Aloe Vera Juice for Gut Health
Aloe Vera is a succulent plant that has been used for medicinal properties for centuries. While it’s commonly associated with treating sunburns, this plant can be very beneficial for people who have inflammatory intestinal disorders like IBS, Crohn’s, and Colitis. Just as aloe ‘soothes’ a sunburn, it does that and more for your gut!
Aloe Vera has a range of benefits when consumed. It can help break down sugars and fats that are still lying around the intestines, improves overall hydration, helps liver function, and can even help balance gut flora.
I first stumbled upon Aloe Vera juice when searching the internet for home remedies for Ulcerative Colitis. I found lots of glowing reviews of how aloe had helped improve symptoms and overall gut health for people suffering with UC, so I decided to give it a try. I went to my local vitamin store and found the bottle I had scouted out online during my search. I started taking one ounce first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and taking another ounce before bed. In less than two weeks, I started to notice a difference in severity of pain. I was amazed!
While my curiosity was piqued, I still had a few questions. I then dug into some actual research that has been done on the topic rather than just people’s personal experiences. To my surprise, there was not as much scientific information as I was expecting. How is this powerful amazing plant that actually took my pain down to a more manageable level, not being researched!
I did find two reputable studies (although one of them has not been placebo-controlled). The first study was conducted in 2004 and was a double blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled. Patients with UC were monitored over a four-week period of daily ingesting Aloe Vera Juice. They found that the aloe juice produced more improving results than the placebo, with no side effects and did indeed decrease disease activity. Check this study out HERE!
The second study was done in 2013, and tested the effects of Aloe Vera juice on patients with IBS. It actually was shown to reduce symptoms and pain in those patients! Check it out HERE!
While more research should be done in this field, this is a very promising start. I will note that Aloe Vera GEL can worsen symptoms for people with IBD and should be avoided.
My boyfriend at the time, now husband, and I got the opportunity to travel on a once of a lifetime vacation back in 2017 to Curacao (an Island next to Aruba owned by the Dutch.) After our flight and taxi ride, we settled into the hotel room and started unpacking. To my horror I had purchased Aloe Vera gel by mistake. I was out of the country and completely without my healing aloe juice. I was devastated.
The next day we went into town, sightseeing and shopping. We stumbled upon one shop that exclusively sold Aloe Vera products! And let me tell you that these products were way more potent and purer than what I was buying at my local store! I was entirely delighted! This is how I came to find my all-time favorite aloe juice, Curaloe. I now take an ounce in the morning first thing. If I notice I’m in pain, or my belly is a bit more grumbly I will take another ounce at bedtime. I firmly believe this has been an asset in my healing journey. I hope this nature-based solution helps you, just as it has helped me.
Get your bottle HERE!
You can also find it available on Amazon HERE!
Note: * This is NOT an affiliate post. I do not receive anything for promoting or recommending these brands and services. *