The health benefits you get from aloe vera are what place it on a pedestal. The thick stock stands out as a medicinal plant versatile in treating the body of different conditions. The plant contains mostly water, thereby making it a natural relief to the skin.
Furthermore, it operates in a simple, yet effective way in providing your body with nutrients and relief. If you are wondering what the health benefits of aloe vera are, then you are in the right place.
These are the possible things your body benefits from when using aloe vera.
1. Antioxidant Properties
Aloe vera is rich in antioxidants. Therefore, it increases the antioxidant level in your body. It fortifies the cells in the body with these properties, enhancing your body’s fight against bacteria and infections in the body.
Additionally, these antioxidant properties called polyphenols present in aloe vera gel help to strengthen the tissues in the body.
2. Provides Water to Dehydrated Body
You can boost the hydration of your level by adding to your skincare or diet. Aloe vera contains mostly water. Consequently, it provides the body with enough hydration to change the moisture balance.
This, in turn, improves your skin from dehydrated and scaling to smooth and plump.
3. Aloe Vera Helps to Relieve Constipation
Drinking aloe vera juice, for example, helps to relieve the body when constipated. Aloe vera’s skin contains a compound called anthraquinones. This compound contains natural laxative properties, which relieve the tight intestine.
This greatly improves bowel movements in the body. Therefore, seek the help of aloe vera juice for bowel relief.
4. Relieves Heartburn
If you experience heartburns or acid reflux, ingest aloe vera juice or supplements to reduce the acid activity in your esophagus. A study reveals that aloe vera gel reduces the heartburns caused by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and its severity.
5. Controls Blood Sugar
A study found that ingesting aloe vera helps to regulate the blood sugar in the system. If you are prediabetes or with type 2 diabetes, the gel or juice extract helps to lower the glucose in your system.
However, consuming too much will lower to a dangerous level. Therefore, use aloe vera judiciously.
6. Aids Digestion
Aloe vera also helps to improve digestion. People with gastrointestinal diseases can take aloe vera gel, juice, or supplement before eating to soothe the intestines. This makes it easy to digest your food.
In addition, it helps with the inflammation and irritable bowel experience. This prevents the intestines from flaring up due to food contents.
7. Provides Dental Care
You can use aloe vera juice or gel as a mouthwash to remove residue build-up in the gum. Aloe vera helps reduce the decay in the gum by plaques and other tooth decay.
Furthermore, it helps to soothe gum inflammation, keeping your mouth and teeth are healthy and bacteria-free.
8. Speeds Wound Healing
Aloe vera speeds wound healing in the body. The gel contains antioxidant properties that help in treating the skin and joining tissues together. This helps with improving the body’s chances of speedy wound healing without leaving a scar.
9. Helps With Weight Loss
Aloe vera helps to keep you fit and healthy by improving your weight loss journey. Adding aloe vera to your diet (drinking first thing in the morning before you eat) works to stabilize your body metabolism.
This enhances the conversion of fat to energy, which leads to weight loss. Furthermore, improving digestion and bowel movement means waste is disposed of appropriately in the body.
To improve weight loss, drink a teaspoon of aloe vera juice 15 minutes before your first meal to kick start the breaking down process.
10. Helps Lower Blood Pressure
Aloe vera also helps to reduce high blood pressure. A study shows that ingesting aloe vera supplements slowly reduced the effects of high blood conditions and complications in the blood vessels.
Health Benefits of Aloe Vera to the Skin
Aloe vera provides several health benefits to the skin, which include:
1. Reduces signs of aging
Aloe vera gel contains hydrating properties that plump the skin, thereby reducing wrinkles and fine lines. The gel also contains antioxidants that boost the strength of the skin’s lipid barrier and fights free radicals that cause premature aging.
You can use aloe vera to boost your skin’s youthful glow and smooth skin.
2. Treat acne
Aloe vera is commonly known to treat acne on the face. The component helps to reduce bacteria in the skin pores. Consequently, reducing breakout rate on the face.
SEE: Find Out Why Aloe Vera Helps Acne In More Ways Than One
3. Soothes scars and burns
Anti-inflammatory properties present in aloe vera help to reduce the effects of scars and burns like sunburn. Aloe vera gel treats sunburn and redness on the skin, returning the skin to its glossy and natural skin tone.
4. Hydrates the skin
Aloe vera is a humectant. That is, it draws moisture from its surroundings to hydrate the skin. Therefore, it helps to keep the skin constantly hydrated and supple.
SEE: Is Aloe Vera Good for Your Skin? See What It Works for Here
Health Benefits of Aloe Vera to Hair
While aloe vera cannot directly grow your hair, it can help by promoting hair growth. The health benefits of aloe vera to hair include conditioning hair strands to prevent dry, frizzy, and brittle hair.
In addition, aloe vera contains proteolytic enzymes, which are known to renew skin scalp by clearing off dead skin cells. Moreover, aloe vera promotes the overall health of your hair by reducing dandruff and increasing the natural shine of your strands.
It also improves blood flow on the scalp, which promotes faster hair growth. You can use aloe vera as a shampoo, conditioner, or styling ingredient to get faster hair results.
SEE: Aloe Vera as Hair Gel: 9 Benefits for an Attractive Mane
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you apply raw aloe vera gel to your face?
Yes, you can. You can apply aloe vera gel directly from the leaf to your face. The gel is safe enough to be applied to the face and skin.
To apply directly, cut the tip of your aloe vera leaf or slice a thin hole. Squeeze the leaf until the gel comes out. Then apply the gel directly to your cleansed face.
Does aloe vera gel go bad?
Yes, it does. Natural aloe leaf, when opened or cut from the plant, can last up to 27 hours. Meanwhile, refrigerated, the aloe vera leaf or gel lasts up to a week.
However, aloe vera products can last up to a year after opening. It has a long shelf life. Nonetheless, aloe vera gel does go bad, especially when not preserved or stored properly.
Can aloe vera lighten your skin?
Yes, it can. Aloe vera contains aloin, a compound that has been found to depigment the skin. You can use aloe vera to fade scars, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and blemishes on the face.
The gel works to improve your overall skin tone when applied regularly.
Can aloe vera cause diarrhea?
Yes, it can. Aloe vera can cause diarrhea when ingested too much. Consequently take enough (2-4 spoons, 3 times daily) aloe vera juice at a time.
If you are taking aloe vera supplements or powder, follow the prescribed dosage by manufacturers.
Conclusion
Aloe vera is a nutritious plant that boosts the hydration of your body. The health benefits of aloe vera span a wide area, including your hair and skin. You can get reduced blood pressure, regulated blood sugar, and even improvement in your weight loss.
The medicinal plant is great and has little to no effect on the body if you are not allergic to it. However, you might experience constipation when you take a high quantity of juice or gel.
Nonetheless, including this beneficial plant in your diet would go a long way in staying healthy and balanced. So you have nothing to lose if you add aloe vera to your diet.
Thanks for reading.
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