I add an ounce of the fuschia-colored juice to a half glass of water and taste Coolaide from my childhood. Immediately I get recipe ideas: Nopalea ice cubes and popsickles for adults and kids. A treat for people with diabetes, pain, low energy. The juice ingredients are zillions of fruit enzymes–cherry, papaya–but mainly juice from nopal cactus, a desert panacea. Pure, clean, safe, filled with sunshine from the Sonoran desert. . .A swallow of phlegm descends in my throat as I breathe down to the navel. When was the last time I breathed so well? The walk through the southwest desert with my sister. Something cracked into place in my middle back. Soon I am turning my neck around, everything is falling into a better place. Pain leaves as the body detoxifies and energy is refreshed. I can hardly wait to enjoy the benefits of Nopalea for my complexion, energy, and joints after using this health beverage for a month.

Nopalea helps your body neutralize inner toxins and reduce inflammation. Daily use of Nopalea helps the body:

• Reduce inflammation
• Detoxify
• Achieve optimal cellular health

See: Prevention of overweight, fatigue, asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression

What can inflammation and its related health problems do?

• Muscles, joint and body inflammation – causing joint, muscle and body pain
• Respiratory inflammation – causing allergies and breathing difficulties
• Arterial inflammation – causing heart health problems
• Digestive tract inflammation – causing bloating, cramps and burning
• Widespread body cell inflammation – causing overall fatigue

Nopalea sources:

The company is a 12 year old nutritional company based out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Any member can buy the product for a discounted price and membership is free. The company also allows members to be an affiliate and earn compensation by referring others to their products. I do not sell Nopalea or any health product–I report natural health information. If you are interested to try and/or buy and sell Nopalea here are contacts: 

Here is a Special offer buy 4 bottles for $39 less and become an affiliate

http://www.budurl.com/NopalOffer

Here is the science:

Mexicans have been eating nopal cactus for generations. It is part of their everyday diet. They cut off the cactus needles, cut the green cactus into strips and stir fry them. Now we can enjoy the fruit as well. Here is some research data on its health benefits.

Anti-Toxin Activity

“Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) protects against oxidative damage induced by the mycotoxin zearalenone in Balb/C mice.” (Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 May;46(5):1817-24.)

“Opuntia ficus indica extract protects against chlorpyrifos-induced damage on mice liver.” (Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Feb;46(2):797-802.)

“Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. fruit juice protects liver from carbon tetrachloride-induced injury.” (Phytother Res. 2005 Sep;19(9):796-800.)

Anti-Inflammatory

“An anti-inflammatory principle from cactus.” (Fitoterapia. 2001 Mar;72(3):288-90)

“Antioxidant betalains from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression.” (Gentile C, Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Livrea MA, D’Alessio P. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1028:481-6.)

“Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover.” (Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 28;164(12):1334-40.)

Immune System Boost

“Betalains a betacyanin pigment purified from fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica induces apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia Cell line-K562.” (Phytomedicine. 2007 Nov;14(11):739-46.)

“Antioxidant betalains from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression.” (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1028:481-6.)

“Modulation of intracellular calcium concentrations and T cell activation by prickly pear polyphenols.” (Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 May;260(1-2):103-10.)

Brain Protection

“Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase expression in activated microglia and peroxynitrite scavenging activity by Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten.” (Phytother Res. 2006 Sep;20(9):742-7.)

“Interventions for protecting against or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.” BMJ. 2005 Dec 24;331(7531):1515-8.)

“Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover.” (Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 28;164(12):1334-40.)

“Neuroprotective effects of antioxidative flavonoids, quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether, isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten.” (Brain Res. 2003 Mar 7;965(1-2):130-6.)