Nopal Cactus 500mg
Benefits: Seagate freeze-dried Nopal Cactus reabsorbs approx. 50X its dried weight when released into the stomach providing an immediate feeling of fullness and reducing hunger. Unlike other diet products that may artificially stimulate the metabolism, giving a caffeine-like buzz, headache, or that falsely claim to burn fat, Nopal simply and naturally acts like a sponge - absorbing and expanding upon contact with the water and sugars in the stomach. The absorptive properties are temporary, allowing the slow release of the water and sugars, thereby helping to reduce sugar spiking immediately after a high-sugar meal or drink. The high insoluble fiber content (cellulose and lignin) absorbs wastes in the intestines and bowels, pushing them along into and through the colon, making this product an excellent cleanser.
Cactus Structure and function: The Nopal Cactus (Opuntia strepacantha) is a desert plant that survives intense heat and drought because of its ability to absorb and retain moisture in the mucilaginous fiber contained in its large flat spiny leaves. This insoluble fiber acts as a natural sponge holding the water, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids in jelly-like masses contained within each leaf. Should the leaf become pierced or broken, this jelly-like mass which stores the cactus water and nutrients (which is called baba in Mexico) protects the cactus from sudden water loss, by slowly flowing from the leaf, similar to sap from a maple tree.. Upon contact with the air, the baba is able to seal the flow of moisture from the leaf.
Processing: Seagate gathers the Nopal Cactus leaves from selected cactus farms located in remote interior valleys of northern Baja California, not far from where Seagate operates their organic farm. This cactus is free of any chemicals, pesticides or contamination. Seagate receives the cactus leaves, complete with spines, on the day that the leaves are harvested. Generally, the new-growth leaves are harvest during the summer, when local temperatures range from 110-120 F, the ideal conditions for this hardy plant.
The leaves are cleaned of any residual dirt and the spines are mechanically removed in a rotary wash tank. The leaves are then ground into smaller particles for drying, careful to retain all the baba, the storehouse of the cactus potency and nutrients. The cactus particles are then freeze-dried under deep vacuum. Seagate had been developing this process for 3 years before unlocking the mystery of how to dry the baba and carefully retain all of the cactus nutrients and absorptive properties. The water concentration in the cactus leaves is so high that approximately 100 kgs of cactus will dry to 1 kg of finished product. Three Nopal capsules are the equivalent of 1/3 lb of raw cactus.
Suggested Use: Take 3-6 capsules immediately before a meal. These capsules can also be opened and the contents poured into sweet drinks or smoothies, to counter the immediate high-sugar release; however do not mix in too much powder because the Nopal has a natural bitter taste that might affect the taste of the drink.
