Superfood: Aloe Vera Juice, And A Simple And Effective Health Elixir (No Blending Required)
| March 16, 2012 | Posted by Christina under Nutrition, Recipes |
aloe vera plant
Raw, organic aloe vera juice from the aloe vera plant promotes optimal functioning especially for:
- digestion and the overall gastrointestinal tract
- elimination/purification/detoxification, particularly of the liver, skin, and colon
- the immune system
Though not a laxative, aloe vera juice naturally promotes healthy bowel functioning. Since the majority of the population is chronically constipated, aloe vera juice can help people become more regular by lubricating and cleansing the colon. Moreover, aloe vera juice is a gentle and effective way to stop candida (a bad bacteria in the gut) overgrowth and restore a healthy good bacteria-to-bad bacteria ratio in the gut. People with all sorts of stomach issues find that aloe vera juice is extremely helpful, and people with acid reflux find that it greatly reduces their symptoms.
Because it is so wonderful for the GI tract, and because the health of the GI tract is often very closely related to the skin’s appearance, drinking aloe vera juice often greatly improves the appearance of skin. I hear this regularly from people to whom I have introduced aloe vera juice, and from others who found it on their own. People suffering from acne often find that regularly drinking aloe vera juice results in their having much clearer skin.
Many people in the holistic health world also claim that aloe vera juice lowers cholesterol, though I have not studied this information myself.
Let me caveat here that I am talking only about raw, organic aloe vera juice. This means that it has NOT been pasteurized or exposed to any damaging heat, that it does NOT have any added colors or flavors, and that it does NOT come from concentrated, diluted, or dried aloe. Raw, organic aloe vera juice can only be found, as of yet, in health food stores and likely Whole Foods.
Pure aloe vera gel, directly from the plant, can be applied topically with impressive results, but I will leave that for another post.
General Health Elixir
Ingredients:
large glass of filtered water
1 to 4 oz of organic, raw aloe vera juice
juice of 1/2 a lemon
Directions:
Pour the aloe vera juice and lemon juice into the glass of water and enjoy!
If having aloe vera juice for the first time, I would suggest starting with the lower amount (1 oz) and then gradually increasing. It’s completely safe to take, and I know people who drink four ounces five times per day, but it’s best to introduce it’s wonderful effects to your body gradually and then building up to four or so ounces. (I blind pour, so I’m not exactly sure how many ounces I use, though I know it’s closer to the 3 or 4 ounce mark, and I’m sure it changes on a daily basis.) Personally, I like to have this first thing in the morning when I wake up, but it’s great to have at any point in the day. Raw, organic aloe vera juice can be taken alone on an empty stomach as well, but I have grown to enjoy the taste and the variety it lends to the large amounts of water I drink per day.
Is Aloe Vera Juice good to drink if you suffer from ear infedctions asssociated with fungal effections as well.
I also have divertiticulitis?
Thank you
Hi Marie,
Yes, it is. Aloe vera has been shown to be anti-fungal so it is a great way to address fungal infections, candida, etc. in a gentle manner.
It is also wonderful for digestion so would be helpful for the entire GI tract so should offer slight benefits to your diverticulitis. It’s a very healthy substance, with a plethora of enzymes, amino acids, and trace elements so consuming it regularly should help to improve the immune system and therefore overall health.
You could start with 1 tsp per day and work your way up to a couple tbsp. I usually just pour some into my water and add lemon juice and it’s healthy and tastes lovely.
Do you know of any contraindications to taking the fresh aloe vera gel and lemon juice drink? We regularly have this in the morning and I was wondering if it is possible to have too much.
Also, is it OK to drink this mixture when you are pregnant?
Thank you
Hi Kay! There are no contraindications of which I am aware. As far as I know, the only people who should stay away from aloe vera are those with an explicit allergy and those with allergies to plants in the Liliaceae family (such as garlic, onions, and tulips). Otherwise, it is wonderful for one’s health to consume on a regular basis.
As far as pregnancy goes, I have heard mixed things. Many more holistically minded MDs that I have spoken to say it’s beneficial, but I have heard from a few that consuming aloe vera is not recommended due to potential stimulation of uterine contractions. I would suggest speaking directly with your OBGYN.
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Can aloe Vera be used as a mouthwash for oral candida?
