Is Cactus (Or Nopal (Prickly Pear)) Safe for Kidney Stones?
mg oxalate
per serving
Serving: 1 leaf (29 g)
Verdict: 🟡 Caution
Per 100g: 232 mg
Data: Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024)
The bottom line for Cactus (Or Nopal (Prickly Pear)): Caution (🟡) at 67 mg oxalate per serving. It's the middle of the road — usable, but with guardrails. Half portions, occasional frequency, calcium pairing, and watching your total daily intake keeps it workable.
Putting Cactus (Or 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 (Or Nopal (Prickly Pear)) runs 148% 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 Caution 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. Cactus (Or Nopal (Prickly Pear)) comes in at 67 mg oxalate per 1 leaf (Caution) in the measured database.
Can I eat this food every day?
If it's in the Safe zone (under 25 mg/serving), yes — it can be a regular part of your diet. For Caution or Avoid foods, frequency matters. Rotate them with lower-oxalate options throughout the week. For context, Cactus (Or Nopal (Prickly Pear)) measures 67 mg per 1 leaf, rated Caution.
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. Applied to Cactus (Or Nopal (Prickly Pear)): 67 mg oxalate per 1 leaf — Caution per Harvard (2024).
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 (Or Nopal (Prickly Pear)), the measured oxalate value is 67 mg per 1 leaf (Caution).