Please be aware that this article is for explanation of the Nopalea side effects only. This means I’ll be focusing on the negative aspects that may occur and won’t be highlighting the positive aspects of adopting a Nopalea regimen. If you want to read about the health benefits associated with Nopalea, please read some of the articles I’ve written here:
The Most Common Nopalea Side Effects
In the 2 years that I’ve been speaking with people about their experience with Nopalea, I have not heard many complaints about negative Nopalea side effects. Probably the most common side effects shared have been standard detoxification effects- such as diarrhea and increased urination- which makes sense since Nopalea is a detoxifying agent. Your body has to flush out the toxins before it can begin to rejuvenate and heal.
Another potential Nopalea side effect (which may be viewed as a positive or negative depending on who you speak with), is loss of appetite which can lead to minor weight loss. Please note, I wrote MINOR weight loss- though there are weight loss benefits associated with the nopal cactus, those benefits are primarily derived from the high fiber nopal cactus leaf as opposed to the fruit that Nopalea is made from.
The loss of appetite associated with Nopalea may be more closely linked to the cleansing effect the product has as well as the fact that it may boost energy levels.
Could Consumption of Nopalea Result in a “Healing Crisis”?
For those of you that may be reading this and not know what a “healing crisis” is, it’s essentially when your body tries to rid itself of toxins more quickly than they can be disposed of. I’m certain you’ve heard the phrase “it only gets worse before it gets better”? Well, that’s exactly what happens when a healing crisis occurs…
Typically, a healing crisis presents as an increase in the symptoms associated with the toxins in the body- the more toxins within, the more severe the healing crisis. The problem is that because a healing crisis presents as worsening symptoms of already painful conditions, it may be assumed that the dietary change that caused the crisis may not be working when in fact, it’s quite the opposite.
I have heard a couple reports of potential healing crisis occurrences with Nopalea from my customers. I say “potential”, because there is no knowing if there was another factor that played a part in the symptoms. In both cases, the symptoms did alleviate in a few days.
For more information on how Nopalea may help alleviate chronic inflammation symptoms associated with particular inflammatory conditions, please check out our Nopalea Research section and for any questions you may have, please contact us or post below. Please also be aware that it’s in your best interest to consult your doctor before making any dietary changes.
Good Afternoon
I have been taking Nopales for the past 5 days. I currently suffer from Degenerative Joint Disease predominently in my neck, but for the past 3 days I am achy all over especially lower back back.
Could this be related to the ‘healing crisis’ as described above?
Your input is appreciated.
Thank you,
Ana D’Amato
Hi Ana,
It could be signs of a healing crisis as a result of the addition of Nopalea to your diet and the detoxification process, or it could be totally unrelated! It really is difficult to tell unless you assess your activity lately and see if anything else had changed. Have you done anything strenuous in the past few days that might otherwise be responsible?
What’s important to realize is that if it is Nopalea related, that pain is not necessarily a bad thing. It means something IS happening. My suggestion would be to monitor the pain. If it becomes too intolerable, maybe try less of the Nopalea per day and see if you can find a level that doesn’t cause you pain? If it is tolerable and more of a nuisance than full on pain, try powering through it and see if you start to see an improvement in a few more days.
Those are just my suggestions… I’m not a medical professional and am simply an affiliate with the company that has had personal success with the product. You know your body better than anyone else.
Is this product safe for diabetics (type 2)
Hi Edith,
It is safe, Edith. There have been several individuals with type 2 diabetes that have shared positive results after using it. That being said, the nopal cactus fruit is naturally sweet, so anyone with diabetes should monitor their sugar levels while taking the product.