Nena's Cactus Smoothie

Nena Niessen

Cactus is a vegetable, flower; fruit and medicine. No wonder more people are beginning to appreciate the beauty of this plant. For a long time it has been hidden in the back and let aloe vera shine, but not anymore. Here comes the new super star “The Cactus.”

This amazing plant has been used in many parts of the world such as Central America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. It has been given many other names like tuna, prickley pair, cactus, nopales, “sabrah;” but we all agree that no matter the name, it can perform miracles in your body.

Here are just a few things that cactus is known to be good for:
Lowering cholesterol, used to treat herpes, HIV, treating obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin ailments.

Cactus contains significant portions of the minerals: calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains a large proportion of antioxidant compounds including flavonoids that help protect against cancer and is high in minerals and protein. 
According to Charles W. Weber, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Arizona, perhaps the most important component in the cactus is its dietary soluble fiber. And this spring I’m using cactus as part of a wonderful cleansing juice that not only is delicious but also very cleansing. We associate spring with getting rid of old things that are lying around the house that we no longer have use for. What about the house we actually live in; our bodies. When do you take time to give it a good scrub? Here is your chance. I hope you will enjoy this drink as much as I have.

Ingredients

  • ½ chayote
  • ½ bunch of parsley
  • 1 grapefruit
  • 1 cup of pineapple
  • 1 Persian cucumber
  • ½ cup of cactus
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 cup of ice

Instructions

  • Cut the chayote in half, peel the skin, take the seeds out and cut it into squares.
  • Cut the grapefruit and lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a blender.
  • Put all the ingredients into the blender.
  • Blend really well until smooth.

Enjoy this hydrating, medicinal and nutritious drink!

----

About Nena

Nena Niessen, author of Cures from the Kitchen, is a Nicaraguan chef who is certified in Plant Based Nutrition and Natural Health. As a two-time survivor of cancer herself, Nena’s passion is cooking for cancer patients and boosting their immune systems through the power of delicious, nutritious food. She is a disease prevention cooking expert who only cooks with the most natural of foods. She has appeared on PBS’s “Cooking for Health and Pleasure”, is an official blogger in the Huffington Post, and is a contributor for Edible magazine. Nena has worked with many notable clients such as syndicated radio and talk show host Billy Bush, Arianna Huffington, Sugar Ray Leonard and bestselling authors Dr. Harvey Karp and Robert O. Young; All of whom sing the praises of a woman whose mission is to help people achieve and maintain good health as well as aid in the prevention of disease through the use of healthful, all natural foods. Find Nena online at www.CuresFromtheKitchen.net.