What Will Happen to Your Body If You Drink Cactus Water?

Cactus water contains trace minerals as well as a natural fruit flavor.

Cactus water is popular in the functional beverage market because it is a plant-based beverage that contains electrolytes and antioxidants, according to Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN, the Chicago-based creator of the podcast Nourishing Notes.

Cactus Water

According to a May 2020 article in Food Reviews International, prickly pear cactus pads, also known as nopals, and fruit are the sources of cactus water. According to the University of Chicago Illinois Heritage Garden, prickly pears are a native of Mexico and were used medicinally by the Aztecs.

Cactus water can be made at home, though the majority of people choose to purchase it there.

Potential Health Benefits

Most of the claimed advantages of cactus water have not been proven by scientific research but here are a few hypothetical advantages of the ingredient.

Antioxidants that May Reduce Inflammation

Prickly pear cactus has antioxidants, which may help to reduce inflammation, according to a Mayo Clinic article.

Additionally, the prickly pear contains betalains, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in addition to their pink color.

Recover From a Hangover

Because it contains electrolytes, drinking cactus water after a night of drinking may theoretically provide a hangover cure. Electrolyte solutions, as noted by MedlinePlus, can assist you in replacing some of the electrolytes that you lose after consuming a lot of alcohol.

Skin-Soothing Effects

According to Retelny, cactus water has long been used as a topical elixir for wounds and excessively exposed skin. This is corroborated by a laboratory study on the effects of prickly pear cactus extracts on human skin cells exposed to UV light that was published in December 2017 in Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. More research is required because this hypothesis hasn't been tested on commercial cactus water beverages, only on concentrated extract.

Relief for Digestive Issues

Although the research is preliminary and was conducted on animals, a few studies suggest that this beverage may help people with specific digestive problems. For instance, a study found that the prickly pear cactus shielded rats from stress-related acute gastric lesions. Prickly pear helped rats with constipation, according to a different study that was reported in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine in January 2017. However, experts point out that it might not have the same effects on humans.

Read also: Mangrove in the Desert: Thriving Effort to Combat Climate Change 

Health Risks

Cactus water, according to Mayo Clinic, may cause side effects like diarrhea and nausea. Retelny continues by mentioning that cactus water's laxative properties could lead to digestive problems. It might also result in hypoglycemia and headaches. Retelny advises people taking blood-sugar-lowering medications, including those with diabetes, to be cautious when consuming cactus water, even though the latter risk may be minimal based on the findings of the aforementioned paper.

Regarding nutrition, another consideration is whether commercial cactus water contains added sugar. Retelny advises reducing intake slightly. Look at the label of any cactus water you purchase from a store to see if it contains a lot of added sugar. Retelny advises consumers who drink store-bought cactus water to aim for less than 10% of the recommended daily calories from added sugars.

Related article: Some Cactus Species on the Brink of Extinction Due to Illegal Traffickers