The Prickly Pear Cactus is becoming a bit of a rock star in the health world. In some ways, it is a difficult plant to make edible. Despite this, native people dating back to the Aztecs have used it as both a food and a medicine. Central and South Americans have harvested it for centuries.

Once you get around the prickly spines that give it part of its name, then you have to figure out just how to cook it. It can be eaten much like any other green vegetable: sautéed, grilled, fried, and so on.

If you want to make juice, it is a little more difficult and the natural form of the juice is green and slimy.

However, now a company, Trivita, known for its wellness products, makes it easy to consume the Prickly Pear Cactus as a juice. The product, called Nopalea Juice, is a glorious sunset color - a peachy, apricot orange. The flavor is naturally sweetened with agave nectar and the juice has natural additives, such as concentrate and extracts from a variety of delicious fruits.

Nopalea Juice is quickly gaining in popularity, as the benefits of consuming the prickly pear cactus become better known.

The renowned and esteemed Dr. Mehmet Oz on one of his television show episodes named the cactus as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. He touted the benefits of the plant in helping people with diabetes and also with relieving the symptoms of a hangover.

The prickly pear cactus not only contains special pigments that fight toxins called betalains, but it is also a natural anti-inflammatory. The importance of fighting inflammation has become increasingly clear over the past decade.

A Time magazine article pointed out the dangers of chronic inflammation. The cover story claimed that scientists are linking chronic inflammation to many serious illnesses, diseases and ailments. It appears that inflammation - the body's natural response to infection and invasion from bacteria - can sometimes go haywire.

In some cases, once inflammation has done its job, it does not turn off its attack mechanism and turns its aim to the body instead of the infection. It is thought that this leads to more serious health problems, including cancer.

This possible theory could be a huge breakthrough in medical science if the link is positively confirmed. If something as simple as stopping inflammation could prevent a host of diseases, the world would rejoice.

Meanwhile, people are working to reduce inflammation in their body based on this research. Something as simple as drinking prickly pear cactus juice is a fantastic and easy way to do this.

The beauty of the cactus juice is that it not only helps you improve your health this minute, it will help you future health. That is the perfect combination.

Nopalea Juice also helps with an assortment of myriad conditions ranging from joint pain, swelling, even eczema and acne. People who suffer from chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia also tout the benefits of drinking this juice. It is good tasting and good for you and best of all, it is all natural.