Aloe Vera is a green, partly thorny herb that has been used as medicine for thousands of years. It has a thick, short stem and stores water inside its fleshy leaves. The plant grows to around 12-19 inches in length and is widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and natural food industries. The internal gel contains bio-active compounds including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids which help treat injured skin. The health benefits of Aloe Vera are numerous.
Top 6 health benefits of Aloe Vera
Check out these top 6 health benefits of Aloe Vera.
- Prevents dental plaque and tooth decay
- Treats constipation
- Improves skin tone, elasticity, and complexion
- Improves immunity function
- Prevents the growth of cancerous cells
- Protects the heart from cholesterol buildup
1. Prevents dental plaque and tooth decay
Aloe offers a great option for daily mouthwash, apart from improving the health of mucosal membranes found inside your mouth it also repels ineffective bacteria while supporting the friendly ones. Moreover, researchers recently found that aloe has significant effects in reducing gingivitis and plaque compared to chlorhexidine dental washes. Unlike chemical-based mouthwashes, it does not kill good bacteria leaving the mouth susceptible to infections caused by new microorganisms. Likewise, it will not cause common chlorhexidine side effects such as redness, burning, blistering, oral rash, and irritation.
2. Treats constipation
Constipation is an uncomfortable bowel condition that occurs when stool takes too long to pass through the large intestines, causing slow rates of digestion and discomfort. These issues include the inability to defecate normally, colitis, nausea, and abdominal ache among others. Some common factors that induce this illness are not taking sufficient amounts of liquids, dietary fiber absence, hormonal changes, and excessive laxative usage. Aloe Vera’s sticky yellow latex found beneath the leaf has lots of barbaloin/aloin compounds, which have been proven to contain laxative effects. It’s a highly effective remedy that can empty your intestines naturally without having to use any artificial substances.
For the best results, always prepare it adequately before consuming. Rinse your plant in cold water and cut into two halves using a sharp knife, then remove its thorny edges. Follow this by extracting the internal transparent gel that contains most laxative ingredients, and place inside a blender for some few minutes to mix.
3. Improves skin tone, elasticity, and complexion
Aloe Vera has numerous medicinal and cosmetic properties that are beneficial to the skin, it’s effective in soothing up the dermis and preventing inflammation. Though it can be consumed as food, most people prefer applying it topically for direct effects that come from the more than 18 different amino acids found inside the plant.
Sunburn is one of the most common conditions that affects people, it’s caused by excess exposure to sunrays which consequently results in inflammation, puffiness and skin cracks. Aloe gives immediate cooling effect to these symptoms as it forms a protective coat that shields in moisture, consequently preventing dehydration and promoting faster healing. In one clinical test where more than 20 women aged 45yrs were sampled, direct hand application of aloe gel increased collagen production and overall skin suppleness over a 90-days duration. It also reduced erythema or redness of skin which is another symptom of sunburn. Furthermore, it helps counteract infection that usually causes acne while also stimulating new cell growth and healing scars. Aloe is also considered a powerful skin cleanser with pain inhibitors, astringents, antibiotics and coagulating agents. Plus there’s a little evidence it can heal chronic skin conditions like radiation dermatitis and psoriasis.
Aloe helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles by improving skin buoyancy, it also has anti-oxidants that prevent free radicals from destroying the dermis. When your face gets constantly exposed to sunshine free radicals also get triggered, antioxidants found in this plant help neutralize the harmful reactions caused by free radicals. Something that protects against and reduces appearance of creases on the face.
4. Improves immunity function
Aloe Vera has numerous anti-inflammatory properties all thanks to its rich supply of fatty acids, applying it regularly on the skin can prevent swelling which is often caused by immune system dysfunction, or even injury. The product also acts as a cellular regenerator with numerous anti-bacterial & anti-fungal effects, these properties make the plant one of nature’s healthiest foods serving multiple medicinal roles.
Most drinks made from aloe extracts have detoxifying agents that work well in cleansing both the circulatory and digestive system. As absorption rates of nutrients increase, it fosters better blood circulation as well as improve the body’s nutritional composition within cells. When the blood has sufficient oxygen supply, it automatically delivers nutrients within the tissues more proficiently. This results in healthy cells that ensure infections are warded off, hence strengthening the immune function. Aloe also has the ability to neutralize dangerous bacteria, its revitalizing properties work inside the body to refresh it up and keep active all through the day. Studies show that these particular antitumor and immunomodulatory effects are because of active Aloe Vera polysaccharides.
5. Prevents the growth of cancerous cells
Regular consumption of Aloe Vera helps prevent tumors that can otherwise be fatal when they spread to vital body organs, it contains macrophages with high amounts of nitric oxide which have anti-tumor properties. In naturopathy treatment, there are many methods of cancer inhibition though Aloe-based method has constantly been proven as the most effective.
Some experts have also pointed out that it works better when used together with other natural products like spirulina, lemon and cat’s claw herb. Always start your cancer treatment by consulting with a physician or medical expert. The gel is also rich in various vitamins like B1, B2, B12, B6, A, C and E, including folic and niacin acids. These nutrients are necessary for proper body functioning, they also keep the internal self-defense system intact so as to prevent dangerous effects of oxidative stress such as cancer.
6. Protects the heart from cholesterol buildup
When lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol becomes too much in the bloodstream, they clog arteries and cause rapture of vessels found around the heart. Aloe contains a unique ingredient called B-sitosterol which blocks fat absorption inside the body. Accompanying the food with a low calorie diet will also help cleanse and detoxify the blood, reducing the risk of developing plaques that usually form when the blood is contaminated by foreign objects. Aloe Vera juice also has lots of B-sitosterol compounds which block cholesterol absorption inside the body. Furthermore, according to research aloe is a powerful immuno-stimulant that fights off infection.
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