Anyone who has used the app knows that the TikTok algorithm can understand you better than yourself. My For You page has called out my character traits, identified my weird habits, and presented tarot card readings that are just a little bit too accurate for my comfort. As a self-identified hot girl with stomach issues, many gut-health influencers have naturally appeared on my FYP. Recently, I have noticed a trend to prevent bloating popping up everywhere: drinking aloe vera juice.
Now, my first thought was, “How do you even get drinkable juice out of aloe plants?” My mind was haunted by the years of slathering aloe gel to heal a sunburn. That gel could not be the answer to all my stomach problems, right? So, I have taken it upon myself to look into the science behind it all and truly learn if aloe is my missing superfood. In my research, I have learned that the benefits of aloe juice are much greater than I originally thought. In this article, I am going to walk you through these benefits, as well as explain the reasoning behind them.
To start off, here is a list of some of the major health benefits to aloe vera, in addition to the known topical advantages of gels and lotions:
- Improves blood circulation
- Strengthens immune system
- Helps to heal bones, joints, and internal tissue damage
- Regulates blood sugar levels
- Relieves constipation
- Aids digestion
When taken daily in doses of 2 to 4 ounces, aloe vera juice can aid digestion by cleaning and detoxifying your GI tract. There are a couple of reasons behind all of these benefits. First, aloe vera contains many essential vitamins and minerals. These include vitamins A, C, and E, magnesium, iron, calcium, and more. The presence of vitamin C is what helps increase immunity; aloe vera is considered an adaptogen, meaning it helps your body to prevent infection and defend your internal systems.
Aloe vera has also been proven to cure and prevent a number of diseases. This includes diabetes, anemia, and jaundice. This is likely due to its ability to regulate blood sugar, as well as the high amounts of iron present in the plant. Because aloe vera helps detoxify your digestive tract, consuming the juice can help with issues related to your hormones, spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Now, for the topic we have all been waiting for, how does aloe help my hot girl stomach problems. As mentioned earlier, aloe is anti-inflammatory due to the concentration of compounds such as bradykinase, salicylic acid, and C-glucosyl chromone. These all work to treat inflammatory bowel issues. On top of this, aloe also contains a number of plant sterols, fatty acids similar to cholesterol found in plants. The three main ones prevent acid reflux, as well as decrease allergy symptoms. These sterols can be especially helpful if you are sensitive to a food group, such as gluten or dairy.
The best way to incorporate aloe vera juice into your daily life is to consume two to four ounces in the morning. This gives the aloe vera the opportunity to flush out any toxins existing in your body. That being said, aloe is a mild laxative (one of its benefits!) so be sure to drink it on an empty stomach. I personally do not like the taste so I would recommend diluting the juice with water to make it more palatable.
Aloe vera juice will not be a cure or magical potion for everyone. But, if you are looking for something new to incorporate into your life to aid your stomach, then definitely try it out! It’s easily ordered online and is available at Trader Joe’s, for sure.
Featured image courtesy of Siriporn Kaenseeya / Getty Images