Desert sustenance can be hard to come by. In the American Southwest, cacti are scattered throughout the desert landscape. One of the best cacti you can find is the prickly pear cactus, as it’s a great source of food.

These cacti have large pads for storing water and producing flowers. Their stems are filled with barbed spines, otherwise known as glochids. Glochids will prick your skin and tongue and can be a hassle to remove, but the fruit, once you can get to it, is rich in fiber and can help stable blood sugar levels.

There is also evidence that prickly pear pulp possesses pectin (there’s a tongue twister for you), which is great for lowering “bad” cholesterol in your body.

So, how to eat a prickly pear without getting pricked? Take a look at the video to find out!

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