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Yes, the Cactus Fruit is Edible, and its Healthy!
First Published: 25th of July, 2025 by Patrick Carpen
Last updated: August 31, 2024 at 22:36 pmOn July 17th, 2024, Guyanese citizen Yimochi Melville posted the photo below and captioned it as follows:
The rains have been good to the Rupununi. First time I have seen so many fruits on a cactus.

This publication reposted the wallpaper quality photo to our Facebook page where it garnered numerous comments. Here are some examples:
- Years ago a tourist from Yogoslavia ate one such fruit and slept for 24 hours ,,,,,,
- First time I am seeing Cactus bear fruits
- I have never ever seen fruits on a cactus ! This is amazing
- Are they edible?
And its that last question that we are going to address in this article! Are the cactus fruits edible? And how nutritious or healthy are they? Should you risk pricking your finger to pick one?
The answer is yes! The cactus fruit is good to eat, and absolutely healthy! Here are the nutrition facts and health benefits of the cactus fruit.
The cactus fruit, also called prickly pear, is a good source of calories, potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. A 100-gram serving of cactus fruit contains the following:
- Calories – 41
- Total fat – 0.5 g
- Sodium – 5 mg
- Potassium – 220 mg
- Total Carbohydrate – 10 g
- Dietary Fiber – 3.6 g
- Protein – 0.7 g
- Vitamin C – 23%
- Calcium 5%
- Iron – 1%
- Vitamin B6 – 5%
- Magnesium – 21%
In some countries, the cactus fruit is used to make cocktails, jams, juices, and other dishes. The cactus fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. In Mexican folk medicine, the cactus fruit was used to treat ulcers, liver problems, and other medical conditions. The cactus fruit is also rich in antioxidants which fight free radicals in the body and can help prevent cancer and other diseases.
So, the next time you see a delicious looking (yes it’s delicious!) cactus fruit, take your time and pluck one out! Be sure not to get pricked by the thorns! Then, do your body a small favor and consume that health food!