You may remember growing up with an aloe vera plant in your home, a common houseplant that has traditionally been used as a topical aid to help alleviate pain. An accidental fall or burn resulted in your parents breaking off a piece of the aloe leaf from the plant and squeezing the soothing gel onto your skin. More recently aloe vera has been touted to support skin health in the form of beauty masks, skin moisturizers and even hand sanitizer. But did you know that ingestion of aloe vera has also been shown to help support regularity and digestive health1?
What are the benefits of aloe vera?
Digestive Health. Aloe vera contains enzymes such as amylase, which breaks down starches (complex carbohydrates), and lipase, which helps to break down lipids (fats) from the food you consume. It also contains vitamins such as vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E and folic acid to help support overall health and wellness. Consuming adequate vitamins, nutrients and minerals helps your body to perform at its optimal level.1
Regularity. Aloe vera juice products can help support regularity. The juice within the inner fillet of the aloe vera leaf works in conjunction with natural prebiotics to help promote gut health. Prebiotics are a special fiber that act as food for probiotics in the gut. Probiotics are the bacteria that live in your gastrointestinal tract and help break down the nutrients in your food. When aloe juice is taken in conjunction with fiber, they work together to help support digestive health.1*
Antioxidant Activity. A research study demonstrated that aloe vera can enhance the bioavailability of certain vitamins. In the referenced study, when aloe vera juice was co-ingested with vitamin C or vitamin E the aloe vera increased the bioavailability for both compounds. Aloe vera also contains polyphenols which are special antioxidants that are only found in plants. In general, polyphenols help support overall wellness.2
Oral health. Interestingly, aloe vera has been shown to support oral health. In a mouth rinse study of 300 participants given mouthwash or an aloe vera juice rinse for four days, aloe vera juice was shown to be just as effective at reducing dental plaque buildup as regular mouthwash. Digestive health starts in your mouth, which can be one of the early indicators of overall health and show signs of nutritional deficiencies or general infection before they appear in other parts of the body.3
In conclusion, Aloe vera has many health benefits including support for skin, immune and digestive health. How will aloe vera fit into your healthy lifestyle routine?
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References:
1. Foster M, Hunter D, Samman S. Evaluation of the Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Aloe vera. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 3. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92765/
2. Vinson, J., Al Kharrat, H., & Andreoli, L. (2005). Effect of Aloe vera preparations on the human bioavailability of vitamins C and E. Phytomedicine, 12(10), 760-765. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2003.12.013
3. Gupta, R. K., Gupta, D., Bhaskar, D. J., Yadav, A., Obaid, K., & Mishra, S. (2014). Preliminary antiplaque efficacy of aloe vera mouthwash on 4 day plaque re-growth model: randomized control trial. Ethiopian journal of health sciences, 24(2), 139–144. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v24i2.6
Lauren Horton, PhD.
Dr. Lauren Horton is passionate about moving patient care forward through research. As a Division Research Director, she is at the forefront of groundbreaking studies and innovation. Her dedication to advancing knowledge and solving complex problems has led to her pivotal role in shaping the future of patient care in the healthcare industry.
Dr. Horton leverages her deep insights and knack for communicating complex ideas in an accessible way to educate and engage a global audience. In her spare time, she is an avid advocate for health and wellness, dedicated to making a positive impact on the world. She believes that knowledge is a powerful tool for change and strives to empower others with the information and inspiration needed to effect meaningful transformation.
Dr. Horton loves to help improve the quality of life of those around her. She has helped men and women from all over the country discover how small steps each day can lead to huge strides towards living a healthier lifestyle.
Dr. Horton holds a BS in biology from Rust College, a MS in health economics and outcomes research from Xavier University and a PhD in biomedical science from Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her post-doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania.