Aloe Vera: The Superfood

In my last post I  talked about how good Kale can be for you, and one way to consume it is by making a smoothie with many other ve
getables and fruits. One of the things I add into my smoothies would be Aloe and you should to, Here is why.

Aloe Vera is really an incredible plant. and is part of the same family that garlic and onions belong to.Different parts of the plant are used for different effects on the body and Aloe Vera has both internal and external applications. And I use both. Here are just a few of the the benefits aloe provides.

- Aloe Vera Is High in Vitamins & Minerals:

vitamins including A, C, E, folic acid, choline, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6. Aloe Vera is also one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12 and minerals include: calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, selenium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese.

- Aloe Vera is High in Amino Acids & Fatty Acids:

The amino acids found in aloe range from 18-20 amino acids, with all 8 essential amino acids.

Alove Vera also includes quite an impressive range of fatty acids. Aloe contains three plant sterols, which are important fatty acids- HCL cholesterol (which lowers fats in the blood), campesterol, and B-sitosterol. All are helpful in reducing symptoms of allergies and acid indigestion. Other fatty acids include linoleic, linolenic, myristic, caprylic, oleic, palmitic, and  stearic.

- Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen:

Aloe Vera is a well-known adaptogen. An adaptogen is something that boosts the body’s natural ability to adapt to external changes and resist illness. It is thought that aloe’s power as an adaptogen balances the body’s system, stimulating the defense and adaptive mechanisms of the body. This allows you an increased ability to cope with stress (physical, emotional and environmental stress like pollution)

- Aloe Helps in Detoxification:

Aloe Vera is a gelatinous plant food, just like seaweeds and chia. The main benefit to consuming gelatinous plant foods in your diet is that these gels move through the intestinal tract absorbing toxins along the way and get eliminated through the colon. This will help the proper elimination of waste from your body and help the detoxification of your body.

- Aloe Alkalizes the Body:

Disease cannot manifest in an alkaline environment. 

- Aloe Helps Boost the Immune System:

I think given the stresses of our daily lives, every one can use a boost to their immune systems. The polysaccharides in aloe vera juice stimulate macrophages, which are the white blood cells of your immune system that fight against viruses.

- Aloe Vera is Great for the Skin:

Aloe increases the elasticity of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair. Aloe is an emollient, helping to soften and soothe the skin. It helps supply oxygen to the skin cells, increasing the strength and synthesis of skin tissue and induces improved blood flow to the skin through capillary dilation.

When I peel the Aloe I keep the skins and use it on my face as moisturizer and my skin has never looked better.

- Aloe Helps Reduce Inflammation:

Aloe Vera contains 12 substances, including B-sisterole, which can help to slow down or inhibit inflammation. I have ulcerative colitis and this is probably another reason I don't have to take medicine for my condition. 

- Weight Loss:

Improving your digestion, and detoxifying your will have a secondary effect in promoting weight loss because when we start to improve our digestion we naturally eliminate more efficiently, which is a primary way they we detoxify – through our bowels. This will lighten our toxic load on the body and will give us more energy.

How to peel Aloe Vera:

(might be a different language but its the best quality video I could find.)

With these kind of benefits why wouldn't you add it into your smoothies and cover your skin in it!