Nopalea is composed of a number of all natural ingredients and each of them brings their own special benefits to the table to make Nopalea the tasty and powerful supplement that it is. Though I can’t give you the exact amount of each of the ingredients within Nopalea, I can at least tell you what is found in the product and what contribution each ingredient makes.
Water: Water is simply used as a base ingredient for the product. The addition of water to the nopal cactus pulp helps give Nopalea its “fluidity”, making it easier to drink
Nopal Cactus Fruit Pulp: Nopal (prickly pear) cactus fruit from the species Opuntia ficus indica is the primary ingredient in Nopalea that gives it is anti-inflammation and detoxifying properties. The fruits themselves are harvested from the Sonoran Desert using low-impact harvesting techniques that have been utilized by the native tribes for centuries. The fruit is then mashed into a pulp so that the juice may be extracted.
Nopal cactus fruit contain a high level of rare anti-oxidants called Betalains which are naturally found in just a handful of fruits and vegetables. It is these betalains that are primarily responsible for the inflammation fighting capabilities of the product.
Agave Nectar: Agave nectar is a natural sweetener made from the Agave plant which is also readily found in the Sonoran Desert. The benefit to using a natural sweetener, like agave, rather than sugar or a sugar substitute is that agave is healthier and has a much better glycemic profile than the others.
Grape Seed Extract: Grape seed extract is a concentrated source of anti-oxidants known as oligomeric proanthocyanidans, or OPC. In scientific study, OPCs have been found to protect cells from free radical damage and promote healthy circulation.
Raspberry Extract: Raspberries have a high concentration of a compound called ellagitannins, which our body converts to a very important acid called ellagic acid. Ellagic acid has long been described as “stronger than vitamin C” when it comes to it’s ability to support DNA integrity and promote overall cell health.
Strawberry Extract: Much like raspberries, strawberries have a high concentration of ellagitannins and help support healthy cell production and growth.
Cranberry Extract: Cranberries are full of proanthocyanidans, but these differ from the ones found in grape seed extract or any other fruit for that matter… These ones prevent bacterial adhesion in the body, which is why cranberry juice has always been regarded as great for helping fight Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Apple Extract: Apples contain the anti-inflammatory agents ursolic acid and quercetin and also fight aging.
Apricot Extract: Apricots support good heart, eye and digestive health. The extract is high in vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Mango Extract: Mangoes are high in vitamin E, A, Selenium and Iron. They promote good skin and digestive health and have anti-cancer properties.
Orange Concentrate Juice: High in vitamin C which attacks free radicals and promotes tissue and bone healing within the body.
Papaya Concentrate: Papaya is rich in carotenes, vitamin C and flavanoids which promote good cardiovascular health and protect against colon cancer. Papaya also contains a special digestive enzyme called papain, which is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.
Tomato Concentrate fruit: Tomatoes are rich in lycopene which aids in prevention of various types of cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.
Kiwi Concentrate: Kiwi are high in vitamin C, E, and A. They promote good respiratory and cardiovascular health, prevent against cancers and protect the body from free radicals.
Guava: Guava is high in vitamin C and lycopene. It promotes good skin health and cancer prevention.
Lemon Concentrate: Lemon is a rich source of antioxidants, particularly vitamin C and flavonoids including flavonol glycosides, which are supposed to have antibiotic properties.
Peach Concentrate Juice: Peaches have good to excellent antioxidant activity, some antimicrobial activity and good to excellent tumor growth inhibition activity. They are also thought to improve skin complexion.
Pomegranate Extract: Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants that can keep bad LDL cholesterol from oxidizing (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2000). In addition, pomegranate juice, like aspirin, can help keep blood platelets from clumping together to form unwanted clots.
Green Tea Extract: Green Tea is probably most discussed these days in the weight loss arena. Green tea’s antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis.
Beet Juice: Both beet root and beet greens are very powerful cleansers and builders of the blood. Betacyanin is the phytochemical in beet that gives it its rich ‘amethyst’ color that significantly reduces homocysteine levels.
Bilberry Concentrate:Bilberry has anti-inflammatory powers. The herb is a powerful antioxidant and has glucoquinine (lowers blood sugar levels). Bilberry also contains flavonoids called anthocyanosides that protect the collagen structures in the blood vessels of the eye.
Acerola Cherry Extract: In addition to providing natural color to the Nopalea product, Acerola cherry contains high levels of Vitamin A, folate, Vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin A improves our vision and removes free radicals from the body. Vitamin C repairs tissue, and helps prevent heart disease and cancer. The potassium found in acerola cherries regulates blood pressure and heart function and can even elevate our mood. Folate is essential for making new cells, protecting against heart disease and for protecting babies against mental retardation and debilitating diseases.
Amylase: Amylase is an enzyme additive used to break down complex sugars into simple sugars.
