Nopalea FAQ

• What is Nopalea? read hide

  Nopalea is a deliciously unique concentrated wellness drink that blends antioxidant-rich Nopal cactus, naturally sweet Agave nectar and an array of beneficial nutrients. These fresh ingredients are carefully harvested from the Sonoran Desert and aseptically bottled to deliver

• What does the name Nopalea mean? read hide

  The name is derived from the word “Nopal.” This is a type of cactus found in the Sonoran Desert and known for its antioxidant-rich healing properties. The Nopal cactus fruit is the key ingredient in Nopalea.

• What are the key benefits of Nopalea? read hide

  Nopalea has been scientifically proven to promote optimal cellular health and to help you:
    •  Protect against premature aging
    •  Reduce inflammation
    •  Promote optimal cellular health
    •  Detoxify the body

• What type of fruit is the Nopalea juice made from? read hide

  The Nopal cactus fruit is key ingredient in Nopalea. The fruit is carefully harvested from the Sonoran Desert, using sustainable wildcrafting techniques that the native Sonorans have used for thousands of years.

• What makes Nopalea so unique? read hide

  Nopalea contains a rare and potent class of antioxidants called betalains. Of all the known sources for betalains, the Nopal cactus fruit supplies some of the highest amounts found in all of nature.

• What are betalains? read hide

  Betalains are a rare and potent class of antioxidants found in extremely high, concentrated levels in the Nopal cactus fruit. When you drink Nopalea, you take these betalains directly into your system, where they work on the cellular level to restore your vitality.
  
  Scientific research shows that the betalains found in the Nopal cactus fruit can help to detoxify your body, eliminating the poisons we encounter every day. Betalains also help the body reduce inflammation, protecting you from a wide variety of disorders.

• What makes Nopalea so effective? read hide

  Quality! Nopalea is made from premium, antioxidant-rich Nopal cactus fruit. This fruit is carefully harvested from the Sonoran Desert, using the same techniques the native Sonorans have been using for thousands of years. From there, the fruit is juiced to a puree and bottled in a state-of-the-art facility, which ensures quality and freshness while also preserving the antioxidants and their potency.

• How does TriVita ensure the quality of Nopalea? read hide

  Like all TriVita products, Nopalea is created in accordance with our company’s 10 Foundational Values. These Values ensure the quality of Nopalea, which is made under the strictest quality controls in the nutritional supplement industry. All of the Nopalea manufacturing and laboratory processes meet or exceed the most current Good Manufacturing Practices, as published by the Food and Drug Administration.

• Does Nopalea contain any added sugar or artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors? read hide

  Nopalea contains NO ADDED SUGAR! It is naturally sweet. Yet it is still low-calorie and low-carbohydrate. Interestingly, the calories and carbohydrates will change from batch to batch depending on the harvest. Nopalea is “wildcrafted,” meaning that Nopalea is not cultivated and no fertilizers or pesticides of chemicals of any kind are ever used – ever! It is harvested from the Sonora Desert by Natives just as it has been for thousands of years. Since it is not cultivated, the concentration of sugars and minerals in the plant change depending on how much rain we have that year. The label will accurately reflect the concentration of constituents for that harvest.
  
  One complication is that Nopalea is the first product of its kind. Therefore, no "standards" data existed before we created them! So, label changes happen because we created the testing standards to accurately measure the rare and powerful constituents of Nopalea.

• Are there any preservatives in Nopalea? read hide

  No.

• Is Nopalea safe for everyone? read hide

  Yes. Nopalea is a natural, concentrated wellness drink made from Nopal cactus fruit, which is harvested from the Sonoran Desert at the peak of its freshness. From there, the fruit is juiced to a puree and bottled in a state-of-the-art facility, which ensures quality and freshness while also preserving the antioxidants and their potency.

• Is it cold processed or heat processed? read hide

  Nopalea is aseptic processed with heat.

• Is Nopalea gluten free? read hide

  There is no gluten-containing ingredient in the Nopalea, none of the ingredients directly contain grain-gluten or corn proteins similar to grain gluten. However, there is a possibility that some of the ingredients (Maltodextrin, Dextran) are produced in mills that also manufacture gluten-containing products. Because of this, cross-contamination is a very real possibility even in the fruit and vegetable powders.
  
  We could have promoted the product as “gluten-free” and we would have been within our legal right to use that claim since there is no gluten-containing ingredient in Nopalea. However, many people are so sensitive that even minute amounts of cross-contaminated product might damage their health. We simply don’t want to take that risk and that is why we have elected to exclude the “gluten-free” claim to respect their health concerns.

• Is there an age limit on the Nopalea? Specifically, can a 4 year old child take? read hide

  Yes, 4 year olds can take it. Since it is merely fruit juice, any child able to tolerate fruit can take Nopalea.

