Health Benefits of Cactus Tea

Cactus tea, also sometimes called nopal tea or prickly pear tea, is made from dehydrated prickly pear 1. Prickly pear is common to Latin American diets, where the fruits are eaten whole 1. They are also frequently made into juices or teas, which also yield health benefits. Cactus tea is rich in antioxidants, aiding with cholesterol and lipid levels, and is also a natural diuretic.

Rich in Antioxidants

While varieties of cactus fruit have differing amounts of antioxidants, they are all naturally rich in a number of flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolics and vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. Antioxidants protect your body’s cells from potential damage, and they can also slow down damage that can come from exposure to free radicals and toxins such as environmental pollutants. Antioxidants can potentially protect your body from heart disease and cancer, although research on their efficacy is still ongoing.

Improved Blood Glucose and Cholesterol Levels

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A study published in 2002 in “Weiner Klinische Wochenschrift,” a German medical journal, found that taking prickly pear steadied blood sugar levels and lowered cholesterol levels in nondiabetic patients 1. The human study was conducted over an eight-week period and found that low density lipoprotein levels were reduced by 15 percent and total cholesterol levels by 11 percent. While scientists could attribute the improved insulin sensitivity to prickly pear’s antioxidant content, they felt further research was needed regarding the cholesterol effect, which might be attributed to the dietary fiber content of the fruit 1.

A Natural Diuretic

An animal study published in a 2010 issue of “Phytotherapy Research” found that prickly pear was a natural diuretic 15. Because of its diuretic effects, the prickly pear supplement the rats took -- 240 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day -- also caused them to lose significant weight by the end of the study period 1. Scientists concluded that prickly pear extracts could potentially be useful as a treatment for water retention, but further research is still needed 1.

Potential Anti-Cancer Benefits

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A study in a 2005 issue of “Nutrition Journal” found that the antioxidant compounds in prickly pear, in a water solution, restricted the growth and development of several cancer cells in a lab setting 16. The prickly pear water extract also suppressed tumor development in mice 1. The studies showed such promise that the scientists pursued further research, publishing their findings in a 2010 issue of “Nutiriton and Cancer.” Their later study found that a water extract of prickly pear led to strong growth reduction in ovarian cancer cells 1. The reduction was so great that there were significant instances of apoptosis, or cell death, in cancer cells, which suggests that the powerful antioxidant effects of prickly pear extract could potentially stop cancer development 1. However, further long-term and human study is still required.

Brewing Cactus Tea

To make cactus tea, use 1 1/2-teaspoons of tea leaves per 8 ounces of boiling water. Because it is considered an herbal tea, cactus tea can tolerate hotter water temperatures. Heat your water to 208 degrees Fahrenheit, and then allow the tea to steep for five to six minutes. If you are making iced cactus tea, double the amount of tea used and roughly double the steeping time: 3 teaspoons in 8 ounces of hot water for eight to 15 minutes. Once the tea is steeped, pour it over a glass filled with ice cubes. If you are using a tea bag, use one tea bag per 8 ounces of hot water, doubling the amount for iced tea.