A beautiful sunset lights up the rolling hills of the desert. The only colors that emerge are deep green cactus that looks as if they are wearing purple and red jewelry. These lovely plants are the Nopal Cactus, also known as the Prickly Pear Cactus, for its poky spines. The lovely blossoms are filled with a special pigment that has antioxidant properties. They are called betalains and they are a special, extremely potent class of antioxidants, only found in a few select food products.

Betalains can be found in Swiss chard and beets, but apparently not in as high a concentration as in the Nopal Cactus.

The Nopal Cactus, or Prickly Pear Cactus, is also known as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This plant has been used as both a food and medicine for centuries. It is believed that its use even dates back to the time of the Aztecs. It held a special place in Aztec culture because it is believed that the Prickly Pear Cactus was a sign of where the Aztec people should settle.

Legend has it that an Aztec man had a vision that guided his people to the place where they were supposed to found their city. The vision told him to look for a place where he saw an eagle, clutching a snake. The eagle would be perched on a Prickly Pear Cactus. The story goes that one morning the man got up to get a drink out of a lake and when he raised his head, he saw the cactus. An eagle clutching a snake was perched on the plant.

Spanish explorers readily recognized the value of the Prickly Pear Cactus and brought it back to Europe with them. Although the plant grows rampantly in the Sonoran desert, is it also planted, grown, and harvested around the world so people can take advantage of its special properties?

The renowned Dr. Mehmet Oz has talked about the cactus on at least two episodes of his television show. In one episode, he included the Prickly Pear Cactus in his report on the seven natural wonders of the world. He said the Prickly Pear Cactus is so fibrous that it might be able to help people who suffer from diabetes. The theory is that eating the plant will help regulate blood sugar levels. He did a demonstration with a huge hourglass. In the first instance, he poured sugar right through the hourglass and it flowed freely. In the second, he placed some of the cactus in the hourglass and showed how it trickled down, filtered by the plant.

In another episode of Dr. Mehmet Oz’s show, he joked with a comedian about the ability the Prickly Pear Cactus had to help with hangover symptoms. He joked that he would send some Prickly Pear Cactus juice to the comedian.

The best proof of the value of the plant, though, is the testimonials from people who drink Nopalea juice, which is made from the Prickly Pear Cactus. People claim the juice has completely changed their life for the better.

Frank Yocanis has been researching and writing about swollen ankles for the past decade. He has even traveled to the Sonoran desert half a dozen times to study how Nopalea contains amazing properties that help with all kinds of joint pain and reveal the importance of antioxidant foods. He is excited to share how this antioxidant-rich drink can change your life.

Frank Yaconis has been studying the health benefits of Nopalea Juice for the past decade. He has even traveled to the Sonoran desert, home of the Nopal or Prickly Pear Cactus to learn more. Find out more at: http://www.nopalea.com.

Author Bio: Frank Yocanis has been researching and writing about swollen ankles for the past decade. He has even traveled to the Sonoran desert half a dozen times to study how Nopalea contains amazing properties that help with all kinds of joint pain and reveal the importance of antioxidant foods. He is excited to share how this antioxidant-rich drink can change your life.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Leg Pain, Natural Antioxidants, Chronic Inflammation, Leg Swelling, Nopalea