Aloe vera is quite an incredible medicinal plant full
of nutritional benefits. It is a succulent plant and
part of the lily family (Liliaceae), the same family
that garlic and onions belong to. Different parts of
the plant are used for different purposes and aloe
vera has both internal and external applications. I
love to juice aloe and use it in my clear skin
juice and recently started making fresh aloe vera
salads. I also like to add aloe to my smoothies to
gain some of the benefits of this incredible plant.
(Update: Due to the tremendous amount of emails I
now receive each week about aloe vera, I will
include here that I don't consume aloe every day.
Its medicinal, and like all plant medicines, should
not be consumed every single day. I use my
intuition when working with plant medicines and
never usually consume it for more than a week at a
time. When I do use aloe in my smoothies or
juices, I cut a piece of aloe about 1 inch long and
open up the skin and only add in the clear inner gel
of the aloe plant.) Be sure to read the last section
about over-use of this plant as well as dose
recommendations. I consume fresh aloe, because
that's what I have access to.
TWELVE BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA:
Aloe Vera contains over 200 active components
including vitamins, minerals, amino acids,
enzymes, polysaccharide, and fatty acids – no
wonder it's used for such a wide range of remedies!
The bulk of the aloe vera leaf is filled with a clear
gel-like substance, which is approximately 99%
water. Humans have used aloe therapeutically for
over 5000 years – now that's a long-standing track
record! The list of benefits and effects for this
miraculous plant are many. Here is a list of the Top
12 Benefits of Aloe Vera (including some
medicinal uses):
1. Aloe Vera Is High in Vitamins & Minerals:
Aloe Vera contains many vitamins including A, C, E,
folic acid, choline, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6. Aloe Vera
is also one of the few plants that contains vitamin
B12. Some of the 20 minerals found in Aloe vera
include: calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium,
selenium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper,
manganese.
2. Aloe Vera is High in Amino Acids & Fatty
Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.
There are about 22 amino acids that are necessary
for the human body and it is said that 8 of these are
essential. Estimates of the amino acids found in
aloe range from 18-20 amino acids, with all 8
essential amino acids. Aloe vera also includes quite
an impressive range of fatty acids. Aloe contains
three plant sterols, which are important fatty acids
– HCL cholesterol (which lowers fats in the blood),
campesterol, and B-sitosterol. All are helpful in
reducing symptoms of allergies and acid
indigestion. Other fatty acids include linoleic,
linolenic, myristic, caprylic, oleic, palmitic, and
stearic.
3. Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen
Aloe vera is a well-known adaptogen. An adaptogen
is something that boosts the body's natural ability
to adapt to external changes and resist illness. It is
thought that aloe's power as an adaptogen
balances the body's system, stimulating the defense
and adaptive mechanisms of the body. This allows
you an increased ability to cope with stress
(physical, emotional and environmental stress like
pollution)
4. Aloe Helps with Digestion
Poor digestion is related to many diseases. A
properly functioning digestive tract is one of the
keys and foundations of health.
Aloe is known to
soothe and cleanse the digestive tract and help
improve digestion. The interesting thing about
taking aloe internally is that, because it is an
adaptogen, it helps with either constipation or
diarrhea, helping to regulate your elimination
cycles in whatever way you need. It's been a great
remedy for people with problems such as irritable
bowel syndrome as well as acid reflux. Aloe also
helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly
bacteria and in our gut keeping your healthy
intestinal flora in balance. Aloe is also a vermifuge,
which means it helps to rid the body of intestinal
worms.
5. Aloe Helps in Detoxification
Aloe Vera is a gelatinous plant food, just like
seaweeds and chia seeds. The main benefit to
consuming gelatinous plant foods in your diet is
that these gels move through the intestinal tract
absorbing toxins along the way and get eliminated
through the colon. This will help the proper
elimination of waste from your body and help the
detoxification of your body.
6. Aloe Alkalizes the Body
Disease cannot manifest in an alkaline
environment. Most people are living and subsisting
on mostly acidic foods. For great health, remember
the 80/20 rule – 80% alkaline forming foods and
20% acidic. Aloe vera is an alkaline forming food. It
alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic
dietary habits.
