We are all familiar with aloe vera gel and it’s variety of uses as a topical cream to help treat cuts, soothe a sunburn, and even promote healing of bedsores. Surprisingly, juice gathered from aloe vera is another form that has many health benefits as well.
This plant is a very hearty succulent that can grow in a broad range of climates as it can survive in temperatures from freezing colds to 120 degrees of Fahrenheit.
Not only that, it can survive periods of droughts and also heavy rains as long as its roots do not drown or get damaged. Its leaves are harvested to obtain pure juice that can be sold directly or processed into a gel by combining it with a thickening agent.
This pure aloe juice has fourteen main benefits for your body and has soared in popularity to treat a variety of health conditions. Just see these awesome benefits below:
BENEFITS YOU WILL FIND IN THIS POST
1. ALKALIZES YOUR BODY
2. REMOVES VARIOUS TOXINS
3. SUPPORTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
4. DRINK ALOE VERA JUICE TO LOSE WEIGHT
5. LOWERS HIGH CHOLESTEROL
6. FIGHTS AGAINST INFLAMMATION
7. IMPROVES DIGESTIVE TRACT & REDUCES ITS IRRITATION
8. BYE-BYE CONSTIPATION
9. STABILIZES BLOOD SUGAR
10. BOOSTS YOUR VITAMIN & MINERAL INTAKE
11. HYDRATES YOUR BODY
12. CURES YOUR GUMS
13. REDUCES ACNE & BLEMISHES
14. IMPROVES YOUR HAIR GROWTH
ALKALIZES YOUR BODY
(BENEFIT #1)
In order to survive, human bodies have to maintain a healthy balance between acidity and alkalinity. Actually, your body strives to keep your blood at a slightly alkaline range of 7.35 to 7.45 pH.
This balance is mostly influenced by the level of acidic and alkaline compounds in the body.
Although the foods you eat and the lifestyle you lead don’t affect the pH balance of your blood directly, it can have a significant impact on your health overall. There are some claims that the optimum structure of human diet should be 80% alkaline and 20 % acidic.
Sadly, the average American diet is highly acidic because of high consumption of meat, dairy, eggs, and grains. This is where Aloe Vera juice comes into play as this liquid makes the inner system of humans more balanced, hence it is easier for our body to fight acidosis.
Since diseases have significant problems surviving in an alkaline environment, this can stave off various systemic illnesses and health complications.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“There may be some value in considering an alkaline diet in reducing morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases and further studies are warranted in this area of medicine.”
– Schwalfenberg, G.K. (2012). “The Alkaline Diet: Is There Evidence That an Alkaline pH Diet Benefits Health?”, in Journal of Environmental and Public Health.
REMOVES VARIOUS TOXINS
(BENEFIT #2)
Did you know that Aloe Vera juice can help detox your body? Aloe is rich in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that all support proper function of your inner organs including liver and kidneys – crucial organs for natural detoxification.
What is more, when the aloe vera leaf is split open, its juice has a natural gel-like consistency.
If you allow its liquids to flow out, you can see how it doesn’t run quickly like water but much slower. This consistency allows for aloe juice to absorb and push out toxins from your gastrointestinal tract as they travel through your organism to get discarded.
As you will discover later in this article, the Aloe Vera juice is great for your bowel movements as well, as it includes substances with a laxative effect. This helps to prevent a build-up of toxins and waste materials inside your colon and digestive tract.
Just add peeled aloe vera leaves to your water or the next time you are making your smoothie, to cleanse your body from toxins more efficiently.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“Aloe vera latex is commonly used in the treatment of constipation; the laxative effect of the anthraquinone glycosides found in Aloe vera latex is well established.”
– Foster, M., et al. (2011). “Evaluation of the Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Aloe vera”, in Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, 2nd ed.
SUPPORTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
(BENEFIT #3)
Our immune system is always ready to fend off attacks from the environment we live in. Usually, with a great success rate. However, if there are too many attacks, our immune system may get weaker.
Luckily, you can make it stronger by drinking juice from aloe vera leaves.
There are many anti-viral and anti-bacterial substances that can help your immune system. Not only that, aloe vera is rich in polysaccharides. These substances help our bodies to produce macrophages, which are vital for strong defense against viruses and other nasty stuff.
