Arthritis Living With Diet & Exercise What People With Arthritis Should Know About Nopalea By Carol Eustice facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD on October 11, 2020 linkedin Scott J. Zashin, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He was a volunteer clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas. Learn about our Medical Review Board Scott Zashin, MD on October 11, 2020 Print If you watch television late at night, you have probably seen the infomercial for Nopalea (pronounced no-pah-lay-uh). Until I saw it myself, I had not heard of Nopalea. The claims were striking, and I imagine that most people living with chronic joint pain or arthritis would likely want to know more about the product after hearing the claims. I did some digging of my own, and here's what I found. Julien Mcroberts / Getty Images Nopalea Explained Nopalea is a "wellness drink" which is manufactured and marketed by TriVita. The drink is derived from the fruit of the Nopal cactus (Opuntia Ficus Indica), the prickly pear. According to the manufacturer's website, the Nopal cactus fruit contains a class of antioxidants known as bioflavonoids (also called flavonoids). More specifically, the website says, "Research unveiled that the Nopal cactus fruit has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, thanks to a class of rare and potent nutrients called bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are in the quercetin family, which have been shown to protect against inflammation related to free radicals (unstable molecules in the body). Nopal cactus fruit is a rich source of quercetin." The infomercial claims, "The Nopal fruit is scientifically proven to contain an extremely potent class of antioxidants known as betalains, bringing a wide range of benefits." It states that betalains are rare and typically lacking from our diets. Claims for Potential Benefits The manufacturer claims that Nopalea may help reduce pain associated with inflammation; improve joint health; relieve swelling in muscles; and protect the health of the body's cells. It claims to neutralize the body's inner toxins, and also claims to be the natural solution to inflammation. Here's how Nopalea is said to work: once the drink is ingested, bioflavonoids "permeate the body." Bioflavonoids then "approach unhealthy cells and drain out the toxic waste." The body turns unhealthy cells into healthy cells, and macrophages seek out and engulf dead cells. Bioflavonoids surround remaining cells and protect them. How Much Should You Drink? The manufacturer advises people who are trying Nopalea for the first time to drink 3 to 6 ounces daily for 30 days. After that, it should be ingested as a maintenance drink to continue fighting inflammation; the manufacturer recommends drinking 1 to 3 ounces daily. Contraindications The manufacturer's website states that there are no known contraindications with Nopalea due to medications you may already be taking. But, they do recommend that people who are taking any medications, or have a known medical condition, should discuss Nopalea with their doctor prior to trying the dietary supplement. However, this conflicts with information from the University of Maryland Medical Center, which states that quercetin may interact with corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and several other drugs. Skeptics Put off by Hyped Marketing The first issue that jumps out at skeptics is TriVita's statement that Nopalea's Nopal cactus fruit contains "a very rare and powerful class of antioxidants called bioflavonoids." Rare? In addition, the infomercial states that "The Nopal fruit is scientifically proven to contain an extremely potent class of antioxidants known as betalains, bringing a wide range of benefits." Scientifically proven? Bioflavonoids are not rare. According to the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, more than 5,000 different flavonoids have been identified. Foods that contain appreciable amounts of flavonoids include the following raw fruits: apples with the skin, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, grapefruit, dark grapes, and raspberries. Flavonoids also are appreciable in raw red onions, raw hot peppers, fresh dill weed, fresh thyme, tea, buckwheat flour, and chocolate. Betalains are antioxidants that give beets their color, ranging from red-violet to yellow. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, betalains are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. Quercetin is a flavonoid. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, quercetin has strong antioxidant properties in test tubes (in vitro), but researchers are not sure that they act the same way in humans—it has not been scientifically proven. The Bottom Line There is little question that antioxidants are considered healthful as part of your diet. But, there is little to no conclusive evidence from scientific research that tells us how much is required to prevent or treat disease—or simply to cut inflammation. With regard to Nopalea specifically, a search of PubMed.gov turns up no human studies that were done on TriVita's Nopalea. Testimonials are found on their website, but we've been taught to put credence into scientific studies and not into testimonials. Beware of the lure of unproven remedies, and be sure you learn about a product before buying it. Don't get caught up in the hype. Read the label which lists the ingredients in Nopalea. Decide for yourself. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Colombo D, Lunardon L, Bellia G. Cyclosporine and herbal supplement interactions. J Toxicol. 2014;2014:145325. doi:10.1155/2014/145325 Kozłowska A, Szostak-wegierek D. Flavonoids--food sources and health benefits. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2014;65(2):79-85. Additional Reading Quercetin. Possible Interactions. University of Maryland Medical Center. Quercetin. University of Maryland Medical Center. Last Reviewed 10/19/2015. Weil, Andrew, MD. Roasted Root Vegetables. WEIL. Holden JM et al. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 18 (2005) 829-844.