7. Cardiovascular Health
There hasn't been a lot of studies conducted on
aloe's effect on cardiovascular health, but there has
been some research to show that aloe vera extract
injected into the blood, greatly multiplies the
oxygen transportation and diffusion capabilities of
the red blood cells. According to a study published
in the 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal,
beta sitosterol helps to lower cholesterol. By
regulating blood pressure, improving circulation
and oxidation of the blood, lowering cholesterol,
and making blood less sticky, aloe vera juice may
be able to help lower the risk of heart disease.
8. Aloe Helps Boost the Immune System
I think given the stresses of our daily lives, every
one can use a boost to their immune systems. The
polysaccharides in aloe vera juice stimulate
macrophages, which are the white blood cells of
your immune system that fight against viruses.
Aloe is also an immune enhancer because of its
high level of anti-oxidants, which help combat the
unstable compounds known as free-radicals,
contributing to the aging process.
(Free radicals are
a bi-product of life itself, it is a naturally occurring
process but we can overload ourselves with
unnecessary free-radicals by living an unhealthy
lifestyle). Aloe is also an antipyretic which means it
used to reduce or prevent fever.
9. Aloe Vera is Great for the Skin
Because of aloe's well-known healing properties for
the skin, aloe is one of the primary compounds
used in the cosmetic industry. It is a known
vulnerary, (meaning it helps heal wounds) and is
great for applying topically to burns, abrasions,
psoriasis and even to bug bites. Aloe acts as an
analgesic, acting to help relieve pain of wounds. It's
feels especially good to cut a stem of aloe, place it
in the fridge and rub it on sun burnt skin – the
immediate soothing effect feels like an absolute
lifesaver. Aloe is also an antipruritic: A substance
that relieves or prevents itching. Aloe vera is an
astringent: which causes the contraction of body
tissues, typically used to reduce bleeding from
minor abrasions. Due to aloe's high water content
(over 99% water) it is a great way to hydrate,
moisturize and rejuvenate the skin and fits within
my general guideline: "Don't put anything on your
skin that you wouldn't eat!" Aloe increases the
elasticity of the skin making it more flexible
through collagen and elastin repair.
Aloe is an
emollient, helping to soften and soothe the skin. It
helps supply oxygen to the skin cells, increasing the
strength and synthesis of skin tissue and induces
improved blood flow to the skin through capillary
dilation.
10. Aloe vera is a: Disinfectant, Anti-biotic,
Anti-microbial, Germicidal, Anti-bacterial,
Anti-septic, Anti-fungal & Anti-viral:
Wow, I think that covers all anti- bases. Okay, I
admit, that was just a sneaky way to add in another
8 good reasons why you should keep an aloe vera
as a handy (to to mention beautiful) house plant
and incorporate it's uses into your healthy lifestyle.
Aloe vera's active ingredients are sulphur, lupeol,
salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, urea nitrogen and
phenol which are substances that prevent the
growth of disease-causing microorganisms and act
as a team to provide antimicrobial activity thus
eliminating many internal and external infections,
also active against bacteria. It also helps to treat
fungal and viral infections.
11. Aloe Helps Reduce Inflammation
Aloe Vera contains 12 substances, including B-
sisterole, which can help to slow down or inhibit
inflammation. This may be able to help with
painful joints due to stiffness and help improve
joint flexibility.
12. Weight Loss – A Secondary effect
Improving your digestion, and detoxifying your
body will have a secondary effect of promoting
weight loss because when you start to improve
your digestion you naturally eliminate more
efficiently, which is a primary way that we all
detoxify – through our bowels. This will lighten
your toxic load on your body and will give you
more energy.
ALOE VERA INTAkE PRECAUTIONS
This plant is incredibly medicinal, yet there are
some cautions against long-term use. Just because
a little is beneficial, doesn't mean that a lot is more
beneficial. This is an incredibly potent plant and
should be used with a level of respect for its
potency. Long-term use can lead to loss of
electrolytes, especially potassium.
Tip: Avoid taking aloe internally during
pregnancy, menstruation, if you have
hemorrhoids or degeneration of the liver
and gall bladder.
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