Why aloe vera is good

The important compounds in aloe vera have also been shown to neutralize the effects of ultraviolet UV radiation, repair your skin from existing UV damage, and help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Aloe vera juice is jam-packed with nutrients. It contains important vitamins and minerals like vitamins B, C, E , and folic acid. Aloe vera is one of the only plant sources of vitamin B, too. This is excellent news for vegetarians and vegans. Drinking aloe vera juice may give you relief when heartburn attacks.

The compounds present in aloe vera juice help control secretion of acid in your stomach. The effects have even been shown to combat gastric ulcers and keep them from getting larger.

Aloe vera contains several enzymes known to help in the breakdown of sugars and fats and to keep your digestion running smoothly. You have to keep your internal engine healthy in order to reap the benefits from your diet. Aloe vera may help decrease irritation in the stomach and intestines. The juice may also help people with irritable bowel syndrome IBS and other inflammatory disorders of the intestines. The study was not placebo-controlled, so more research is needed. Aloe vera was also beneficial to people suffering from ulcerative colitis in an earlier double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Decolorized purified, low anthraquinone whole leaf aloe vera is considered safe. A study in mice fed various concentrations of purified aloe vera for three months showed no adverse effects at all from the juice. On the other hand, nondecolorized, unpurified aloe vera juice can have unpleasant side effects, including diarrhea and cramping.

Diarrhea can lead to severe pain, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances. Researchers have concluded that the side effects caused by unpurified aloe vera juice are a result of the presence of anthraquinone, which is considered a laxative.

One study found that aloe vera whole-leaf extract increased the risk of colon adenomas benign and carcinomas cancer in rats. However, another study on rats that same year noted that purified and decolorized juice is a safer option when compared to colored aloe vera.

Aloe juice has been shown to interact with certain medications. Aloe vera juice may increase the risk of side effects of these drugs. Aloe may also add to the effects of sevoflurane, causing excessive bleeding during surgery. If you are taking sevoflurane, check with your doctor before drinking aloe juice.

Unlike most juices, a 4-ounce serving of aloe vera juice contains no sugar and only a few calories. Aloe vera juice can be purchased online or in most health food markets.

Look for organic, pure, and percent aloe juice. A review suggested that consuming 1 to 3 ounces of aloe gel at mealtime could reduce the severity of GERD. It may also ease other digestion-related problems. Read more: Can you use aloe vera juice to treat acid reflux? A study published online by the Cambridge University Press looked at tomato plants coated with aloe gel. The report showed evidence that the coating successfully blocked the growth of many types of harmful bacteria on the vegetables.

Similar results were found in a different study with apples. This means that aloe gel could help fruits and vegetables stay fresh, and eliminate the need for dangerous chemicals that extend the shelf life of produce. In a study published in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, researchers found aloe vera extract to be a safe and effective alternative to chemical-based mouthwashes.

It can also provide relief if you have bleeding or swollen gums. Ingesting two tablespoons of aloe vera juice per day can cause blood sugar levels to fall in people with type 2 diabetes , according to a study in Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacy.

This could mean that aloe vera may have a future in diabetes treatment. These results were confirmed by another study published in Phytotherapy Research that used pulp extract. But people with diabetes, who take glucose-lowering medications, should use caution when consuming aloe vera. The juice along with diabetes medications could possibly lower your glucose count to dangerous levels. Aloe vera is considered a natural laxative. A handful of studies have looked into the benefits of the succulent to aid digestion.

The results appear to be mixed. A team of Nigerian scientists conducted a study on rats and found that gel made from typical aloe vera houseplants was able to relieve constipation. But another study by the National Institutes of Health looked at the consumption of aloe vera whole-leave extract. Those findings revealed tumor growth in the large intestines of laboratory rats. In , the U. First, the leaves are filled with a clear gel. This gel is extracted from the plant and usually used on the skin to treat burns and various skin conditions.

The gel is also marketed in liquid or capsule form to be taken orally. The second substance the plant produces is called aloe latex. The latest in aloe vera trends is the introduction of aloe-based drinks, such as aloe vera juice and aloe vera water. The plant juices are usually mixed with citrus to make aloe vera juice or water to make aloe vera water.

Aloe vera on its own can have a bitter taste, so many brands will add flavor or sweeteners to the bottle. Aloe latex contains aloin, an anthraquinone that gives aloe vera its laxative properties, and which may relieve constipation , according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIEHS. Constipation is a symptom commonly seen in primary care patients and also occurs with chronic digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome IBS.

An analysis of three randomized controlled studies published in October in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility suggests that aloe vera may be useful for individuals with constipation, including those dealing with this symptom in IBS.

Aloe creams have a calming effect on the skin and have been shown to help reduce itchiness and inflammation. In a past review of aloe vera, researchers noted the plant has the ability to inhibit prostaglandin E2 production. Some people swear by aloe to calm a sunburn. Although aloe vera might not be effective for treating sunburns, it may provide some relief after a first- or second-degree burn. In a review of four controlled clinical trials consisting of sunburn patients, researchers found that healing times for patients who applied aloe vera to their burns was about nine days shorter than in the control group.

In a pilot trial published in December in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine , researchers found that a standardized aloe vera extract in a syrup helped lessen several symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD , including heartburn, belching, and vomiting , over a four-week period.

Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antioxidant and anti-ulcer properties that have been studied some in animals and patients with IBD irritable bowel disease , as past research notes. A past clinical trial found drinking two tablespoons of aloe vera juice every day for two weeks helped lower the blood sugar levels among people with type 2 diabetes.

Triglyceride levels of the study participants also improved — which could have additional benefit for those with diabetes: They're at an increased risk of developing heart disease, which is linked to triglyceride and cholesterol abnormalities. By now you may want to explore some of the potential benefits outlined above.

It's best to do so in consultation with your primary doctor, nutritionist, or another healthcare provider who knows how to safely use aloe, especially if you want to try it internally. The plant has been shown to have a few other surprising uses, including:. The plant is known for supporting skin hydration and clarity. A small, previous randomized trial of 60 people found that aloe vera topical gel helped treat acne lesions when combined with a tretinoin cream.

The women saw significant improvements in their wrinkles and the elasticity of their skin. It was postulated to be potentially from an increase in collagen production. According to the website Byrdie, some beauty pros apply the gel found inside the leaves directly to their hair and use it as a deep conditioner.

Aloe latex, however, can be dangerous. Aloe latex can lead to more serious problems, too. Taking even just 1 gram orally per day for several days could end up causing kidney damage and may even be fatal. Another potential negative for aloe latex: It could have cancer-promoting effects.

The good news is the rats in the study drank water containing 60 parts per million ppm of aloin every day.

Consult the label on your aloe vera product to learn about the best storage method. Humidity and temperature can affect the shelf-life of the product.

The dark bottle, according to past research, is designed to keep light from affecting the active ingredients. Aloe vera is considered a supplement, and supplements are not regulated fully by the U. Food and Drug Administration. And there are loads of products that claim to be rich in aloe vera, but many of them contain no or hardly any active ingredients.

Good news for non-green thumbs: Aloe vera is a cinch to grow at home. You should be careful not to overwater the plant, and if you keep the plant outdoors, be sure to cover it when it rains. Aloe vera plants, which grow to be one to two feet high and up to 1 foot wide, grow best in tropical climates.

But you can easily leave it in a pot and bring it inside when the temperature drops ideally any time it gets close to 50 degrees F or cooler.