Opuntia steptacantha (Opuntia spp., Prickly Pear)
The Prickly Pear, which has the
scientific name Opuntia steptacantha and is commonly known as
"Nopal" in Mexico, is a very versatile cactus of the southwest.
In a study reported in Diabetes Care and later in the Science
News, Vol. 133, No. 4, January 1988, this particular desert
cactus was shown to lower blood glucose and insulin levels in
diabetics, the authors believing that the Prickly Pear (Opuntia
steptacantha) treatment may improve the ability of insulin to
efficiently stimulate the movement of glucose from the blood
into body cells.
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