You’ve probably heard of putting aloe on your cuts and burns to help them heal. You may have some lotion with the plant essence in it. But what about drinking it? Aloe vera juice is becoming very popular, and you can probably find it in your area grocery store. So what the heck does it do?
In this guide, we’re going to explore this supplement. You’ll learn:
- Facts and nutritional information about aloe vera juice
- What the supplement is said to do for your health
- Where to get the juice and who should take it
Interested in learning more about this popular supplement? Here’s what you need to know about aloe vera juice.
Aloe Vera: The Facts
Sugar: Will vary on preparation but otherwise naturally sugar-free
Vitamins: Vitamins E, C, A, folic acid, calcium, potassium, more
Dangerous to overdose: Possibly
Burns fat: In rat studies, yes
Discovered: Carl Linnaeus, 1753
Country of origin: Native to Southwest Arabian peninsula
Cost: Inexpensive
Calories: 2 calories per cup
Side effects: Drops in blood sugar, stomach cramps, diarrhea, liver issues
Other ways to prepare aloe vera: Powder, Juice, Capsule
What is Aloe Vera Juice
So now you know that this “miracle juice” has tons of vitamins, practically no calories, no sugar and is inexpensive to buy. But what is it?
Aloe vera is a succulent plant, like a cactus. Many homes choose to grow the plant in their homes – they’re easy to care for and super handy! Keeping an aloe plant in the kitchen is very convenient if you get a burn or a cut.
Breaking off a small piece of the aloe leaf reveals an ooey-gooey substance; that’s the good stuff you’re looking for. The aloe vera gel has quite a few awesome uses. It can be used to treat sunburn, kitchen burns, or small cuts. It’s a great mouthwash, a laxative and can help relieve heartburn.
When it’s made into a juice, it’s also said to be great for weight loss! First of all, it’s a natural laxative. That means that your digestive tract will be healthier and you’ll be better able to flush waste from your system.
Secondly, in rat studies, aloe vera juice has been shown to assist in the body’s ability to burn fat. So the juice is assumed to help human bodies lose weight, too! You don’t need a lot – most people recommend that you drink just a teaspoon of juice about 15-20 minutes before meals for weight loss.
Aloe Vera Juice: The Benefits
As we mentioned, aloe vera is thought to have many benefits in addition to lowering BMI and helping to burn fat. Let’s take a look.
- The juice helps to lower blood sugar, which is great for diabetics under a physician’s instruction
- Aloe vera is a natural appetite suppressant – because of the lowering of glucose you may be less likely to crave sugars
- It’s full of antioxidants which help you detox and may prevent certain cancers
- It can help you stay hydrated, which in turn helps protect the health of your liver and kidneys
- Aloe vera juice may help keep your skin clear and free of acne
- For some people, aloe vera juice may help to tame heartburn
You can see that there are many presumed benefits of aloe vera juice. However, please be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any supplement, including this one.
Aloe Vera Juice: The Side Effects
Too much of a good thing is usually a bad thing, and that’s true for this supplement. Aloe can cause side effects in some people, particularly if they take too much.
- Too much aloe vera juice could give you diarrhea, a very unwanted side effect
- The juice may interfere with some medications so be certain you clear the supplement with your doctor
- Your blood sugar could drop dangerously low if you take too much aloe vera, so read the label!
- In rare cases, aloe vera may cause liver problems – if you have existing liver concerns talk to your doc before you take the supplement
- You may experience low potassium or muscle weakness if you take too much aloe juice
To put it simply, check with a physician before you take this juice, and always follow the dosage instructions on your supplement. Different juice products will have different amounts listed.
How to Make Juice from Aloe
Did you know you can make your own aloe vera juice? The juice at the store isn’t that expensive, but if you feel like experimenting, why not give it a try?
The first thing you’re going to need to know is how to extract the gel properly. Aloe vera produces a liquid that’s actually toxic, so it’s important that you get your gel the right way. You can find videos on YouTube to teach you how, but the basic steps are:
- Cut a large aloe vera leaf
- Let it drain into a bowl for about an hour
- Trim off the bottom and the top of the leaf
- Wash the entire leaf!
- Trim off the sides of the leaf, then split into two thin slices
- Using a knife, scrape off the gel
Again, get proper instructions and always use the right plant. There are more than 500 species of aloe plants – be sure yours is aloe vera.
Once you’ve extracted the gel in the right way and from the right plant, it’s time to make your juice! You can be as creative as you want, but most people choose to just make the juice then mix it with other juices.
You’ll just put your aloe gel into a blender with around two cups of water and use the medium-low setting for about 45 seconds. You can add lemon juice if you like. Other treats to mix with aloe juice include:
- Cranberry juice
- Coconut milk
- Low-sugar lemonade
- Pineapple juice
- Watermelon (just blend with the gel)
Use your imagination! The best recipe is the one you’ll drink and love!
