The aloe vera plant is a powerhouse of nutrients and medicinal benefits. It contains 20 types of amino acids, 12 anthraquinones, 12 vitamins, 8 enzymes, 20 minerals, 4 plant sterols, as well as saponins, salicylic acid, and lignins.
That’s a lot of nutrients inside those juicy leaves!
We’re looking at the top benefits of aloe vera for gut health to see how these nutrients help the digestive system.
Nutrient absorption
They say ‘you are what you eat’. But actually, you are what your digestive system can absorb.
Over time, our intestines become clogged and sluggish from our modern-day diets. If there are any clogged areas of the intestines, it stops nutrients from being absorbed properly.
When taken internally, aloe vera acts as a gentle cleanser and aids the mobility of your digestive system. The saponins work to release any clogged areas and improve the absorption of nutrients, while the penetrating ability of lignin helps to carry other nutrients to cells.
Breakdown of sugar and fats
Aloe vera contains vital enzymes that help to break down sugar, carbohydrates, and fats. This encourages better digestion and helps to raise the PH balance of the gut to promote healing.
Since the bad bacteria in your gut feed off sugar, the enzymes that break down carbohydrates and sugar will positively affect your gut microbiome.
When we have too much bad bacteria in our gut, it may show as digestive issues including reflux, stomach ache, constipation or diarrhea. Taking aloe vera helps to rebalance the gut by ‘starving’ the bad bacteria of sugar, so that the good bacteria thrive. This promotes healthy weight management and helps to prevent stomach ulcers.
Reducing inflammation
One of aloe vera’s most powerful healing benefits is its anti-inflammatory properties.
Many people use the aloe gel directly from the plant onto the skin to help reduce acne inflammation or skin redness. However, you can also benefit from aloe’s anti-inflammatory qualities for the gut by taking it internally as a purified extract. After extracting the gel, the active properties of aloe remain stabilized by cold process, naturally preserving all the medicinal components found in fresh aloe.
According to a study in the journal of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, vitamins such as A, C, and E, and other compounds in aloe, inhibit inflammation and provide a soothing effect to the stomach lining.
Immune cell response
Around 70% of our immune cells are located in our gut, so taking care of our digestive system, means boosting our immunity too.
Taking aloe vera has been shown to increase the production of cytokines and nitric oxides. Cytokines play an important role in the regulation of our immune response and communication between cells. Nitric oxides assist with the control of infectious diseases and autoimmune processes.
The antioxidants inside aloe, also known as polyphenols, help to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and viral pathogens in the gut.
Blood sugar levels
Although aloe vera is not officially given as a treatment for diabetes, there is evidence that it can help to improve blood sugar management. This is because aloe can help to increase sensitivity to insulin in type 2 diabetic or prediabetic individuals.
Furthermore, the hypoglycemic ability of aloe vera reportedly benefits both insulin-dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetics.
Aloe is also rich in dietary fiber called glucomannan which delays stomach emptying, leading to more gradual glucose absorption. Together with the antioxidant properties of aloe further helps to reduce blood sugar levels after meals as digestion is healthier.
Aloe Vera for Gut Health and Immunity
When using aloe vera for gut health, here are a couple of things to consider:
- Aloe vera comes in several forms. For gut health, the best way to take it is in a purified natural extract. This way, you receive the benefits of aloe without risking stomach cramps or the laxative effect from drinking the juice every day.
- If you want to improve the gut microbiome or reduce digestive issues, taking aloe with oleuropein works as a powerful combination. Oleuropein is an organic compound derived from olive leaves with antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Try the d-Lenolate Olive Leaf Extract with Aloe Vera for fast natural relief and gut health benefits.
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