Nopalea, pronounced NO-PA-LEE-AH, is quickly becoming a catch word in the health foods industry. This all-natural juice is made from the prickly pear cactus and is said to help with everything from acne to cancer to arthritis to diabetes.

In a way, it is a bit of a wonder juice. It is both an anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory like the cactus it is made from.

The prickly pear cactus has been used as both a medicine and food for centuries, but it has seen renewed popularity over the past decade as the movement toward all-natural foods has taken off in America.

It is believed that the cactus was revered by the Aztecs. It's growth out of its native home in the Sonoran desert was aided by Spanish explorers who quickly recognized the value of the aesthetically pleasing plant. When the flowers on the cactus burst into bloom, they are lovely red, yellow, and purples.

Native South and Central Americans eat the cactus in dozens of ways and hundreds of dishes. They essentially eat it much like they would a vegetable. They broil, boil, steam and bake it. They eat it with eggs. They eat it in tacos. They eat it plain with olive oil and salt. Some crush it into a juice. The natural form of the juice is an acquired taste as it is a bit slimy and greenish.

However, not to fear, the cactus is mined for its tastiest and healthiest parts and then made into a smooth and delicious concoction that is fortified with natural fruit concentrates and extracts. Nopalea Juice is naturally sweetened with Agave nectar and ends up being a beautiful orange color like an ocean sunset.

Most people who drink Nopalea juice do it for a couple of reasons. They might try it initially because they like the taste. Or they might take that first sip because they have heard of its healthful and healing properties. While watever causes someone to take the first sip may vary, it is the combination of taste and health benefits that keeps them drinking it.

The parent company that makes Nopalea Juice, Trivita, is constantly collecting more stories from people who say that drinking the cactus juice has changed their life for the better.

People who have given testimonials about the benefits of the drink claim to have found relief from everything ranging from acne to chronic pain to migraines to sore joints and muscles. They also report an added side bonus of gaining more energy and zest for life as a result of drinking the juice as part of their daily regimen.

Even the renowned and respected Dr. Mehmet Oz has talked about the benefits of the prickly pear cactus on two different episodes of his every own television show. In the one episode, comedian Jimmy Fallon was joking with the doctor about finding remedies for hangovers. Dr. Oz told Fallon that the prickly pear cactus has helped people with hangover symptoms. In another episode, Oz said that the fibrous nature of the plant can help people with diabetes regulate blood sugar levels.