Where to Buy Aloe Vera Juice
You can get aloe vera juice at most grocery stores. However, that’s not the only way to get your hands on the refreshing treat. You’ll find the drink online at stores that are both large and small – just be sure you trust the distributor.
You can find aloe vera juice in health food stores, too. Natural food stores, farmer’s markets and other commerce locations will sell aloe vera juice.
Finally, this supplement is becoming so popular that you may even be able to find it at your local service station or convenience store! As more people start to drink this juice, more stores – even the tiny ones – are selling it.
What About Aloe Vera Powder?
We mentioned earlier in this guide that aloe vera comes in several forms, including capsules and powder. While the capsules may be ingested to help you lower your BMI and lose weight, the powder isn’t intended for weight loss.
Aloe vera powder is a supplement that’s meant to be used on the skin and hair. As you may recall, one of the benefits of aloe vera is that it may help keep your skin clear and free from acne. Mixing the powder in with your favorite skin care products can help you do just that.
Alternatively, you can find skin care and beauty products that already have aloe powder in them. Again, these aren’t for ingestion! Use them topically in the way that the manufacturer intended – eating them can be very dangerous, and they probably won’t taste very good, either.
You can buy aloe vera powder in retail stores and online. If possible, opt for the organic products as they’re less likely to contain pesticides and herbicides that are toxic.
Aloe Vera Juice Recipes
We’ve already talked about how to make your own aloe vera juice. Now, let’s talk about what you can do with it!
Aloe juice can be used in a number of ways, some are actually quite creative! One thing you should know, though, is that heating the juice may actually destroy some of the nutrients in it. It’s best to use the juice cold or at room temperature.
Here are a few ideas of recipes you can make using aloe vera. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with!
- Aloe ginger lemonade
- Strawberry banana aloe smoothie
- Aloe vera martini (drink responsibly and mind the calories!)
- Kale lime aloe smoothie
- Aloe vera green tea (sweeten with honey)
- Matcha mango smoothie with aloe
You can also get creative and make up some skin care products. For instance:
- Aloe cucumber face wash
- Aloe honey exfoliation mask
- Aloe and lavender bath cubes
- Aloe and coconut oil moisturizer
Remember to test all products on a small area of your skin before using – if you’ve never used aloe before it’s important to ensure you’re not sensitive to it!
Is Aloe Vera Healthy?
As with any supplement, aloe vera can be healthy for you if you use it the right way. Too much of the supplement can cause some serious health issues and discomfort, especially if you’re on medication or have blood sugar issues.
That said, aloe vera is considered relatively safe but it’s imperative that you use the right type of aloe and use it the right way. Not enough studies have been done on the long term effects of the juice to determine if you should consider it as a semi-permanent supplement for weight loss.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – talk to your doctor before you begin taking this – or any – supplement. Your health conditions, your medications and your unique body will determine whether this supplement is right for you.
Training and Aloe
Because it’s assumed that aloe vera juice may help you burn fat, it can also be assumed that you can enhance your weight loss efforts when you take it while training. You can lower your BMI more quickly with fat burners, and if this supplement helps you burn fat, go for it!
Aloe vera juice isn’t a stimulant, so you don’t have to worry about increasing your heart rate too much like you do with some other supplements. You can drink aloe vera before you work out without worry.
Do remember that aloe may give you a bit of diarrhea or stomach cramping. To avoid any issues, it’s probably best if you see how your body reacts to the juice before you head to the gym for the first time.
Who Should Take It?
We’ve covered all the benefits and side effects of this juice, but who should be taking it? Well, of course you’ll need to be cleared by your doctor first, but you should take aloe vera if you’re trying to lose weight and lower your BMI. There are no guarantees that the product will enhance your weight loss, but there’s certainly no harm in trying.
People who are trying to naturally lower their blood sugar should also consider using aloe. If you’re diabetic, you’ll need to get the all clear first. But if you simply experience fluctuations in your blood sugar throughout the day, this juice could help.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you must talk to your obstetrician or midwife before using this supplement.
Finally, people who need a little help staying regular can consider aloe vera juice to help improve the digestive system. The juice, when used correctly, can help you to get back on track with bowel movements which, of course, may also help you lower your BMI and lose weight.
Conclusion
Aloe vera juice is an up and coming superstar in the health food industry. Not everyone can take it because of medications or underlying health conditions. However, if you’re able to take it you should consider trying it as a weight loss aid. You may find that it helps you to lower your BMI and lose weight more quickly, and it might even improve your health a bit! Get the okay from your doctor, then see what aloe vera juice can do for you.