Aloe Vera Water: Benefits & Safety + How To Make Your Own

There are many aloe plants, but only aloe vera can benefit you inside and out! Aloe vera is an edible plant that can be found all over the globe despite being a native of the Arabian Peninsula. This shrubby, prickly plant has been cultivated for its calming gel for thousands of years and comes from the genus aloe.

Aloe vera gel has health benefits beyond simply treating skin problems. If you mix the gel with water, it produces a refreshing drink that can help with digestive problems like constipation, and it also helps to keep blood sugar under control.

But is aloe vera juice as good as people say it is? Find out more about drinking aloe vera by reading on.

Aloe Vera Water: Nutrition

Pure aloe vera juice can help with nutrition, reduce symptoms of acid reflux, fight free radicals, and kill bacteria. Aloe vera juice is good for your health because it contains more than 200 active ingredients from the plant, which have several health benefits. These ingredients include anthraquinones, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, natural sugars, and fatty acids.

A single 8-ounce aloe vera juice contains only about 20 calories and almost no carbohydrates. There is no fat or protein. In addition, aloe vera juice contains magnesium, calcium, and beta-carotene.

Of course, we are talking here about pure aloe vera juice-the kind you make yourself at home. Many commercial brands of aloe vera juice have added sugar to make them taste less bitter. This can easily increase the number of calories by anything from between 70 to 130. So always check the label to see how much sugar is in your drink. Some might even have the same amount of sugar as a regular soda.

Aloe vera juice is often sold as a remedy to help keep you regular and to improve your digestive system. It might also be sold as an anti-inflammatory for the skin or to lower blood sugar levels. For health-conscious people, aloe vera juice is an excellent alternative to sugary drinks and fruit juices.

Studies on the Health benefits of Aloe Vera Juice

Some research has been done to help figure out what kinds of health issues aloe vera juice might help with. But keep in mind that aloe vera juice is not an official treatment for the conditions listed below, and it may not even help some people with their symptoms. Always consult your doctor or a nurse so that they can figure out the best treatments for you as an individual.

Fatigue and Tiredness

The vitamin C in aloe vera juice helps boost your immune system to fight off illnesses, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help combat fatigue and tiredness.

Digestive Health Conditions

The gel and juice from the aloe vera plant contain fatty acids that help keep the colon, small intestine, and stomach running smoothly. This has been linked to better digestion. Drinking aloe vera juice and aloe vera syrup might also help with chronic irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux. A meta-analysis found that people with IBS improved considerably when they took an aloe vera juice drink as opposed to those who only took a placebo.

Laxative Effects

It is long known that aloe vera has a laxative effect (which helps with constipation), and this is because of the outer pulp of the aloe leaves, known as latex. This is the part of the plant where the anthraquinones called aloin are found. These are probably what cause the laxative effect. If you want a juice that can help relieve constipation and act as a mild laxative, look for one made from aloe vera gel and latex, often called “whole leaf.” Always read the labels or ask your pharmacist to be sure.

Heartburn

In a randomized, controlled research of 79 people, those who took aloe vera juice once a day had similar relief from heartburn symptoms as those who took prescription heartburn drugs.

Skin Conditions and Reduced Inflammation

Studies show that aloe vera may help heal epithelial tissues and skin after they have been damaged. In addition, the aloin in aloe has been shown to reduce inflammation, which is another way that aloe is good for the skin. But bear in mind that most of the studies on the benefits of aloe vera for the skin have been done on the exterior application of aloe vera. This is because we need to learn more about what happens to the skin when you drink aloe vera water.

Diabetes

Studies done in the past found some evidence that aloe vera juice may help people with Type 2 diabetes lower their high blood sugar and cholesterol levels. However, it should be noted that no randomized clinical trials have been done to confirm these benefits on diabetes and that these studies were performed on animals or were simply observational. One systematic review from 2016 found that aloe vera may help control blood sugar, but the evidence isn’t strong enough to claim these benefits altogether. More research is needed before any recommendations can be made.

What Is the Right Amount of Aloe Vera Water to Drink?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aloe vera as an ingredient in food, but food-grade aloe vera has not been tested as a medicine or treatment. In other words, aloe vera juice is not regulated, and when you buy it, you cannot necessarily be certain of its strength, purity, or safety. Of course, this makes it hard to figure out how much aloe gel, latex, or aloin you should take since each bottle may have a different amount of each. The food industry has set a limit of 10 parts per million (ppm) for the amount of aloin that may be present in aloe products that are meant to be consumed, like aloe juice. However, the amount of aloin in a product does not have to be listed on the label.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences says there is very little information about how much aloin is present in aloe vera products. Still, most liquids have less than one ppm. Unfortunately, this also makes it hard to know how much to drink to keep you regular.