Even Dr. Axe states that Aloe can boost your immune system:
“The bradykinase in aloe vera stimulates the immune system and kills infections. Zinc is also an important component in aloe vera — making it a great source to combat zinc deficiency — because it’s essential to maintain immune function. It helps us ward off diseases, kill bacteria and protect the function of our cell membranes. Zinc is also a key structural component for a slew of hormone receptors and proteins that contribute to healthy, balanced mood and immune function.”
Besides polysaccharides, aloe vera juice also has a lot of antioxidants, that reduce free-radicals flowing within our body. This even helps with slowing the effects of aging and cell damage.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“In summary; oral administration of MAP [modified Aloe polysaccharide] ameliorated chronic EFS [electric foot shock] stress-induced immunosuppression.”
– Lee, Y., et al. (2016). “Modified Aloe Polysaccharide Restores Chronic Stress-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice”, in International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Vol. 17(10).
DRINK ALOE VERA JUICE TO LOSE WEIGHT
(BENEFIT #4)
We all would like to find the easiest formula for that perfect body. Unfortunately, there is no “magic bullet” for weight loss, not even a cup of Aloe Vera juice will burn your stubborn body fat directly.
However, it can still boost your weight loss efforts.
Instead of directly contributing to the reduction of body fat, aloe juice have other benefits that when combined, indirectly improve the rate of weight loss.
These include:
- Strong antioxidant power that significantly improves detoxification
- It promotes the health and efficiency of your digestive system and metabolism
- It has a medium laxative effect that promotes your bowel movements
- It blocks the absorption of bad cholesterol from your intestines
- It reduces the inflammation all around your body
All these health benefits have an indirect effect on the way your body is able to deal with weight loss. Just keep in mind that without maintaining a healthy digestion you have a minimal chance of losing your stubborn body fat once and for all.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“These results suggest that intake of Aloe vera gel reduced body fat accumulation, in part, by stimulation of energy expenditure. Aloe vera gel might be beneficial for the prevention and improvement of diet-induced obesity.”
– Misawa, E., et al. (2012). “Administration of dried Aloe vera gel powder reduced body fat mass in diet-induced obesity (DIO) rats”, in Journal of Nutritional Science & Vitaminology. Vol. 58(3). Pp. 195-201
LOWERS HIGH CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
(BENEFIT #5)
Did you know that freshly harvested aloe vera juice can even help your body to reduce cholesterol levels in your blood? Medical studies have demonstrated that a substance called beta (β) sitosterol is responsible for this benefit.
This substance is a type of plant sterol and a powerful anti-cholestromatic.
It is structurally similar to cholesterol and competes with it in the intestines. Therefore, it reduces the actual absorption of cholesterol and promotes its excretion. Although taking beta-sitosterol significantly lowers total (LDL) cholesterol levels, it doesn’t raise good (HDL) cholesterol levels in your blood.
So, Aloe Vera juice (thanks to B-sitosterol) helps reduce overall levels of cholesterol in your body and hence promotes good cardiovascular health.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The data suggests that Aloe vera has beneficial effects on the prevention of fatty streak development; it may reduce the development of atherosclerosis through modification of risk factors. However, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms whereby this plant exerts its anti-atherosclerotic effects.”
– Dana, N., et al. (2012). “The effect of Aloe vera leaf gel on fatty streak formation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits”, in Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. Vol. 17(5). Pp. 439-442
FIGHTS AGAINST INFLAMMATION
(BENEFIT #6)
A variety of factors can cause inflammation in your body. There could be an injury, or it could be an autoimmune response. Either way, it makes parts of our bodies swell and experience pain. All of these symptoms will make us feel really bad.
Luckily, the Aloe Vera juice contains several substances that can help you.
These are various mono- and polysaccharides (such as acemannan, or mannose-6-phosphate), auxins (such as acetic acid), gibberellin, plant sterols (such as cholesterol, campesterol, and B-sitosterol), salicylic acid, and tannic acids.
The next time you are suffering from inflammation just drink some aloe vera juice full of helpful substances. The one that works best is beta-sitosterol that has been used by many runners to minimize swelling after a competition.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The results showed that HMA [Honey, Milk, & Aloe] ointment induces cell proliferation, increasing the wound closure rate, blood vessel counts, and collagen fiber density in treated animals. It also reduced the wound secretions, inflammation, and scar formation. According to the obtained morphological, morphometric results, we concluded that the traditional HMA [Honey, Milk, & Aloe] ointment, which is rich in therapeutic biomaterials and minerals, has multiple healing effects on burn wounds in rats.”
