What is Nopalea and where does it come from?

The story behind Nopal cactus, the Sonoran Desert and the proud Pima people

By Brazos Minshew is TriVita's Chief Science Officer

It was a most fortunate serendipity. TriVita CEO Michael Ellison was on a wilderness adventure in the vast Sonoran Desert - the most extreme desert in the world. His guides were natives of the Sonoran Desert: the Pima Indians. Sitting around the campfire in the evening, the natives told the stories of their beloved land. Many actually brought medicinal plants into the camp and prepared them for Michael to experience.

Their reverence for this harsh and seemingly inhospitable environment was evident in their stories and the respectful way they guarded their precious homeland.

The Sonoran Desert reveals its secrets to a long, healthy life

Our research into the plants of the Sonoran Desert led me to the University of Arizona where statistics on the Pima people are archived. In traditional Pima lands, the natives do not have running water, electricity, paved roads or air conditioning. Still, they flourish with a lifespan similar to ours and a far greater health span. We long to live their healthy, exuberant life and we work diligently to understand how we can be like them.

The traditional Pima are a vibrant, healthy, happy group with ready smiles and enthusiasm for life well into their senior years. I began working with the elders of the tribe and soon discovered several commonalities that kept them healthy - and which we can imitate: a strong sense of spirituality; a rich social life; daily activity (about 2 1/2 hours each day on average); and a plant-based diet.

The diet of the Pima people offers them protection from the harsh environment of the Sonoran Desert. You see, in order for the plants to survive and thrive they must develop anti inflammatory Betalains. The most abundant species of plant in the Sonoran Desert, with the highest levels of anti-inflammatory Betalains, is the superfruit-producing Nopal cactus.

Let me tell you about Angel, a tribal elder. Angel is the established guardian of the Nopal fruit harvest for his tribal community of about 400 people. His entire life has been devoted to the traditions of reverence for the land and protection of its resources. Every autumn, Angel gathers the children of the tribe to tell them the story of the Nopal fruit before they begin the harvest.

"A blessing from God"

I was privileged to attend one of the harvest sessions, and I watched as the exuberant children noisily ran together to the meeting place where Angel patiently waited. As he began to tell the story of the Nopal fruit, everyone stood silently, attentively, completely lost in his story. He told about the fruit and how it was a blessing from God. He talked about how eating the fruit made them part of the land, until the people and the land were inseparable. He talked about the deer and the fox that also ate the fruit and how the people needed to watch over them and protect them like they were family. When the people were sufficiently humbled, it was time for the harvest.

Angel and his wife instructed the people on how to harvest the fruit: Pick only the ones "kissed by God" (the ripe, ruby red fruit at the top of the Nopal plant). "These are the ones for the people. Leave all the rest for the animals of the Sonoran Desert," they said.

Angel spoke of the need of the people to be good stewards of the resources and custodians of the animals. He spoke about the "mommy deer" that needed to feed their babies from the Nopal fruit on the lower branches; he told of the "mommy faxes" that brought their babies to him as if to plead with him to leave them some food. As I looked at him, tears were gently rolling down that rugged, patient face as the children completely mesmerized learned a lesson that would mold every decision they made for the rest of their lives.

A reverence toward the land

We learned our lesson that day as well: the Sonoran Desert is a wellspring of wellness. It provides an abundance of Nopal fruit that we can use to resist inflammation and improve our health to become a vibrant, happy group with enthusiasm for life just like the Pima people. And we must be thankful and grateful for the gifts of the Sonora; but, we must join this noble, happy people as guardians of its resources and custodians of our extended family, the deer and foxes!

The Nopal fruit is only harvested once per year. TriVita contracts with the Sonoran Natives to harvest the fruit according to time-honored traditions that demonstrate respect for the land. The tribal elders in charge of the harvest always consider the future when they agree to share their Nopal fruit. The common ethic is, "Never make a decision until you have considered its impact on the Seventh Generation from today." This ethic stands as a guarantee that we will never over-harvest this God-given anti-inflammatory Nopal fruit which has given us our amazing breakthrough wellness drink - Nopalea.

Brazos Minshew is TriVita's Chief Science Officer, in charge of formulating the best new supplements possible. He is dedicated to bringing greater health and wellness to TriVita Members. He combines an extensive background in medical science, naturopathy and alternative treatments to create lifestyle and nutritional solutions to prevalent health challenges.

For Nopalea best pricing,
click the orange buttons below or call 800-897-0321.

Prices shown are for US orders.
Canadian pricing available here.

About TriVita