What Are the Benefits of Drinking Aloe Juice?

Carrie asks: “Is it true that aloe vera juice helps with intestinal health? And if so, what should I look for in a quality juice?”

What Is Aloe Good For?

The juice of the aloe vera plant has been used throughout the ages, in particular as a skin soother. The viscous gel that oozes out of the leaves of this succulent plant can moisturize your skin and cool minor burns or irritation. And, by the way, natural aloe gel is colorless. Those bottles of bright green aloe vera gel you sometimes see owe their technicolor hue to artificial colorants!

Studies confirm that aloe vera juice has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties when applied topically. Applying to a burn or sunburn can alleviate pain and help the skin heal more quickly. Some people keep an aloe plant handy in the kitchen, a sort of living first aid kit.

But many people also advocate drinking the juice of the aloe vera plant, saying that it can relieve heartburn, alleviate IBS, lower your blood sugar, and a broad range of other claims.

Benefits of Drinking Aloe Juice

Let’s get the silly stuff out of the way first. Drinking aloe vera juice will not alkalize your blood (good thing, too, because you wouldn't live long if it did!). It also won't clear up your acne, or aid in detoxification. In fact, there are concerns that long-term use of aloe vera could actually harm your liver, not support it.

Aloe vera juice will not hydrate you any faster than regular water. And although aloe vera contains a few vitamins and antioxidants, it’s not a nutritional powerhouse. You can get these nutrients in greater quantities from much better-tasting foods.

Can Aloe Help the Digestive Tract? 

Now, some of the claims for aloe vera juice actually have some research behind them. One study ...

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