– Farzadinia, P., et al. (2016). “Anti-inflammatory and Wound Healing Activities of Aloe vera, Honey and Milk Ointment on Second-Degree Burns in Rats”, in International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. Vol. 15(3). Pp. 241-247
IMPROVES DIGESTIVE TRACT & REDUCES ITS IRRITATION
(BENEFIT #7)
Because of bad diet habits and high stress levels, the health of our digestive system is often very poor. That is why we all face issues with our digestive tract such as ulcers, acid reflux, and general irritation.
Luckily, there is Aloe Vera plant that can help.
Pure juice harvested from aloe leaves has anti-inflammatory, laxative and healing properties that promote digestion in several ways. Studies indicate that it may decrease discomfort and reduce flatulence among people with irritable bowel syndrome.
What is more, it may be able to normalize gastric acid, soothe and heal stomach ulcers, as well as improve the health of stomach lining. All of these work together to promote proper digestion that is crucial for effective weight loss and overall health.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The study demonstrates that the Aloe vera inner gel expresses antibacterial properties against both susceptible and resistant Helicobacter pylori strains. These findings may impact on the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon of H. pylori, proposing the A. vera inner gel as a novel effective natural agent for combination with antibiotics for the treatment of H. pylori gastric infection.”
– Cellini, L., et al. (2014). “In vitro activity of Aloe vera inner gel against Helicobacter pylori strains”, in Letters in Applied Microbiology. Vol. 59(1). Pp. 43-8
HELPS WITH CONSTIPATION
(BENEFIT #8)
If you’ve ever been constipated, you know that it’s not pleasant at all. Often it is a sign that your body needs more water. However, drinking aloe vera juice instead can provide an extra help in regulating your bowel movements.
There are around twelve substances (known as anthraquinones) that have a laxative effect inside the human body. Among the most potent are aloin and emodin.
These are also potent antibacterials.
That is why aloe juice can help your body get rid of dangerous diarrhea-causing bacteria that may have entered your mouth. Thanks to this juice, you will become more regular, and your overall health and feelings of well-being will improve.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The effect of the extract compares favourably well with senokot, a standard laxative drug. These findings have, therefore, lent scientific credence to the folkloric use of the herb as a laxative agent by the people of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.”
– Wintola, O.A., et al. (2010). “The effect of Aloe ferox Mill. in the treatment of loperamide-induced constipation in Wistar rats”, in BMC Gastroenterology. Vol. 10. Pp. 95
STABILIZES BLOOD SUGAR
(BENEFIT #9)
As if all of those benefits above were not enough, this plant has been studied in relation to blood glucose levels. The outcome? If you are struggling with diabetes, this liquid can help your body regulate your blood sugar and lipids.
There are several different compounds in Aloe Vera that are responsible for this effect, such as glucomannan (a water-soluble fiber), anthraquinones (organic phenols), and lectins (proteins that can bind carbohydrates together).
As you can see below, several studies indicate that drinking aloe vera juice may show some improvements in blood glucose levels among people suffering from diabetes.
FIRST RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The Use of Aloe vera extract in pre-diabetic patients, could revert impaired blood glucose within four weeks, but after eight weeks could alleviate their abnormal lipid profile.”
– Alinejad-Mofrad, S., et al. (2015). “Improvement of glucose and lipid profile status with Aloe vera in pre-diabetic subjects: a randomized controlled-trial”, in Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders. Vol. 14. Pp. 22
SECOND RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The current evidence suggests some potential benefit of Aloe vera in improving glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, given the limitations of the available evidence and the high heterogeneity in study results, high-quality, well-powered randomized controlled trials using standardized preparations are needed to quantify any beneficial effects of Aloe vera on glycaemic control.”
– Suksomboon, N., et al. (2016). “Effect of Aloe vera on glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis”, in Journal of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics. Vol. 41(2). Pp. 180-188
BOOSTS YOUR VITAMIN & MINERAL INTAKE
(BENEFIT #10)
Did you know that this juice contains rich mixture of vitamins and minerals? Although it is mostly composed of water (98.5%) only a few drinks or foods can boast such large amounts of helpful substances.
VITAMINS
Aloe vera contains a mixture of several crucial vitamins your body needs: A (beta-carotene), B12, C, E, folic acid, and choline.
MINERALS
Aloe vera juice contains at least nine minerals (calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc). All these are necessary for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways.
