Top 10 health benefits of aloe vera

Aloe vera is a popular herbal plant used for thousands of years for its healing and medicinal properties. Aloe vera is known to have a wide range of health benefits from helping digestive issues to healing infections.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of aloe vera:

1. Cardiovascular health:

According to researchers, aloe vera plant can help to improve cardiovascular health and lower the level of cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The high content of vitamin C in aloe vera can help to lower the blood pressure, improve circulation and strengthen the arteries and veins. Studies suggest that aloe vera can reduce the occurrence of chest pain attacks.

2. Beneficial for diabetes:

According to researchers, aloe vera can help to regulate blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Other studies suggest that aloe vera can significantly lower the blood sugar levels in diabetics and should be considered an anti-diabetic agent in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes.

3. Powerful source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants:

Aloe vera is an amazing herb high in minerals (such as zinc, chromium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese, sodium, and calcium), vitamins (including vitamins A, C, E, folic acid, B vitamins, in particular B12), 20 different amino acids, and fatty acids such as linolenic, myristic, caprylic, oleic, palmitic, and linoleic. The antioxidants in aloe vera have powerful anti-aging properties. 

4. Natural antiseptic, antibacterial, and antiviral:

The powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic compounds in aloe vera can help to fight infections, fungi, and bacteria. According to researchers, Aloe vera gel is an effective remedy in fighting against bacteria and infections.

5. Helping to heal cuts, wounds, and burns

Aloe vera is an excellent remedy for treating minor cuts, wounds, and burns. The antibacterial properties in aloe vera can help to fight infections and the anti-inflammatory properties in aloe can help to reduce swelling. Aloe has also cooling and anti-itching properties.

6. Improving digestive issues, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers and Crohn's disease:

The active ingredient in aloe vera known as Polysaccharides can help to fight digestive issues and inflammatory bowel disease. Studies suggest that aloe vera can be superior to the drug placebo for treating ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

7. Reducing inflammation and helping arthritis:

According to researchers, the natural antioxidant in aloe vera can help to fight inflammation and improve arthritis pain. People with psoriatic arthritis are mainly affected by inflammation in their joints and studies suggest that anti-inflammatory agents in aloe can help to fight against arthritis.  

8. Boosting immune system and fighting cancer cells:

According to researchers, “the aloe-emodin (AE), a hydroxyanthraquinone present in Aloe vera leaves, has a specific in vitroand in vivo antineuroectodermal tumor activity”. Researchers suggest that aloe-emodin is an anticancer agent and can help to fight against the growth of cancer cells. Studies show that the polysaccharides in aloe vera can help to boost the immune system and help patients with HIV positive.

9. Natural skincare:

Aloe vera is an amazing plant for skincare and the potent antioxidants in aloe vera can help to fight against aging and damage of free radicals. Aloe vera is a great alternative to skincare products that have tons of harsh ingredients and toxic chemicals. Aloe vera can be used as a makeup remover, natural sunscreen, shaving cream, face wash, moisturizer and a great hand sanitizer.

10. A great way to detox and lose weight:

Aloe vera is a great detox and can help to fight obesity and improve weight loss. According to researchers, obese people with diabetes or pre-diabetes who took aloe vera supplements lost weight compared to others. Keep in mind that aloe has laxative effect and taking too much aloe vera may result in weight loss, but could also result in imbalances in your body’s electrolytes and lead to fatigue, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks or muscle weakness.

Cautions while taking aloe vera:

• >> Pregnant women shouldn’t consume aloe vera
• >> Taking too much aloe vera can result in imbalances in the body’s electrolytes and lead to diarrhea and cramps
• >> The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggests that aloe vera juice is a probable carcinogen due to high levels of aloins and could result in intestinal cancer. However, other studies have suggested that purification by decolorization removes the toxic compounds in aloe vera related to digestive irritation and other related health concerns.
• >> According to Devon Powell, the executive director of the International Aloe Science Council (IASC), “Decolorized (or purified) whole leaf aloe vera juice is devoid of toxic chemicals that have caused so much concerns, yet CSPI seems willing to make uninformed and sensational comments that will only serve to confuse and frighten consumers despite the facts” [Source].
• >> Bottom line, if you decided to use aloe vera make sure you buy the purified aloe products.