Is Aloe Vera Juice Really Good for You?

These days, it can feel like everyone is drinking aloe vera juice and specialty stores, magazines and celebrities all seem to be singing its praises. But is it really the best herbal weight loss supplement? Is it that good for you and can it truly live up to the hype? Or is this only the latest on a long list of other hyped foods that really aren’t quite as fantastic as everyone says they are?

Aloe vera juice is easily one of the most popular natural beverages at the moment. It can be purchased as a prepared juice, a powder or a gel.

That said, while aloe vera juice does indeed have a number of potential health benefits, it’s also important to know that it comes with possible drawbacks, too. It is important to look at both the good and the bad before you decide to get on board with this particular food craze.

The benefits of this juice include (but are not limited to):

• Possibly combating weight gain – Some limited evidence suggests that drinking this juice may help to boost the metabolism and prevent a certain amount of weight gain. This doesn’t mean you should be eating cheesecake and chips for dinner, but it might give you a touch more wiggle room as a part of an overall healthy eating and exercising habit.
• Potential immune system boosting – There is some indication that this ingredient may function as an immune-stimulating agent. This can help to boost your protection against certain kinds of illness.
• Reduces blood sugar levels – This can possibly be helpful among people whose blood sugar is higher than normal or who have eaten a lot of sugary foods that day.
• May be anti-inflammatory – This reduces inflammation and therefore pain. It can help to lower skin irritation and might promote effective healing of wounds and burns.
• Combats constipation – Aloe vera is a natural laxative.

The drawbacks of this drink include (but are not limited to):

• Digestive discomforts – Drinking too much aloe juice can cause dehydration, diarrhea, stomach cramps and electrolyte imbalance.
• Low blood sugar – People with naturally low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) may see their blood sugar dropping even further.
• Skin irritations – Certain people react to aloe with rashes and other forms of irritation.
• Low blood pressure – People with naturally low blood pressure (hypotensive) could see their blood pressure fall even more.
• Unsafe for pregnant or nursing women – As aloe can cause diarrhea and other problems, it is not considered safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding their babies.