FATTY ACIDS
It also includes four types of plant sterols: cholesterol, lupeol, campesterol, and β-sitosterol. All these show an anti-inflammatory action.
AMINO ACIDS
Aloe vera also provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids. Not only that, it also provides a surprising amount of essential amino acids (7 of the 8). Some of these (such as salicylic acid) possess anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
ENZYMES
Aloe vera also contains eight different enzymes: aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase. The best part? Bradykinase helps your body reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically.
Overall, Aloe vera juice has “more bang for the buck” than any other choice on the health-food market right now.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“Aloe vera is considered to be the most biologically active of the Aloe species (World Health Organization 1999). More than 75 potentially active constituents have been identified in the plant (Table 3.1) including vitamins, minerals, saccharides, amino acids, anthraquinones, enzymes, lignin, saponins, and salicylic acids.”
– Foster, M., et al. (2011). “Evaluation of the Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Aloe vera”, in Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Chapter 3.
HYDRATES YOUR BODY & SKIN
(BENEFIT #11)
Did you know that aloe vera juice and coconut water have something in common? They both are excellent at re-hydrating your body as they are rich in electrolyte minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium.
When you sweat, you not only lose a significant amount of water but also these vital electrolytes. That is why you could use fresh aloe vera juice as a natural energy drink to keep you hydrated.
Not only that, Aloe Vera juice and gel can be used as a topical skin moisturizer.
The best part? Aloe moisturizes the skin without giving it a greasy feel, so it’s perfect for anyone with an oily skin. Also, it includes various antioxidants and vitamins that can make your skin look younger and fresh.
As you can see, drinking aloe vera juice can not only keep you hydrated (which is good for keeping your skin healthy), but it gives your body the building blocks it needs to replenish old skin cells as well.
FIRST RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“Our results show that freeze-dried Aloe vera extract is a natural effective ingredient for improving skin hydration, possibly through a humectant mechanism. Consequently, it may be used in moisturizing cosmetic formulations and also as a complement in the treatment of dry skin.”
– Dal’Belo, S.E., et al. (2006). “Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract in different concentrations assessed by skin bioengineering techniques”, in Skin Research & Technology. Vol. 12(4). Pp. 241-246
SECOND RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The gels of A. [Aloe] ferox and A. [Aloe] vera, applied topically, may be a safe and useful alternative to antihistamines and topical corticosteroids, for the treatment of patients suffering from recurring chronic AD [Atopic Dermatitis].”
– Finberg, M.J., et al. (2015). “A comparison of the leaf gel extracts of Aloe ferox and Aloe vera in the topical treatment of atopic dermatitis in Balb/c mice”, in Inflammopharmacology. Vol. 23(6). Pp. 337-41
CURES YOUR GUMS
(BENEFIT #12)
Did you know that countless benefits of aloe vera juice extend to the area of your mouth as well? The gel and juice from this succulent are becoming more popular in toothpaste because of the benefits it provides for good dental care.
It has strong substances (such as mannose-6-phosphate, auxins, gibberellins, beta-sitosterol, and lupeol) that significantly reduce inflammation. Not only that, it can also eliminate various harmful oral bacteria that can be present on your gums.
There are several antibacterial substances responsible for this positive effect.
The first one is called Salicylic acid and the others are called Anthraquinones (including barbaloin, anthracene, emodin, and anthrone-C-glycosides and chromones). There is even evidence to show that aloe plant can help reduce bleeding of your gums also known as periodontitis.
Medical studies have shown that maintaining healthy gums is essential to our overall well-being. Food and pathogens can enter through your mouth, but if we allow them to take up residence and grow, then we provide an open gateway to our body.
FIRST RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The study concludes that aloe vera can be an alternative, safe, and effective treatment regime in the management of oral submucous fibrosis. Long-term follow-up studies with larger sample size are recommended.”
– Anuradha, A., et al. (2017). “Evaluation of efficacy of aloe vera in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis – a clinical study”, in Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine. Vol. 46(1). Pp. 50-55
SECOND RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“AVG [Aloe Vera Gel] at higher concentration showed anti-bacterial property and can be used as a promising adjunct for oral health care.”
– Jain, S., et al. (2016). “Antibacterial Effect of Aloe Vera Gel against Oral Pathogens: An In-vitro Study”, in Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research.
REDUCES ACNE & BLEMISHES
(BENEFIT #13)
There is no doubt that we all had some experience with acne at least once in our live. Sadly, there are many causes of acne (increased production of sebum, hormones, medications, and bacteria) and some require a different approach than the others.
