Diet Science

Diet Science


Prickly Power: Unlocking the Health Benefits of Red Cactus Pears

March 23, 2025

A staple of the Native American diet for centuries, Red Cactus Pears are packed with incredible health benefits. Listen in this week as Dee discusses why this small, watermelon-like fruit is a true superfood, and how to incorporate it into your meals.

Reference:

Giraldo-Silva, L., Ferreira, B., Rosa, E., & Dias, A. C. P. (2023). Opuntia ficus-indica fruit: A systematic review of its phytochemicals and pharmacological activities. Plants, 12(3), 543. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9919935/


Link to Red Cactus Pear Fact Sheet: https://www.friedas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CactusPearsFactSheetNL.pdf