Prickly Pear Fruit

 UPDATE. Day 19 of VDCD (Very low calorie diet).

I am down over eleven pounds and will be stopping the HCG in about a week (have a trip coming up and want to be on maintenance by then). I have found the protocol fairly easy to do and I am surprised how not hungry I have been. In fact, I opened the refrigerator today and there was nothing I wanted to eat. Yesterday I had leftover fish and an apple for lunch, a snack of cucumber in the afternoon, and then there was nothing I wanted for dinner so I had 3 stalks of celery! Today I have only wanted tea and lemon water with prickly pear juice (not on protocol).

Prickly pear cacti grow all over the desert, which is literally my backyard. Front yard too. During the past week I have spent time each morning picking the ripe prickly pear fruits (with tongs!).

The cacti have large spines and fine, tiny spines called glochids. Although I have been careful, I seem to always end up with a few of those darn little glochids in my fingers….ouch!

I use an easy method to get the juice: I toss the fruits (known as tuna in Spanish) into my Vita Mix with a little water. Then I strain the concoction and end up with a beautifully colored magenta juice. Today I added a few teaspoons to each pitcher of lemon water that I was drinking. The rest of the juice I poured into ice cube trays. My freezer is now stocked with several bags of frozen prickly pear juice in little cubes.

The prickly pear fruit is very healthy and filled with nutrition. It is not on the HCG protocol, however, so I am intentionally limiting the amount I consume. Although I have been adding it to my water, I also had some straight. YUMMY! Well, I guess it ‘s a matter of taste—my daughter didn’t like it at all.

According to many websites, the prickly pear fruit is a rich source of nutrients—magnesium, Vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, calcium, the amino acid taurine, flavanoids and antioxidants. It helps in maintaining good general health and is supposed to be good for losing weight! If you live in or visit the desert southwest, I hope you will harvest some for yourself.

Here is a list of its benefits and nutritional information from  http://www.drpricklypear.com/power_of_prickly_pear.html

Lower Blood Sugar Promote Healing Lower bad (LDL) Cholesterol Boost the immune system Lower Triglycerides Improve Circulation Improve Brain Function Create Balance Fight Free Radical damage Reduce Inflammation Increase Platelet function Detoxify the body Improve Heart health Increase Energy and Focus Reduce the risk for Cancer Improve Sexual Health Improve Stamina Antiviral properties

Prickly Pear Nutritional Information

Serving Size: 149g Amount Per Serving Calories 61 Calories from Fat 6 % Daily Value* Total Fat 1 1%  Cholesterol 0mg 0%  Sodium 7mg 0%  Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%  Dietary Fiber 5g 21%  Sugars Protein 1g Vitamin A 1% Vitamin C 35% Calcium 8% Iron 2% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Source: PMA's Labeling Facts