Gut health is a topic that's getting a lot of press lately and I think it’s about time. It's an understatement to say the importance of gut health is undervalued. The digestive system is where nutrients are absorbed and is the basis of a healthy body. If your digestive system is inefficient or your gut environment isn’t balanced, you might not get the most nutritional value from your food.
A healthy gut reacts positively to good nutrition and is also the result of good nutrition. Refined sugar, artificial ingredients, and artificial coloring offer no nutrition and, even worse, can upset gut balance. Aloe vera, on the other hand, is a nutrient-dense superfood that soothes, nourishes, and promotes detoxification and normal bowel movements.[1]
Aloe vera offers over 70 different nutrients, including calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Aloe contains antioxidant vitamins A (beta-carotene), C, and E. It’s a great source of vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline.[2, 3, 4]
Aloe vera also boosts digestion and nutrient absorption. Aloe contains eight important enzymes, two of which specifically support digestion. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates, starches, and sugars, and lipase helps digest fat.
Finally, aloe vera promotes a healthy gut environment by supporting the probiotic colonies that live there. Probiotics are living organisms and require nutrients called prebiotics. Aloe is a great source of prebiotics that feed good gut bacteria.[5]
Research indicates that aloe vera promotes balanced pH levels throughout the body.[6] This helps reduce redness, swelling, and irritation.[7]
Aloe vera is available in a couple different forms.
You can find aloe vera juice in most health food stores and even the organic section of most grocery stores. Look for a juice produced solely from inner leaf aloe. Avoid whole-leaf varieties as they likely contain aloin or aloe latex which can produce a harsh, laxative effect.
An encapsulated supplement can be a very convenient option. Capsules are easy to swallow and usually concentrated into a small serving — no juice to choke down. I recommend Global Healing's Aloe Vera. Global Healing's Aloe Vera is made from 100% organic inner-leaf aloe vera. It’s aloin-free and has the highest amount of acemannan available anywhere (acemannan is the polysaccharide in aloe that supports digestive health). The product is has gotten a lot of great feedback.
Have you tried aloe vera for digestive support? What did you like about it? Share your experiences below!
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