Cellulase: Cellulase is a class of enzymes that are used to make soluble the cellulose that is present in plant-based raw materials. Cellulases are often in combination with amylase, glucanase, xylanase or hemicellulase in the production of fruit juice and other beverages
Hemicellulase: Hemicellulase is a group of enzymes that break down hemicellulose. Hemicellulose is a collective term for various components of cell walls in plants (glucans, galactans, mannans, pentosans, xylans), with the exception of cellulose, that cannot be digested by human beings and are counted as roughage.
Proteases: Protease refers to a group of enzymes whose catalytic function is to hydrolyze (breakdown) peptide bonds of proteins. They are also called proteolytic enzymes or proteinases. Each type of protease has a specific kind of peptide bonds it breaks. Examples of proteases in Nopalea include: papain, lipase, phytase and bromelain
Proteolytic enzymes are very important in digestion as they breakdown the protein foods to liberate the amino acids needed by the body. Additionally, proteolytic enzymes have been used for a long time in various forms of therapy. Their use in medicine is gaining more and more attention as several clinical studies are indicating their benefits in oncology, inflammatory conditions, blood rheology control, and immune regulation.
Stevia Extract Leaf: Stevia is used as a natural sweetener to cut the bitter taste of some of the vegetables and fruits added
Guar Gum: Guar Gum is a thickening agent. It is economical because it has almost 8 times the water-thickening potency of cornstarch – only a very small quantity is needed for producing sufficient viscosity.
Maltodextrin: Maltodextrin is a natural food additive. It can be made from a variety of starches, including corn, potato, rice or wheat. However the source does not matter because maltodextrin is such a highly processed ingredient that the protein is removed, rendering it gluten free.
Cherry Powder: See Acerola Concentrate listed above.
Xanthum Gum: Xanthum Gum performs the same role as Guar Gum. It is a thickening agent.
As you can see from the list above, aside from the thickening agents and enzyme additives, the fruits and vegetables added compliment the inflammation-fighting power of the Nopal Cactus fruit.
Supplemental Facts
Serving Size 2 tbsp (1 fl oz) (30 mL)
Servings per Container 32
| Amount per Serving | %Daily Value* | |
| Calories | 13 | 0% |
| Calories from Fat | 0 | 0% |
| Total Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 2 mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 3.1 g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
| Sugars | 2.27 g | 0% |
| Protein | 41 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 6.8 IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | <1 mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 3.4 mg | 0% |
| Iron | .04 mg | 0% |
| Proprietary blend (Nopalea) | Total 907.15 g | † |
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Nopalea is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It is always suggested that you seek approval from your doctor before beginning a Nopalea (or any other supplement) regimen.
Is Nopalea a kosher product?
Great question, Rachel!
The ORIGINAL version of Nopalea is not Kosher… That being said, earlier this month, TriVita did release a Kosher version which can be found here: http://www.trivita.com/Web/US/content/products/product-detail.aspx?tref=13152046&id=4602
The 4-pack of this version of Nopalea is on sale right now through the site since TriVita is trying to get the word out about it.
Nopalea had Unionof Orthodox Certification. What happened?
Hi Aaron,
I do believe that the Kosher version of Nopalea can still be ordered by phone. It is just not listed on the site.
Have the supplemental facts changed since you posted this? The numbers look different on the TriVita website than they do here??
Hi Social Joe,
Yes! In fact, they have changed a little since I posted this!
TriVita changed their “formula” shortly after I posted… They reduced the amount of Agave Nectar in the product in favor of adding more pineapple juice as sweetener and switched from a nopal fruit pulp to a nopal puree.
The reason for these changes being made was to make the product more consistent. Agave does not have a consistent flavor as it’s harvested throughout the year meaning the sweetness of Nopalea would change from season to season.
The good news is that by using the puree of nopal, rather than pulp, and utilizing pineapple for sweetness, the potency of the product was actually increased!
As you might have read in this post, Pineapple contains Bromelain, which is also an active inflammation fighter.
I’m wondering what the vitamin K content of Nopalea is. I’m on coumadin and can’t tolerate high doses of Vit K.
Thanks!
Lorraine Calvert
Hi Lorraine,
The amount of vitamin K in Nopalea is so minute that it is immeasurable.
(this information is courtesy of TriVita’s CARE center who has documentation on all components of the product)
Too bad it has stevia in it. I wonder why you would need this with agave and the sweet. Fruits in it.
It’s actually my understanding that the agave made it so sweet it was almost tart and the stevia (which I’m told is only about a dropper full) was used to cut the tartness.
So there’s no selenium? I find selenium in any amount gives me fatigue.
Hi Jill,
Opuntia ficus-indica (the type of nopal cactus which the fruit comes from) tends to leech a great deal of selenium from the soil if it is present. Some of that selenium is stored in the fruit that this juice is made from, so chances are, there is selenium in this product. Unfortunately, I am not personally aware of the exact daily value per serving.
Is there any gluten in this product?
Hi Heather,
Here is the official word on gluten from TriVita:
“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.”