The Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera

While many of us may be familiar with the Aloe Vera for sun exposure, it’s also recognized for health benefits that go far beyond its uses as a topical for burns and skin ailments. 

The Aloe Vera plant is a spiny cactus-like plant that grows in dry, hot climates¹. In Ancient Egypt, some 6000 years ago, Aloe Vera was known⁴ as the “plant of immortality” and was given as gifts during the funerals of pharaohs. Several other ancient cultures have similar stories of using the medicinal plant for its many health benefits. The plant is very versatile and can be used for a variety of benefits both through ingesting the inner filet or by using the gel extract topically.

Drinking aloe is a truly great way to receive some powerful health benefits. It’s low in sugar and calories in addition to:

• Being packed with the antioxidant⁶, beta carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A by the body. It’s super good for eye health! 
• Alleviating symptoms of heartburn by helping to balance out the acid content in the stomach.
• Helping to alleviate³ constipation and balance blood sugar levels. 
• Being known to aid¹ in weight loss, diabetes, hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (conditions caused by gut inflammation).

The benefits don’t stop there, if Aloe is applied to the skin, it can also provide benefits such as:

• Offering super hydration that can provide skin cells with moisture to avoid breakouts caused by dehydration.
• Being full of antioxidants⁵, vitamins, and enzymes, and is even anti-inflammatory: It is great for treating burns, acne, and dry skin.
• Aloe contains sugars (mucopolysaccharides) that help skin² retain and lock in moisture.

Keeping an Aloe plant at home is a great way to utilize the amazing benefits of Aloe gel. Make aloe juice by cutting the plant itself and extracting the gel-like substance on the inside; Simply add it to water, smoothies, shakes, and more. Or use the extracted aloe gel directly on the skin for convenient rejuvenation!

How Garden of Flavor Uses Aloe 

Our Lemon Ginger Energy Elixir is a high-protein cold-pressed juice with aloe that hydrates from the inside out while collagen supports muscles, skin, blood, bones, cartilage, and ligaments. We use only the inner filet of the Aloe to ensure minimal aloin. Our Energy Elixir also contains fresh, wild-caught marine collagen and 1 billion CFUs in living probiotic cultures! These ingredients are what truly make our “beauty elixir” so special!

Sources

1. “Aloe Vera.”National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Aug. 2020, https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera.
2. Dancer, Rebecca. “The Benefits of Using Aloe Vera for Skin Care & More.”Mindbodygreen, 7 Feb. 2022, https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7654/the-benefits-of-using-aloe-vera-for-skin-care-and-more.html#:~:text=%22The%20leaf%20of%20the%20aloe,retain%20moisture%20in%20the%20skin.%22.
3. Rath, Manasija. “Aloe Vera: Not Just for Sunburns.”Pennmedicine.org, 2 Aug. 2019, https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/august/aloe.
4. Surjushe, Amar, et al. “Aloe Vera: A Short Review.”Indian Journal of Dermatology, Medknow Publications, 2008, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/.
5. “Using Aloe Vera Has Multiple Benefits.”Baylor College of Medicine, 21 Mar. 2018, https://www.bcm.edu/news/benefits-using-aloe-vera.
6. “Why You Should Drink Aloe Vera Juice.”Cleveland Clinic, 18 Apr. 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-aloe-vera-drink/.