Prickly Pear Fruit

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    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Pricky Pear is a pear from the cactus family, and the fruit has been used traditionally in South American and Mexico for treating high cholesterol and diabetes; limited studies at this moment in time suggest it may have therapeutic, but not preventative, potential.

    Summary

    Prickly Pear, or Cactus Pear fruit, is a fruit of the Cactaceae (Cactus) family that is commonly used in Southern America, Mexico, and Spain as an edible plant.

    It seems to show benefit in usage against the state of diabetes and high blood cholesterol, but its benefits seem only therapeutic. Interventions with healthy persons do not show the same benefit as with diabetics, suggesting that usage of prickly pear as preventative medicine may be misguided.

    What are other names for Prickly Pear Fruit

    Note that Prickly Pear Fruit is also known as:
    • Opuntia ficus-indica
    • Cactus Pear Fruit
    • Sicilian Prickly Pear
    • Prickly pear
    • Nopal cactus

    Dosage information

    Recommended dosage of Prickly Pear Fruit is the whole fruit, typically 200g or above. It is unsure what dosage of prickly pear supplements should be at this moment in time.

    Research Breakdown