cactus

Glucose, the main form of sugar circulating in our blood stream, is also the main form of fuel burned by our cells so that we can live and function. For getting into many types of cells, glucose (and certain other nutrients) needs a key to open the “door.” That key is insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas.  Though glucose is necessary for life, sometimes the level in circulation can get too high and cause all sorts of problems. 

Our first and most essential biological need as humans is air. Without water we would survive three days, without food we would survive three weeks. But without air we would only survive for three minutes.

Pitaya is a member of the family Cactaceae, commonly known as the Cactus family of the genus Hylocereus (A. Berger) Britton & Rose or nightblooming cactus P and contains three species, the Hylocereus costaricensis (F.A.C. Weber) Britton & Rose or Costa Rica nightblooming cactus P, the Hylocereus trigonus (Haw.) Saff. or strawberry-pear P, and the Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose, also known as the nightblooming cactus P.

For centuries, the people of Mexico have used the flat leaves (or pads) of the prickly pear cactus as a food staple. The pads, called nopales, come from the family of cactus known as Opuntia ficus-indica and are an economically important source of income throughout Mexico.