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Aloe Vera Juice: Health Benefits and How to Make It

By Categories: Nutrition & Food

Aloe vera juice.
Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Rosina-Sch

Aloe vera is a popular houseplant, but that's not its only use! Try making aloe vera juice and reap the benefits of this refreshing and healthy beverage.

You can use aloe vera on your face to treat sunburn and acne scars. Applying aloe vera to your hair is another popular use of this super-plant, but did you know that you can eat aloe vera and drink it too? Aloe vera contains nutritional benefits like vitamins C and B12, amino acids and minerals like zinc, potassium and calcium.

The most useful part of the aloe vera plant is the gel inside the leaves. This fresh-tasting gel can be eaten in salads, poached to go on top of your breakfast cereal or even stir-fried in a curry. This article focuses on how to make aloe vera juice.

Aloe Vera Juice Health Benefits

Aloe vera juice is full of health benefits.
Aloe vera juice is full of health benefits.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / SpencerWing)

While it may seem unusual, the benefits of drinking aloe vera juice speak for themselves. You can drink it straight or mix it into smoothies if you don’t like the taste. Some of the benefits of aloe vera include: 

  • Improved dental hygiene: Consuming aloe vera juice can improve oral health, and using it as a mouthwash can reduce plaque build-up.
  • Antioxidants: Drinking aloe vera juice regularly can boost the body’s antioxidant levels. This helps to target free radicals, which are connected to diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
  • Reduced blood sugar levels: A 2003 study found that aloe vera gel increased insulin sensitivity by lowering blood sugar levels.
  • Possibly better memory: Eating or drinking aloe vera juice may boost memory and reduce depression, according to a 2013 study on mice. 
  • A healthy alternative to fruit juice: Swap out sugary fruit juices with little-to-no fruit and start your day with a low-calorie, low-sugar option instead. 
  • Reduced heartburn: A small study completed in 2015 showed that it can alleviate some of the stomach acids that are responsible for causing heartburn. 
  • Boosted your immune system: This plant is packed full of vitamin C, which plays a vital role in maintaining your immune system and keeping you healthy. 

How to Make Aloe Vera Juice

Remove the skin to make juice from the inner gel.
Remove the skin to make juice from the inner gel.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / endriqstudio)

If you aren’t already growing aloe vera at home, you can find the leaves in the fresh produce section of most grocery stores. Just be sure to know how to store aloe vera leaf if you buy more than you need! To go from houseplant to a delicious and refreshing drink, follow this recipe for aloe vera juice. 

Ingredients:

  • ½ large aloe vera leaf
  • 2 juiced limes (optional)
  • 2 tbsp. natural sweetener
  • 4 cups water

Instructions:

  1. Carefully remove the skin of the aloe vera leaf using a sharp knife to reveal the gel inside. Aloe vera skin can be eaten — carefully wash the inside and chop and add to a salad, or blend into hummus.
  2. Thoroughly wash the gel to remove the yellow latex layer, which is not edible.
  3. Place in a food processor and add the lime juice, natural sweetener and water. Blend until smooth, or leave a few gel bits if desired.
  4. Serve over ice, if desired, add other fruit juices such as half a cup of lemon or pomegranate juice or two-thirds of a cup of pineapple juice. Refrigerate for up to one week.

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