Although studies on other varieties of aloe vera may provide clues, health specialists claim that there is a dearth of scientific study.
Aloe vera liquid usually includes citric acid and gel, whether it contains latex or not.
Although green juice is a classic trend in the health industry, aloe vera juice is also becoming increasingly popular. With more than 19.9 million (M) views on TikTok, its related hashtag, #aloeverajuice, has users saying that drinking 1 to 2 ounces (oz) of the green liquid twice daily helps with digestion and encourages a clean skin. After just over a week, she stated in a film by Bria Lemirande (1.2M followers), her complexion had cleared up, and her digestive system had “never been better.”
Since then, many TikTokers, including Sophie Bohenko (4K followers) and Momo Vimolchalao, have pledged to sample the green juice for a week. (20.6K followers). However, opinions on the beverage are conflicting. Bohenko stated in a video update on March 22 that although she did not observe a significant change, her digestion had improved and her complexion was clear. Vimolchalao, on the other hand, revealed in her March 23 video update that the drink significantly reduced her psoriasis symptoms. Marianna Moore (386.8K followers), however, is worried that the movement fails to take into consideration specific digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome. (IBS).
What you should know about aloe vera juice, including how much health professionals advise you ingest and who they say would be better off avoiding it, is provided below.
What Is Aloe Vera Juice?
Aloe vera juice usually contains citric acid, a substance that is naturally present in citrus products, as well as either gel (from the interior leaf) or latex and gel (from the entire leaf).
According to Daniel Allen Okamoto, MD, a specialist in integrative medicine at the University of California in Davis, the gel includes phytonutrients that give aloe vera its anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial qualities. A research released in January 2022 in Molecular Biology Reports discovered that the latex present in whole leaf juices, however, includes an anthraquinone called aloin that promotes a laxative impact on the body and can place users at risk for purgative symptoms like diarrhea.
According to the International Aloe Science Council, whole leaf aloe liquid is purified numerous times until 99.9 percent of the anthraquinone that causes diarrhoea is removed. While the filtering process avoids the latex by concentrating on the inside of the leaf, “inner leaf” juice may have little to no aloin to begin with. The majority of commercial goods, including Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice, which is available in inner and whole leaf versions, state that a serving amount is between one and two ounces, and that a daily maximum of eight ounces is safe to consume.
Does Aloe Vera Juice Provide Health Benefits?
Research on aloe vera liquid particularly is scarce. Though the number of studies is small, according to Dr. Okamoto, study on the impacts of consuming aloe vera gel may provide some answers.
As long as aloe juice doesn’t have a lot of additional sugar, it is fair to assume that it might have some health advantages. Okamoto isn’t aware of any convincing studies demonstrating that consuming aloe vera gel would have the same positive effects as using it directly in relation to the alleged skin advantages of aloe vera juice. On the basis of research on other aloe vera varieties, however, it is feasible to deduce that there may be crossover advantages, just as with the gel.
Potential Benefits of Other Types of Aloe Vera
For instance, one research discovered that women over 45 who consumed aloe vera gel concentrate and water for 90 days experienced improvements in wrinkles, skin elasticity, and collagen formation.
According to prior study, the plant is well known for its anti-inflammatory qualities, which when applied directly to the skin, such as after a sunburn, can help reduce redness and puffiness. Similar anti-inflammatory effects were observed in a trial in which rodents were administered aloe gel orally daily, and the gel also raised the production of the antibody required to combat chronic skin diseases. Human trials are still required to demonstrate whether or not humans can benefit from these supplements in the same ways.
In a trial of 44 individuals with mild to severe ulcerative colitis, it was discovered that consuming aloe vera gel orally twice daily for four weeks resulted in less disease activity. Aloe vera drink may “cool off” the walls of an inflamed digestive system, such as in instances of heartburn, ulcers, gastritis, or colitis, according to Austin, Texas-based registered dietitian and stomach expert Jenna Volpe. However, there is a dearth of study that supports these findings. Consuming the juice in moderation is essential for any intended possible advantage. Since aloe vera can relax the bowels and induce diarrhea, consuming more than a spoonful of [whole leaf] aloe vera liquid at once may have a laxative impact.
Health Risks of Aloe Vera Juice
Overall, the polymer seems to be less dangerous than latex or whole leaf [juice] formulas, according to Okamoto.
According to the book Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, large doses of the latex-like laxative component in whole leaf aloe vera juice are linked to electrolyte changes and gastrointestinal disruptions like stomach discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea. Additionally, it might be problematic for those who have renal problems. Though more research is required in people, the plant has been associated with renal failure and may be a toxic carcinogen in animals. An oral aloe vera whole leaf preparation was found to cause carcinogenic effects in rodents in one research, but there is no information on the gel of the interior leaf.
Volpe cautions that renal health is impacted by electrolyte abnormalities, such as abnormal potassium levels. She cautions against consuming aloe vera juice if you have kidney disease (or another illness that is affected by potassium). According to the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed all laxative goods containing aloe in 2002 due to safety issues. (NIH). According to Volpe, individuals with IBS or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) should avoid aloe juice due to the product’s high polysaccharide content, which could exacerbate stomach symptoms like gas or bloating.
Some medicines may not work well with the drink. “Working with a healthcare provider with experience in these supplements can be helpful because of the complexities of phytonutrients,” adds Okamoto. “These providers can potentially warn you of any contraindications or potential drug-supplement interactions and help you identify a high-quality supplement.”
Sevoflurane, an anesthetic, is one example of a drug that may not combine well with aloe vera liquid, according to Gutschow. Due to the interplay between sevoflurane and aloe gel, excessive bleeding during operation may result from using aloe gel. According to a case study of a lady who routinely took aloe vera for leg discomfort and lost five liters of blood in operation, the aloe components have negative effects on the sevoflurane when taken orally, raising the risk of hemorrhage. Last but not least, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises against consuming aloe vera liquid in gel or latex form if you are expectant or nursing.
Takeaway: Is Aloe Vera a Worthwhile Wellness Trend?
While there is a dearth of high-quality study on aloe vera juice that has been released, taking aloe vera gel (or inner leaf aloe vera juice) occasionally could have some advantages. According to Okamoto, the absence of proof is not always indicative of a lack of advantage. “In some cases, a plant nutrient’s advantage is derived from centuries of therapeutic use in traditional medical procedures.” Aloe should be used for therapeutic and secure purposes, but when, how, and by whom have not yet been determined by scientific study. Okamoto cites the following safety categories from the natural medicines catalog as examples of what is currently known. This database is a web-based instrument that takes into consideration recent scientific findings and contains recommendations used by practitioners to assess the security of complementary and integrative therapies, including components like aloe vera:
- Aloe gel (found in inner leaf) used topically is likely safe
- Aloe gel used orally is possibly safe
- Aloe latex (found in whole leaf) used orally is possibly unsafe
- Aloe latex used orally in high doses is likely unsafe
Nevertheless, not everyone should (or should consume this beverage). Before consuming it, discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of aloe vera juice with your healthcare team if you’re managing an underlying medical condition, particularly if you’re taking any medications.
