Benefits of Alo VeraAloe Vera is one of
those trendy little herbal treatments that is really popular these
days. I’ve been using lotions and creams containing aloe vera to
treat sun burns and minor scrapes, and also just to moisturize dry
skin. As it has become increasingly popular for use internally, I’ve
begun to wonder about the beneifits of aloe vera juice as a drink.
So what are the benefits of aloe vera juice inside the body?
Doing a quick search through various sites online you’ll discover
that the benefits of aloe vera juice range from a boosted immune
system, avoiding cancer, longer life span, more youthful
complexions, and a host of other rather extreme claims. If you look
a little further you may discover some more reputable sites with
more reasonable discussions on the benefits of aloe vera juice.
Unfortunately, it appears that there haven’t been a lot of
reasonable scientific studies done on the benefits of aloe vera
juice. The only clear proven beneficial use to date is as a laxative
because it is a rather harsh purgative, though it is rarely marketed
as such. Some studies have indicated that it can actually increase
risk for cancer if used regularly as a laxative. It is unclear what
other side effects aloe vera juice may have, and is therefore not a
good idea for use in pregnant women.
So even though the benefits of aloe vera juice are exalted by
hosts of different sites around the internet, you’ll quickly notice
that its always the ones that are trying to sell you something that
make these claims. One of my favorite claims that I came across was
one that said something like ‘because aloe vera juice is 100 percent
natural, it is completely safe and you can drink as much as you
like’. That may be one of the most absurd things I’ve ever read
online to date. The most deadly and toxic substances known today are
completely natural. This is especially funny (in a bad way) because
one health site I visited suggested that excessive aloe vera juice
can induce nausea and vomiting, so clearly its probably not safe to
drink lots of it.
In my opinion, the benefits of aloe vera juice don’t weigh up to
the possible side effects and potential risks. There are plenty of
other proven safe and milder laxatives out there, and plenty of
other ways to take good care of your body without ingesting
something that hasn’t been studied very well.