• How much Nopalea should I take? read hide

  TriVita suggests taking 1 to 3oz of Nopalea every day, but you can take more as your body demands. This is based on minimum amounts in otherwise healthy people. However, the greater the level of your inflammation, the more anti-inflammatory strategies you will need.
  
  In the early pilot trials of Nopalea we gave our test subjects 16 ounces daily. Not only did they not experience a single negative effect, their blood work universally improved. Nopalea is apparently safe even in very large quantities.

• Is it safe to take Nopalea with medication? read hide

  There are no known contraindications with Nopalea and medications. However, Nopalea is a dietary supplement. If you are taking any medications or have a known medical condition, it’s best to consult with your health care provider before drinking Nopalea.
  
  We will say this: with over 200 papers published on the benefits of the Nopal cactus superfruit in human health we have not found even one negative reaction or drug interaction. The only caution we discovered concerns the blood-thinner warfarin (Coumadin). If you take warfarin you need to speak with your pharmacist. Nopalea is a fruit juice. Rarely people on warfarin will be restricted from consuming fruit juices for a short time while their medication stabilizes. Only your physician and pharmacist know if you should be restricted from fruit juices at this time – ask them! But we have not found a single instance of drug interaction in the medical literature; Nopalea is very safe!

• Should I continue taking vitamins and minerals if I drink Nopalea regularly? read hide

  Yes. Nopalea drives down inflammation created by trauma, toxins, allergy, infection and nutrient deficiency. To protect yourself from the nutrient deficiencies that can be a cause of inflammation, you should supplement your healthy diet with daily nutrients.

• How can I ensure the product maintains its freshness after opening? read hide

  To maintain freshness, keep refrigerated after opening. Do not drink directly from the container. Consume within 30 days. Do not use if safety seal under cap is broken or missing.

• Is there any benefit gained by drinking the Nopalea at a particular time of day? Or, if taking 3 oz a day should it be spaced out 2-3 times a day or drink it all at once. read hide

  Brazos Minshew: “I take Nopalea in the morning because I think it is better to prevent inflammation than resolve it. Certainly, there is no bad time to take Nopalea.”

• Is the daily amount at all related to body mass; that is "Does size matter?" For example should the amount a child takes be ½ to 1 ½ oz a day, and conversely, should a 6’ 5” 290 lb man use 3 to 6 oz daily? read hide

  The amount you take depends on your level of inflammation, not your size. Take as much as you need – we’ll make more!

• I get a light-headed feeling when I take Nopalea. I read that Betalains lower blood pressure, could this be an issue for someone that already has low blood pressure? read hide

  The blood-pressure effect is due to the diuretic nature of Nopal cactus fruit. This effect takes time to reduce blood pressure – several hours to several days. More likely, the betalains (which have a tryptophan protein structure) are acting to nourish the neurotransmitters associated with stress reduction, reducing anxiety and creating a relaxation response. This effect happens immediately, within minutes.

• What in the Nopalea helps with diabetes and how? What in the Nopalea helps with high blood pressure and how? read hide

  The Nopalea assists with inflammation. The cells and our body are exposed to toxins that can lead to high blood pressure or even diabetes. The Opuntia ficus indica, or Sonora Nopal Pear is rich in Betalains. Recent clinical trials support this ingredients ability to:
  
    •  Reduce Inflammation
    •  Detoxify cytotoxic (cell-damaging) poisons
    •  Protect against premature aging
    •  Promote optimum cellular health
  
  If you are diabetic or have high blood pressure, it is strongly advised to speak with your health care professional. This product assists with inflammation, but is not a treatment plan for it.
  
  Betalains from Nopalea reduce inflammation through antioxidant protection of the blood vessel lining and by reducing inflammation in the “bad” LDL cholesterol. What is more, Betalains prevent ICAM-1 from hardening the cholesterol compound. By doing this, Betalains from Nopalea provide protection for the delicate lining of the arteries and reduce the risk for heart attacks, stroke and other vascular diseases.
  
  Regarding diabetes, it would be best to speak with a healthcare professional, because it does contain natural fruits, and natural sugars.

• What is the amount of caffeine in the Green Tea Extract? read hide

  Nopalea has 0.006 to 0.008 milligrams of caffeine from green tea. Compare that to 60 to 150 milligrams of caffeine per cup of coffee. Decaffeinated coffee has 2 to 4 milligrams of caffeine.
  
  There are about 15 to 22 milligrams of caffeine per gram of green tea powder. Using this benchmark, we have from 0.006 to 0.008 milligrams (six one-thousandths to eight one-thousandths of one milligram) per ounce of Nopalea. Nopalea has 0.006 to 0.008 milligrams whereas decaffeinated coffee has 2 to 4 milligrams of caffeine.

• Are the ingredients Xanthum and Maltodextrin derived from corn products? read hide

  Both of these ingredients are starch-derived, we use a combination of starches that may or may not contain corn, wheat, oats and other grains depending on the season and the harvest. Therefore, Xanthan gum may be corn-derived and Maltodextrin may also be corn-derived.