🟢 Safe
Oxalate <25 mg/serving
🟡 Caution
Oxalate 25-99 mg/serving
🔴 Avoid
Oxalate ≥100 mg/serving
🔴

Cactus, Nopal (Prickly Pear), Raw

🔴 Avoid — High
131 mg oxalate / serving
Serving: 1 cup (86 g) | Per 100 g: 152 mg
✓ Medically Reviewed Content reviewed by OxalateWatch Editorial Team. Based on Harvard T.H. Chan SPH oxalate data (2024) and NKF/AUA dietary guidelines.

📊 Nutrition at a Glance

131 mg
Oxalate / serving
High
8 mg
Sodium / 100g
Low Na
0.0 g
Protein / 100g
Tier 1
12 mg
Calcium / 100g
Tier 1

📏 Oxalate by Serving Size

ServingWeightOxalateVerdict
1 cup86 g131 mg Avoid
2 x 1 cup172 g262 mg Avoid
½ x 1 cup43 g65.5 mg Caution

🏷️ Tags

Vegetables Plant-Based High Oxalate 🔴 Oxalate Avoid

🔴 See all Vegetables rated Avoid for kidney stones →

⚖️ Compare this food: · vs Daikon radish · vs Celery seed

🔗 Related Foods

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cactus safe for kidney stones?

Yeah, this one's in the red. 131 mg oxalate per 1 cup is way over the safe threshold. Cactus is a food to avoid or eat very rarely. There are better options in the same category.

What's the oxalate content of Cactus?

The exact figure: 131 mg of oxalate per 1 cup of Cactus. Works out to 152 mg/100g. This is the number kidney stone patients actually need. Harvard (2024) verified.

Is Cactus a high-oxalate food?

High. At 131 mg per 1 cup, Cactus is a high-oxalate food. Harvard's 2024 data puts this firmly in the avoid zone for stone formers.

What are the best low-oxalate alternatives to Cactus?

There are almost always safer swaps in the same food family. For Cactus, check the related foods section below — the green-marked ones are your best bets. All verified by Harvard (2024).

Does boiling Cactus reduce the oxalate?

Boil it. Drain it. That's the move. For Cactus, boiling and discarding the cooking water removes about a third to half of the soluble oxalate. Don't reuse that water for anything.

Can I eat Cactus if I pair it with dairy?

Pairing strategy: eat Cactus alongside a calcium source. The calcium-oxalate binding happens in your gut, not your kidneys. One less dose of oxalate hitting your bloodstream. Timing = same meal.

How much sodium does Cactus have?

Low sodium: 8 mg/100g. That's a non-issue for kidney stones. Just don't undo it by drowning it in salt during cooking.

🔍 Explore More About This Food

📚 Data Sources

Oxalate: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024) via OHF. Nutrition: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy 2018 & Foundation Foods).

📖 Key Scientific References

Taylor EN, Curhan GC. Oxalate intake and the risk for nephrolithiasis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007;18(7):2198-2204. PMID: 17538185
Borghi L, Schianchi T, Meschi T, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(2):77-84. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa010369
Fink HA, Akornor JW, Garimella PS, et al. Diet, fluid, or supplements for secondary prevention of nephrolithiasis. Eur Urol. 2009;56(1):72-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.03.031
Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC. Dietary and lifestyle factors for primary prevention of nephrolithiasis. BMC Nephrol. 2020;21(1):267. PMID: 32652950
Pearle MS, Goldfarb DS, Assimos DG, et al. Medical management of kidney stones: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2014;192(2):316-324. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.05.006
Liebman M, Costa G. Effects of calcium and magnesium on urinary oxalate excretion after oxalate loads. J Urol. 2000;163(5):1565-1569. PMID: 10751889
Holmes RP, Assimos DG. The impact of dietary oxalate on kidney stone formation. Urol Res. 2004;32(5):311-316. DOI: 10.1007/s00240-004-0437-3
Lin BB, Lin ME, Huang RH, et al. Dietary treatment and fluid intake for prevention of recurrent calcium stones. PLoS One. 2021;16(4):e0250257. PMID: 33872340
This is dietary reference information, NOT medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet. Oxalate tolerance varies by person, stone type, and medication.