Nopalea Facts
287 scientific papers have been published on the Nopal’s benefits
To date, 287 scientific papers have been published on the benefits and attributes of Nopal. These reports are found in the highest quality, peer-reviewed journals and are supported by the National Institutes of Health database to ensure that the conclusions were valid. They scientific papers chronicle improvements in cell function, immunity, detoxification – and especially a reduction in inflammation.
Nopalea promotes optimum cellular health
The environment surrounding most cells in the human body is comprised mostly of water. Inflammation in the cells causes the water to heat up. Heat causes the wall of the cell to wither, melt and break down very rapidly. Nopalea™ drives down inflammation and turns the fluid environment of the cell into cool, refreshing water that supports a firm, robust cell membrane. A cool environment for the cell slows down the aging process.
During the inflammatory process a chemical is released known as myeloperoxidase (MPE). This is the most powerful oxidant produced by the human neutrophil during acute inflammation, especially from infection or cancer.[1] Soon, Betalains found in Nopalea douse the wildfire of inflammation caused by MPE and protect the healthy cells.[2] Meanwhile, Betalains drain toxic waste water surrounding the cells and create a cooling environment conducive to cell health
Nopalea helps reduce inflammation
The most common causes of death from disease in North America are related to atherosclerosis – hardening of the arteries. Healthy arteries become diseased from inflammation. Often, LDL (“bad” cholesterol) oxidizes because of stress or toxins or a diet deficient in antioxidants. The inflamed LDL ricochets off the delicate lining of the blood vessel leaving microscopic injuries like millions of tiny paper cuts in the blood vessels. The blood vessels themselves inflame in response to this injury and become sticky. Sticky arteries and sticky cholesterol is a recipe for disaster. Soon, adhesion molecules called ICAM-1 cause the sticky compound to harden.
Betalains from Nopalea help reduce inflammation through antioxidant protection of the blood vessel lining and by reducing inflammation in the “bad” LDL cholesterol.[4] What is more, Betalains prevent ICAM-1 from hardening the cholesterol compound.[5] By doing this, Betalains from Nopalea provide protection for the delicate lining of the arteries and help reduce the risk for heart attacks, stroke and other vascular diseases.
A number of experiments have been designed to test the anti-toxin ability of Betalains. One of the most popular series of studies on human toxicity involves one of the most common poisons: alcohol. A study completed in 2004 demonstrated that Nopal not only protected against signs of alcohol toxicity, it also reduced inflammation as measured by CRP.[6]
Other tests on red blood cells of humans and animals have challenged toxins associated with fatal poisons like carbon tetrachloride, toxins created by viruses like Epstein-Barr and even toxins created by cancers such as Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Nopalea helps protect against premature aging
A cell has a “pre-programmed” lifespan. If the cell ages at the appropriate rate we call that healthy aging. If the cell ages too quickly we call that premature aging. Many aspects of the environment of the cell contribute to how quickly – or how slowly – the cell ages. Among the influences already mentioned are fluid balance, inflammation and toxicity. When fluid is balanced and inflammation and toxicity are low, the cell has the opportunity to age in a healthy way.
Much of the health of the cell depends on the health of the membrane called the cell wall. It requires building blocks made of fats and proteins and pressure pumps fueled by minerals. Betalains act like anchors to give structure to the proteins and fats that comprise the cell walls. This keeps the cell wall healthy and prevents it from breaking down prematurely. It also makes the cell wall robust and prevents it from “popping” too easily.[10] Further, Betalains create the perfect mineral balance inside the cell (mostly potassium and magnesium) and outside the cell (mostly sodium and calcium). The tension created by these minerals produces electricity that fuels the pump and keeps the pressure inside the cell higher than the pressure outside the cell.[11] The combination of these effects results in slowing the aging process and allowing the cell to live out its full lifespan in a balanced, healthy way.
Nopalea is derived from the fruit of the Nopal cactus. Nopal fruit and leaves have been used to control rapid changes in blood glucose levels in both animals and humans.[12][13] However, Nopalea is a fruit juice. Its metabolism must be calculated as any fruit juice: the current harvest has 14 calories and about 3 ½ grams of carbohydrate per ounce. It should be treated as any other food in diabetic calculations.
On the positive side, type 2 diabetes is an inflammatory condition. Nopal cactus fruit reduces inflammation.[14] So, Nopalea may provide benefits beyond blood sugar stability; it may actually reduce some of the inflammation that causes long-term health concerns for people with type 2 diabetes.
Agave contains saponins and fructans. Saponins have anti-inflammatory properties, including antimicrobial capability. In fact, the Aztecs used agave syrup to treat wounds because of its antibacterial properties.
Inulin is a type of fructan or fiber that has many health benefits. Studies suggest that inulin can be effective in weight loss because of its low impact on blood sugar and its ability to increase satiety and decrease appetite. Inulin is also associated with lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of certain cancers and increasing the absorption of nutrients, such as isoflavones, calcium and magnesium.