Nopal Cactus (Prickly Pear) Contains Glutamic Acid

(*) See References and Disclaimer at the bottom of the page. 

Nopal Cactus (Prickly Pear) contains glutamic acid, known as nature's "brain food(1*)". Moreover, it is an important neurotransmitter and is thought to play a role in Long Term Potentiation (LTP). LTP is one of the basic tenets underlying neural plasticity and refers to the strengthening of the signal between two neurons when they are stimulated at the same time. LTP is thought to be one of the fundamental mechanisms that govern learning and memory(2*).

Glutamic acid, although not very efficient at crossing the blood-brain barrier itself, allows potassium to cross it. Another biochemical function of glutamic acid is its role in eliminating the body and the brain of excess ammonia(3*). This is accomplished when glutamic acid bonds with nitrogen and is the only known way to rid the brain of excess ammonia(4*).

Glutamic acid is also needed for fat and sugar metabolism. For this reason, glutamic acid supplementation may decrease cravings for sugar and alcohol(5*). It is also used to assist those with personality and childhood behavioral disorders, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, ulcers, hypoglycemic coma, and the reduction of benign prostatic hypertrophy(6*).


Sources of Glutamic Acid

Eggs, Dairy, Fish, Poultry, and Nopal Cactus (Prickly Pear) from Natural Home Cures Freeze Dried Nopal Powder Capsules (Prickly Pear).



      Source References
(1) Wikipedia: Glutamic Acid
(2) The Truth In Labeling Campaign: Glutamic Acid
(3) AminoAcid-Studies: Glutamic Acid
(4) Chem Spider:
Glutamic Acid
(5) WebMD: Glutamic Acid
(6) PubChem: Glutamic Acid