to be purifying. There have been no confirmed fatalities associated with mescaline usage, and it is not believed to be physically addictive. Usually, a dose lasts for 1012 hours.
Mescaline has been proposed for certain medical applications. According to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2012 by the Norwegian researchers Teri Krebs and Pal-Orjan Johansen, there is solid evidence from the 1960s and 1970s supporting the usefulness of the hallucinogen LSD in treating alcoholism. They said that other research have discovered that drugs like mescaline, which have psychedelic effects, also have physiological consequences “indigenous tribes have claimed that peyote helped them stay clean and is highly appreciated and useful.
Similar claims have been made concerning mescaline’s potential as a depression therapy. According to one idea, hallucinogens affect the brain by boosting blood flow and forming fresh, beneficial connections. However, little is known about how hallucinogens like mescaline and others affect the brain. Given that hallucinogens frequently fall under Schedule 1 of the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, it is challenging to obtain approval for such investigations.
As a result, it is unlawful to take mescaline recreationally in the majority of western nations. However, traditional peyote is not subject to this prohibition in some nations, such Canada. Cacti like the San Pedro can be grown in New Zealand for decorative purposes, but not for recreational use. According to our country’s Misuse of Drugs Act, mescaline is a Class A substance. Accordingly, if you possess it, you might face a six-month jail sentence and if you furnish it, a life sentence.
There is not a lot of information available about mescaline use in New Zealand. For instance, it is absent from the websites of the Drug Foundation, Police Drug Info, and NORML (except for being listed as a Class A controlled substance). This implies that it is not widely used or considered to be a very serious issue.
But it is unquestionably in use here. Two men were apprehended in 2011 while stripping a stolen cactus outside a Te Rapa garden center. It’s unlikely that they had decorative goals in mind. According to the center, such thefts were not frequent, but some employees had been contacted by clients seeking a San Pedro cactus so they could “For a high, boil it.
Website for the drug community and harm reduction in New Zealand There is a small community on TripMe that engages in online mescaline discussion, however posts are sporadic and the most recent one appears to date from early 2013.
We shouldn’t be surprised that mescaline hasn’t sparked much interest. The majority of cacti that garden centers sell are fairly little and don’t grow all that quickly. Given that a decent boil-up requires at least 30 centimeters of cactus blade, Matters of Substance believes that mescaline will remain a minor participant in our drug pantheon. The majority of Kiwis who want to get high will use their creativity to cultivate something else.