Aloe vera to drink: benefits, use and how to do it



Aloe vera is one of the best known plants, studied and used in natural remedies. From the botanical point of view it was classified as Aloe barbadentis Miller, belonging to the Liliaceae family, as for other vegetables such as onions, garlics and asparagus, since it seemed to have an original bulb of birth.

Subsequently, instead, the botanical family became in its own right, called the Aloaceae, thanks to the recognition of its unique characteristics .

The use of aloe vera to drink

On the market we find aloe-based products in different forms: as a supplement in single dose tablets, powders, creams. However, the most effective remedy is the juice to drink, a drink based on aloe vera gel, usually indicated as a cold-pressed product from aloe gel and turned into 100% juice (cold stabilization process).

However, these aloe vera drinking products are not usually fresh products to keep in the fridge but long-life packaged products that usually have undergone pasteurization or the addition of additives and preservatives.

Reading the label is necessary to choose a good product: let's make sure that in the list of ingredients in the first place there is obviously aloe vera, without water and at most one or two preservatives (the best is citric acid).

Choosing to buy aloe vera juice from organic farming is another guarantee for having a high quality product.

The juice is obtained from the gel of aloe leaves and its intake is recommended on an empty stomach in the morning and even 30 minutes before meals, in doses of 20 ml of juice to a maximum of 60 ml per day.

When “ aloe vera juice ” is indicated on the product label, it therefore means that it is obtained by centrifugation of the whole leaf and subsequent chemical extraction of the aloin; instead the " aloe vera gel " is obtained by cutting the leaf and taking only the gel without aloin .

Aloin is the active ingredient with laxative action found in the rind of aloe leaves . The inside of the leaf where the gel is located therefore does not contain aloin. The effect of aloin is a high-dose laxative and a tonic for the intestine at low dosages.

Usually aloe purgative substances are removed or reduced in the liquid to drink to control the laxative effect.

How to prepare an aloe vera juice

The preparation of juice from aloe gel is a recipe that can also be done with the plant that we grow at home if we respect the process and are a little careful in cleaning and in the extraction process.

Collect the aloe leaves by cutting with a sharp knife at the base of the leaf. The healthiest leaves at the base of the plant are larger and easier to work with.

The leaves should be washed with water, rubbing and removing the earth and dust. Next, clean your hands thoroughly with a sanitizing detergent or put on gloves to avoid any contamination.

Cut one side of the leaf to the length and remove all the green and yellow parts, keeping only the transparent viscous gel that with a spoon will be sufficient to separate and immediately put into the blender .

The oxidation that takes place in contact with the air causes some beneficial substances to be lost, so the faster we work the better. In the blender we can add 100% citrus fruit juices and then we will activate the appliance until we obtain the juice of the desired homogeneity.

Aloe juice can be eaten fresh or stored in the refrigerator for up to 15 days in a glass jar, preferably dark, previously cleaned and sterilized.

Aloe vera gel is an effective remedy even against hemorrhoids

Aloe syrup

The gel extracted from the plant can also be used to prepare a syrup . Here are the doses:

> 300 grams of aloe gel,

> 500 grams of honey

> 4 tablespoons of an alcohol such as whiskey, rum or brandy.

We whisk it all and keep it in the fridge. It will have a much longer storage time and perhaps a more pleasant taste.

We remind you that home self-productions must be carried out knowing the procedures properly and taking great care to ensure the safety of the product. In particular, aloe has irritating or even toxic substances such as aloin found in the leaf that must be excluded from the preparation.

Aloe vera composition

Aloe vera contains numerous compounds, active substances and nutrients : it seems that there are more than 150, and all combine to give benefits to the whole human body.

Let's look at its composition in detail:

> vitamins : A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, folic acid (B9) and niancin (vit PP or vit B3);

> mineral salts : iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, chromium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, copper and zinc;

> numerous types of enzymes ;

> amino acids : 7 out of 8 essential amino acids are present and in addition other non-essential amino acids useful as bricks for the various functions;

> complex sugars called polysaccharides (glucomannans or mucus-polysaccharides);

> mucilage and organic acids : haloetic acid (antibiotic action), cinnamic acid (antiseptic and germicidal action), salicylic acid (anti-inflammatory) ;

> sterols and plant hormones .

Properties and benefits of aloe vera

Given its composition, its properties are innumerable and therefore connected to the many benefits brought to the whole organism, and are:

  1. Anti-aging of the skin and the body in general: it is an exceptional antioxidant that drastically reduces the harmful effect of free radicals. For this anti-aging function, it is necessary to take at least 50 ml of fresh juice daily and, if necessary, also the regular use of cosmetic products containing aloe gel directly for topical use.
  2. Antibiotic and antibacterial : thanks to the presence of anthraquinone glycosides such as aloeine and haloetic acid, we will have an antibiotic, bactericidal and germicidal action: in synergy they become capable of a strong antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral capacity. Numerous studies show that aloe vera is active against bacteria, fungi and viruses: taken daily, the juice creates an unfavorable soil for any microbiological attack, even if the targeted use of drinkable juice at the time of need is always a good remedy of emergency. There are products such as disinfectant creams and antibiotics for topical use.
  3. Immunomodulators : its active ingredients strengthen the immune system.
  4. Anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation, especially of muscle tissue and joints.
  5. Depurating and detoxifying : its mixture of components is able to regulate the functionality of the organism and helps to eliminate waste and harmful substances from the body.
  6. Healing : due to its activity of stimulating epithelial cell precursor fibroblasts, it is useful both externally and for internal lesions and ulcerations of the tract from the esophagus and all the stomatal, intestinal and excretory mucosa. In case of burns it is refreshing and helps a lot to relieve pain and regenerate epithelial tissue.
  7. Digestive and beneficial for the intestine : thanks to the presence of mucopolysaccharides, it promotes intestinal motility and activates the lazy intestine. It is not a purgative, but a facilitator that normalizes the bacterial flora, relieves inflammation of the intestinal mucous membranes and improves the activity of the colon and pancreas, regulates the pH of the stomach and intestines and reduces internal putrefaction.

Discover all the cosmetic uses of aloe vera gel

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