Is Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)) Safe for Kidney Stones? (Avoid)
mg oxalate
per serving
Serving: 1 cup (86 g)
Verdict: 🔴 Avoid
Per 100g: 152 mg
Data: Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024)
Here's the takeaway: Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)) is a Avoid food (🔴) at 131 mg oxalate per serving — past the 100 mg line. The safest approach is choosing a lower-oxalate alternative instead. If it shows up occasionally in a meal, keep the portion minimal and boost fluids.
Putting Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)) in context: it lands well above the category average of 27 mg. In the database, 80% of vegetables (219 of 271) fall in the 🟢 Safe group (under 25 mg oxalate/serving). The typical vegetables here averages 27 mg oxalate per serving, so Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)) runs 384% above that baseline. That places it on the higher end for oxalate in its category. Why this matters: the gap between two Safe foods can be wide — one may hold 5 mg oxalate while another sits at 24 mg. The lower one leaves more room in your day. See all vegetables rated Avoid for a full side-by-side.
Why does the safe threshold matter?
The 25 mg per serving threshold is based on clinical guidance for kidney stone patients. Harvard's lab data (2024) provides the most reliable oxalate measurements available — no database estimates, direct lab analysis. For Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)), the measured oxalate value is 131 mg per 1 cup (Avoid).
Can I eat this food every day?
Daily eating is fine for Safe foods (under 25 mg/serving). For Caution or Avoid foods, spread them out and alternate with low-oxalate picks. The idea is keeping your weekly oxalate load manageable, not eliminating any single food. Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)) comes in at 131 mg oxalate per 1 cup (Avoid) in the measured database.
Where does the oxalate data come from?
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024) via the OHF database. These are direct laboratory measurements — the most reliable oxalate data available for food. For context, Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)) measures 131 mg per 1 cup, rated Avoid.
Should I also check sodium and calcium?
Yes — oxalate alone doesn't decide stone risk. Sodium pushes more calcium into urine, and calcium from food (not supplements) helps bind oxalate during digestion. The main food page covers sodium and calcium alongside oxalate. For Cactus (Nopal (Prickly Pear)), the measured oxalate value is 131 mg per 1 cup (Avoid).