Make and Drink Aloe Vera Juice at Home in Minutes

We’ve put together this quick guide on making your aloe vera juice. It’s super easy, and you don’t need fancy equipment or ingredients.

Aloe Water Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 large aloe vera leaf
Two limes, juiced (optional)
4 cups of water

Directions:

1. Make a slit through the middle of a big aloe vera leaf.
2. Use a sharp knife to remove the skin gently. Take care when doing this since the aloe leaf will become slick when wet. Discard the peeled skin.
3. To mitigate some of the astringency of the aloe gel on the remaining pulp, give it a quick rinse.
4. Put the aloe vera into a blender once it has been peeled and cleaned. Add the freshly filtered water, lime juice, and any sweetener you want.
5. Create a juice by combining the water and aloe in a blender. 

Based on test-tube research, it is believed that the aloe plant has anti-inflammatory properties. These anti-inflammatory properties are linked to polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that fights free radicals and improves skin condition.

What Problems Can Aloe Vera Juice Cause?

Since aloe juice makes you go to the bathroom more regularly, you should only drink a little of it all at a time. Drinking too much could hurt your stomach, and a lot of it could be bad for the kidneys.

One study that examined the effects of aloe found that drinking too much aloe juice can cause diarrhea, low potassium levels, kidney failure, and sensitive skin reactions. However, aloe vera juice in small amounts is probably safe to drink. On the other hand, the International Agency for Research on Cancer with the World Health Organisation says that aloe vera whole leaf extract might be linked to cancer.

The FDA says it is no longer generally accepted that taking aloe supplements as a laxative is safe and works. Although one should bear in mind that this ruling was linked to oral medication, where the quantities are different than what is found in aloe vera juice.

So, before you use aloe juice as your go-to laxative supplement, remember to talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Homemade vs. Bottled Aloe Vera Juice

Recently, flavored aloe vera juice has become all the rage. As a result, a broad array of pre-made options for aloe vera juice have begun appearing on the shelves of grocery stores and pharmacies. But before you go and buy that aloe vera juice in a bottle, make sure you check the list of contents first. The word “aloe vera juice” conjures up images of a transparent fluid drawn straight from the rich source of some pristine garden, but in reality, this is generally not the case. The water in aloe vera juice is taken directly from a municipal water supply, the same as the water that comes out of your tap.

When it comes to aloe vera juice, those bottles may also contain too much sodium, sugar, or artificial sweeteners to be considered healthy options for someone battling kidney disease.

The good news is that making your own aloe vera juice at home is one of the easiest things you can do. You’ll be able to enjoy every bit of flavor and all the health benefits without having to worry about extra sodium or sugar!

Who Shouldn’t Drink Aloe Vera Water?

During pregnancy, it’s not a good idea to drink aloe vera juice. Some studies suggest that aloe may cause the uterus to contract, leading to early labor or a miscarriage. People who are breastfeeding should also stay away from aloe because the aloin in it can make babies sick.

Aloe may aggravate hemorrhoids, so you should avoid using it if you have piles. People with kidney problems should also avoid aloe vera.

Aloe vera may also interact badly with some medicines for heart disease and diabetes. Before taking aloe vera, talk to your healthcare professional to ensure it won’t interact with other drugs.

FAQ

What Does Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice Do?

Lily of the Desert aloe vera juice is a great way to boost your body’s natural defenses and optimize your digestion, as it’s produced from certified organic aloe leaves. It can also help with nutrition and boost your immunity.

How Can You Tell if the aloe vera in a commercial product is natural?

Natural aloe vera will have a slightly yellow or translucent gold tint. It shouldn’t be bright green or transparent. Pure aloe vera should also have an earthy and garlicky scent that isn’t overpowering or has chemical overtones.

Conclusion

Aloe vera supplements used to be popular as a laxative, but the FDA says that this supplement is now not generally recognized as safe and effective. People now use low doses of aloe vera found in juice to help them stay regular. However, too much aloe vera juice can cause diarrhea and stomach pain, so take it easy.

Lastly, remember that the aloe vera products you put on your skin and those you eat are not the same. Do not consume aloe vera gel which is formulated for external application on your skin. Make sure the juice is safe to drink if you want to use it.