5 Effects Of Eating Prickly Pears In Excess Amount

Prickly pear is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. It originated in America but was later introduced to other regions of the world. Prickly pear provides many health and beauty benefits due to the abundance of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers, etc. Despite the benefits provided by prickly pears, eat them in moderation as there are some side effects of overeating prickly pears.

# Too Much Dietary Fiber Is Bad For Stomach

Prickly pears contain dietary fibers, natural laxatives that improve bowel movement and relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, and flatulence, etc.

However, in large quantities, dietary fibers may over-activate the bowel and cause diarrhea, stomach discomfort, intestinal gas, intestinal blockage, and malabsorption.Dietary fibers absorb excess water from the intestines. In excessive quantity, they may absorb more water than required and cause constipation.

# May Cause Antioxidants Overload

Prickly pears are loaded with antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other relevant compounds that protect our cells from free radical damage, and reduces the risk of various cancers.

Free radicals are unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from neighboring molecules, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.At moderate levels, antioxidants only target the cancer cells but in large doses, they may start targeting healthy cells and increase cancer risk.

# Prickly Pears And Blood Sugar

Because of its low glycemic index of 7, prickly pears slowly release sugar into the bloodstream.This prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar levels and helps in managing diabetes.Dietary fibers in prickly pears slow down sugar absorption by the bloodstream and keep blood sugar under control.

Despite this benefit, eat prickly pears in moderation as overconsumption may drop blood sugar below the normal range, and cause shakiness, dizziness, excessive hunger, excessive sweating, fast heartbeat confusion, and moodiness.

# Might Develop Allergic Reactions In Some Individuals

Avoid prickly pears if you are allergic to prickly pears, cactus, or any other species of the cactus family as they may cause allergic reactions.

Some of the common allergic reactions caused by prickly pears are swollen lips and tongue, dryness of the mouth, irritation, and itching in the throat, and skin rashes, etc.

# Eating Prickly Pears During Pregnancy

Prickly pears are loaded with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers, etc.These compounds are well known for maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Vitamin C and other relevant compounds like flavonoids, etc in pricky pears protect the fetus from free radical damage.Folic acid in prickly pears promotes the brain development of the fetus and protects from neural tube defects like spina bifida.