You can use Aloe Vera juice in two ways to fight acne.
When you drink it, it works internally to supply vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Not only that, it also reduces inflammation, fights bacteria, and hydrates your body thanks to its high water content.
A combination of aloe vera juice and gel applied topically is another excellent way to combat acne and blemishes on your skin. A mask from aloe vera helps make your skin supple and more flexible thanks to its moisturizing effect.
Also, its many anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory substances can help reduce acne and heal blemishes.
Just don’t forget to consult your medical professional or health-care provider before you try aloe vera to treat your acne issue. If you are allergic to garlic, onions, tulips, or other plants in the Liliaceae family you may be allergic to aloe vera as well.
RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The combination TR/AVG [Tretinoin/Aloe Vera Gel] was well tolerated and significantly more effective than TR and vehicle for the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.”
– Hajheydari, Z., et al. (2014). “Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial”, in The Journal of Dermatological Treatment. Vol. 25(2). Pp. 123-9
IMPROVES YOUR HAIR GROWTH
(BENEFIT #14)
If you’ve always wanted to have long silky hair then maybe you should experiment with aloe vera juice. There is a two-way approach you can try to achieve the best effect.
Firstly, you should drink this juice to provide your hair follicle and roots with necessary substances as aloe vera juice contains a lot of minerals, vitamins, and enzymes.
Secondly, you should apply this juice topically to your scalp. This way, aloe vera will help your scalp maintain pH balance in the correct range and retain its moisture.
Not only that, this juice includes various enzymes that help to remove and repair the damaged cells in your scalp after a topical application leading to unclogged pores and hair follicles. With no obstructions for your hair, it can grow more easily.
Just have a look at what experts from StyleCraze.com have to say about aloe vera and hair growth:
“Aloe vera contains proteolytic enzymes which help heal and repair the damaged cells in your scalp. […] Not only does the proteolytic enzyme help heal the scalp, but it also helps stimulate dormant hair follicles, promoting hair regrowth. It also helps curb hair fall and controls hair shedding, ensuring that your hair remains thick and voluminous. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe your scalp of irritation and aggravation. Its antifungal and antiviral properties help cure dandruff and flaking. Aloe vera’s high content of protein, vitamins, and minerals help it nourish your follicles and hair efficiently. The moisture content of aloe vera helps condition your hair, locking in nutrients and hydration.”
Overall, both Aloe Vera juice, as well as gel, can help you achieve the full head of hair that is healthier and thicker. I bet this is something you’ve always wanted to have.
FIRST RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“Vitamins: It contains vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E, which are antioxidants. It also contains vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline. Antioxidant neutralizes free radicals. Enzymes: It contains 8 enzymes: aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase. Bradykinase helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically, while others help in the breakdown of sugars and fats. Minerals: It provides calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc. They are essential for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways and few are antioxidants.”
– Surjushe, A., et al. (2008). “ALOE VERA: A SHORT REVIEW”, in Indian Journal of Dermatology. Vol. 53(4). Pp. 163-166
SECOND RELATED RESEARCH STUDY:
“The photoprotective effect of Aloe vera on different types of hair was investigated, and it was concluded that the selected Aloe vera juice as a photoprotective agent was satisfactory for all types of hair, but the degree of protection varied with each type of hair.”
– Rahmani, A. H., et al. (2015). “Aloe vera: Potential candidate in health management via modulation of biological activities”, in Pharmacognosy Review. Vol. 9(18). Pp. 120-126
FINAL VERDICT: AMAZING SUPERFOOD
Aloe vera juice has become the new super-food in the health food industry. Very few natural liquids have such a long list of benefits that this one has.
Here are best benefits:
- Alkalizes your body
- Removes various toxins
- Supports your immune system
- Promotes weight loss
- Lowers high cholesterol
- Fights against inflammation
- Improves digestive tract & reduces its irritation
- Helps with constipation
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Boosts your vitamin & mineral intake
- Hydrates your body
- Cures your gums
- Reduces acne & blemishes
- Improves your hair growth
However, to ensure that you are going to experience these benefits, you always need to choose a product that is all natural, cold pressed, was not pasteurized and was not made from concentrate. Additionally, you should stay away from brands that use dangerous preservatives.
Just keep in mind that this plant does not only provide a topical solution that you can use to heal cuts, burns, and bites. It has a broad range of other advantages when ingested as well.
