Aloe Vera is a succulent plant native to North Africa and the Middle East, characterized by dark green leaves, thick and fleshy, and by yellow flowers.
This plant is known for its medicinal properties and its gel or juice is used in several products for skin care, hair care and some disorders on the gastrointestinal tract, as well as being a
dietary supplement rich in important micronutrients.
The Aloe Vera juice when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, due to its cleansing effect, can also be an effective ally in weight loss.
Let’s find out together.
DRINKING ALOE VERA FOR WEIGHT LOSS: LET'S CLARIFY
Table of Contents
Aloe Vera, what is it?
Aloe Vera is a succulent plant, native to the African continent, belonging to the Aloaceae family.
It is known for its medicinal properties and is often used in cosmetics and skin care products, but also in Natural Food Supplements due to its varied benefits.
Aloe Vera Juice contains many beneficial nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes, and is also rich in antioxidant compounds.
We at AloeVonderweid specialize in the cultivation of Aloe Vera and Aloe Arborescens in Sicily, in the open air, since 1997. We were one of the first companies to start growing Aloe in Italy, and to this day we can “boast” of having the largest open-air Aloe cultivation in all of Europe, with over 50.000 Plants.
Open-air cultivation of Aloe is a key factor for vigorous growth of Aloe plants, which results in optimal development of its compounds and active ingredients, which is not the case in greenhouse cultivation.
AloeVonderweid's Aloe Vera cultivation protocol:
We at AloeVonderweid have been growing Aloe Verain Sicily since way back in 1997, using Sustainable Farming techniques.
In fact, we do not employ chemically synthesized substances such as
fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides, fungicides and pesticides in general.
If necessary, substances of natural origin can be used, such as specially selected plant extracts, insects and minerals which, dispersed on the soil, modify its chemical and physical characteristics, helping to create a more protected environment for our plants.
"We at Vonderweid firmly believe in sustainable agriculture, its goals, its rigor and its respect for the environment, even if this means depending more closely on natural events (such as rainfall or drought) and sometimes risking lower yields than can be obtained from a traditionally exploited field. Traditional farming techniques are often directed toward an exploitation of the soil that produces a "bloated" type of plant, beautiful in its appearance but poor in content.Our choice instead aims at producing plants in harmony with the environment in which they live and rich in active ingredients."
What does Aloe Vera Gel contain?
The Aloe Vera Gel, extracted from the central fleshy part(the aqueous parenchyma) of the Leaves, contains numerous components that can be grouped into 3 macro groups:
- Complex Sugars or Glucomannans: polysaccharides of glucose and mannose, they perform the function of retaining water within the plant and give the gel moisturizing and gastroprotective properties. The most active Glucomannan is the Acemannan, particularly concentrated in the Leaves of Aloe Arborescens, much studied for its immune-stimulating properties. In fact, it succeeds, according to some studies, in increasing by up to 10 times the activity of macrophages, which are in charge of eliminating toxins and waste from metabolism.
- Anthraquinones: although they are most concentrated in the peel, and to a much lesser extent in the gel, below legal limits, they are compounds responsible for laxative action and impart a bitter taste to the product.
- Micronutrients: in Aloe Vera Gel we find:
–Mineral Salts: Chromium, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Copper, Selenium, Sodium, Zinc
–Vitamins: Vitamin A (Beta – Carotene), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) and Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
–Enzymes: they mainly have an anti-inflammatory action and promote the digestive process. Among them we can mentionamylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, protease and transaminase.
–AminoAcids: Aloe contains all 8 of the essential amino acids, useful for many bodily functions, which humans cannot produce on their own and must be supplemented through the diet. These amino acids are: Isoleucine, Methionine, Lysine, Leucine, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Threonine, and Valine. Aloe also contains non-essential amino acids such asArginine, Histidine and Alanine, which are also very important.
– Saponins (cleansing substances endowed with antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial power) and Lignins (substances much loved in Cosmetics that allow Aloe gel to penetrate deep down to the less superficial layers of the Skin)
What are the slimming properties of Aloe Vera?
The slimming properties of Aloe Vera
can be attributed to several factors, such as the presence of Collagen in Aloe Leaves, which according to an article in Humanitas “Being a hard-to-digest protein slows gastric emptying and causes the body to draw on the energy reserves contained in fats and sugars, prolonging the sense of satiety.”
In fact, some studies would seem to show an effect of this substance in modulating glucose metabolism and other parameters, however, it is particularly effective if the patient still follows a controlled diet, changes lifestyle, and engages in physical activity.
Other important factors are to be sought in some benefits of Aloe Vera juice that help in the proper functioning of body metabolism, such as:
- Lowering blood glucose: due to the presence of glucomannan and water-soluble fiber, which are regarded as excellent hypoglycemic agents.
- Body Drainage: Due to its draining action, Aloe juice helps eliminate excess fluids.
- Regularization of intestinal activity: Due to the presence of fiber and certain specific molecules, Aloe juice is able to stimulate intestinal activity resulting in a laxative action that allows all waste substances to be eliminated and the intestines to be freed
- Purifying the body of excess toxins
We can therefore conclude that the Aloe Vera Juice cannot be directly considered a “slimming” dietary supplement, however, due to its properties and benefits it can indirectly help with weight loss.
We always remember that a supplement is not a miracle substance that can make us lose weight easily and without any kind of effort on our part; in fact, it is necessary to combine its intake with a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle and sufficient physical activity.
How to take Aloe Vera for weight loss?
Aloe Vera is best taken on anempty stomach, before meals, in order to optimize its intake by the body.
Our Aloe Vera Juice, being concentrated compared to many “commercial” juices that can be found in certain Pharmacies where water is added to it, requires the intake of 20 ml 3 times a day, preferably before meals.