I haven’t read any literature on this. Deducing from it’s anti-candida properties, I would imagine it would be beneficial to use. Even if you simply ingest it orally, it will help with oral candida. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions :)
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For this reason – avoid aloe vera products that include aloe latex. Although many people have experienced the benefits of aloe vera juice for acid reflux, its consumption is only providing relief of the symptoms. If you want to be genuinely free of acid reflux, you absolutely need to reassess your lifestyle, particularly in terms of your diet.
I completely agree! In my experience, I have yet to encounter a case of acid reflux that cannot be cured through diet. Thanks for reading, Roni!
thanks for ur very informative post.
i have a query if u cud please answer.
i have just started to take ale vera juice,n i would like to know how many times shoud i have it.
once in d morning on empty stomach n once after dinner,is that good???
Hi! Yes, that’s a great way to do it. It is most effective on an empty stomach, so it’s ideal to do first thing in the morning (though you can consume it at any point, on an empty or a full stomach).
Wishing you wonderful health!
In order to get the aloe juice do I just squeeze it out of the plant or is there a specific/easier way?
or can I only purchase it from health food stores?
You can purchase it (pure, raw aloe–NOT the processed/pasteurized kind) from health food stores, including even Whole Foods, but if you have an aloe plant, then you can peel the leaves back and use the gel that is inside. You can just take this gel and blend it with water or add it to smoothies, etc.
hi madam can you please tell me the complete solution of hyper acidity and acid reflux disease ?
There is no “complete solution,” per se, but there are many dietary changes you can make to eliminate these problems (i.e. create an alkaline body state and improve digestion so as not to struggle with acid reflux). Let me know if you would like some tips on how to do so.
Can aloe vera gel be used for any infection
Aloe vera taken internally will help to improve your overall immunity, thus decreasing your susceptibility to infection. Aloe vera is specifically great for digestion and skin. Externally, pure aloe vera gel is extremely healing for the skin, which is why it is a popular treatment for sunburns and the like.
Hi!! I have a questions hopefully you can help me with… I have been drinking aloe vera juice for probably over 4 years now.. so I was searching for pegnancy side effects because I plan on starting to try to have childern .. is there really a bad effect? Also I read that aloe vera juice can cause some cancers… being I have had prolonged use to aloe vera my mind naturally begins to wonder… do you know if thats true? Makes me feel like I should stop taking it.
I have never read anything about aloe vera leading to cancer and have only come across information suggesting the opposite. Assuming you are using a high-quality, raw aloe, I would not worry. It is wonderful for health. As for contraindications with pregnancy, I believe it can lead to premature contractions, but I do not know very much on the topic of aloe as it relates specifically to pregnancy. I would consult your OB-GYN (and hopefully one who practices integrative medicine or has a holistic mindset). What an exciting time in your life! An early congratulations!
Does aloe vera good for stomuch bacteria?
Hi I have to start by saying I love this post! You have covered a lot but I was wondering is it safe for the little guys in our lives(my 4 and5 year olds)? I just want them to have good health and if Mommy does it they want to do it as well! So is it ok and is there different amounts for them? None of us have tummy troubles but I do know it does help more then just bellys! Thank you in adavance and keep up the good work!
Hi Jaime! My apologies for the delay in response, I have been traveling non-stop and neglecting the website. It is safe to give to your 4 and 5 year olds! As always, start with conservative amounts, see how they respond, and then you can slowly increase the dosage. That being said, they are children so I wouldn’t recommend giving them as much as you yourself take.
Hope this helps, and wishing you and your family great health!
Thank you for taking the time to answer me ! My Hubby and I have been drinking it for a few weeks now and I know I feel much better! So thank you I will start giving it to the babies and thank you again for your time!
My pleasure, and I’m so glad you guys are feeling better!
Hi, I just started using aloe as a drink, combined with kelp tablets, coconut oil and coconut meat in my diet. These are all great. And as a man who suffered from chronic wind the could blow my girl friend out of the bed with fluctuating diarrhoea to constipation. Yet with the new inclusion of the Aloe, wow! Not wishing to be crude but I have had the best poos of my life.
I wish I’d have taken it before, wow massive easy to poo poos. It’s brilliant stuff. Girls if your fellas fart or stink out the loo get them on to coconut oil, meat and aloe juice you will love the results, my girl friend has, plus I think my marriage would have lasted, but she couldn’t take the smell. Ah well at least I found out now!
Hahaha Stephen, I’m so glad your body is functioning better! Thanks for reading :)