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Aloe Vera Gel Vs. Juice

The lily of the desert, the aloe vera plant, is a plant with topical and oral value. Both the gel and the juice are beneficial, but come from different parts of the plant and have specific and vastly different uses. Talk to a trusted health care adviser before using aloe vera as an oral or topical medicine.

Aloe Vera Gel

The central portion of aloe vera leaves contains a clear gel that is often used as a topical ointment. The gel makes a skin-soothing salve for sunburns and is a remedy for minor cuts and burns as well. In fact, the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, reports that active compounds in aloe vera gel known as glycoproteins and polysaccharides may reduce pain and inflammation while stimulating skin growth and healing. Other uses for aloe vera gel include treating psoriasis and genital herpes.

Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera juice is derived from the outer parts of the leaf and is consumed orally as a health tonic. The same skin-healing substances that exist in the gel are present in the juice and have immune-system enhancing effects.The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that aloe vera juice is used to treat asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and osteoarthritis. And while more research is needed to determine its effects as a diabetes treatment, the UMMC notes that preliminary evidence shows it has a blood-sugar lowering effect on type-2 diabetics. Additionally, the skin of the aloe leaf yields a bitter liquid that is a potent laxative.

Side Effects

As a laxative, aloe vera juice causes bothersome cramping and discomfort, which is why other herbal laxatives are preferred for this use. The juice may also interact with certain medications, such as diabetes drugs. Aloe vera gel is generally safe, and is not linked to any significant side effects. To avoid irritation, however, you should never apply the gel to open wounds.

Uses and Forms

Although aloe vera is a common ingredient in commercial skin-care products, you can purchase your own plant and extract the juice and gel by simply breaking the leaves to access the inner components. Other forms you might experiment with include capsules, tablets and creams, which are available over the counter at health food stores and pharmacies.

What Are the Benefits of Eating Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera is a plant that has been used historically in various traditional cultures for its health benefits, as well as its medicinal and skin care properties. However, the benefits of taking aloe vera internally have not been completely validated. Aloe leaves are made up of three layers, the innermost being a gel containing the plant's alleged beneficial properties. Today, the gel inside the aloe vera plant is used in skin care products, and it's also consumed in its raw natural form for its purported health benefits.

Nutritional Value

According to a 2008 article in the "Indian Journal of Dermatology," aloe vera gel contains vitamins A, C and E. These are antioxidants, meaning they protect you from free radicals that are responsible for aging and can cause cancer over time. The gel also contains vitamin B-12 and folate. It hosts an array of essential minerals, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, chromium, sodium, copper, zinc and selenium. Its mineral content makes aloe vera beneficial for healthy cellular enzyme and metabolic activity. It also contains 20 amino acids, including 7 out of the 8 essential ones.

Anti-Inflammatory

Aloe contains several anti-inflammatory compounds, including salicylic acid, C-glucosyl chromone and an enzyme called bradykinase. Meanwhile, aloe reduces the production of acid in the body, which also prevents inflammation. According to a study published in "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics" in 2004, consuming aloe might prove helpful in treating inflammatory bowel disease. Another study from the same publication published in 2004 reported that aloe can also be helpful in mild to moderate cases of ulcerative colitis. In the study, aloe supplementation absolved or improved symptoms in 47 percent of cases, whereas only 14 percent of cases in the placebo group saw improvements.

Diabetes Prevention and Treatment

In a study published in the "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin" in 2006, scientists tested the anti-hyperglycemic effect of five different compounds called phytosterols found in aloe vera gel on mice with Type 2 diabetes. After being administered the phytosterols for one month, the mice had reduced glucose levels. The researchers concluded aloe gel impacts blood glucose levels in the long term, which could be useful in treating Type 2 diabetes. The "Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal" in 2009 published a study that verified this conclusion. Researchers gave Type 2 diabetic patients aloe supplements daily. After four weeks, researchers noticed a significant reduction in triglycerides, and after six weeks the patients' glucose levels were reduced significantly.

Cautions

The aloe plant's gel, which is in the largest, innermost layer of each leaf, is the safe and beneficial part of the plant to consume, but its skin and the yellow layer directly under it, called latex, is considered most likely unsafe. Aloe is not considered safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women or for children under 12, according to MedlinePlus. It has been associated with birth defects and miscarriage. Aloe can act as a laxative, so it should not be combined with any laxative medications, such as digoxin. Aloe vera juice consumption has been linked to kidney problems and liver injury, according to MedlinePlus. Although some studies show potential use of aloe in pharmacology, and it has some nutrients, it's probably not a food to consume regularly for health benefits.

Eat Lychee Fruits for Beautiful Skin and Hair

Lychee fruits (Litchi chinensis) have grown on tall, tropical, flowering evergreen trees in Southern China since ancient times. These sweet gems are part of the soapberry family, and were first mentioned in Chinese literature around 1060 AD.

Lychee trees are thought of very highly in China, and many varieties of lychees are named after wealthy and influential Chinese families. Besides their sweet and pleasing flavor, lychees are known for their cooling effect on the body, and various nutritional benefits.

Starting around the 1600s, cultivation of lychees spread from China to Burma and India, and later to the West Indies. They were growing in English and French greenhouses starting sometime around the 1800s, and in the late 1800s, could be found in California, Florida and Hawaii.

Lychee trees can grow to be 100 feet tall, have smooth, gray bark and densely-spaced leaves. The fruits are small and oval shaped, about an inch long, and have a bumpy, leathery pink or red peel.

Inside the inedible peel is the white lychee fruit pulp, which is very sweet and has an aroma somewhat resembling roses. The texture of the fruit is akin to that of a peeled grape. There is a single brown seed inside each lychee fruit.

The seeds are generally inedible, but are ground and used in some medicinal preparations, such as an Indian concoction that uses it for digestive disturbances.

Health benefits

Lychees are rich in numerous antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. One of the polyphenols that they contain is oligonol, which has been found to have antiviral properties, helps to improve circulation, protects the skin from UV rays, and can also be beneficial to weight loss. Another antioxidant compound found in lychee, litchitannin A2, also has antiviral properties.

Likely due to their unique antioxidant composition, lychees have been linked to inhibiting the growth of breast, colorectal and liver cancer cells. The anti-inflammatory properties and free radical-fighting activity of these antioxidants can also help to prevent against cancers, as well as an array of other chronic illnesses. Lychees are very high in vitamin C, another potent antioxidant which supports the immune system and is vital to healthy skin and hair.

These little tropical fruits have significant benefits when it comes to heart health. Two of the minerals found in good amounts in lychee fruit are potassium and copper. Potassium helps to balance out sodium levels in the body, and also regulates blood pressure and heart rate.

Copper is essential to the body’s manufacture of red blood cells. Lychees are also high in fiber, which helps to lower LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol, and maintains optimal digestive function.

In Chinese medicine, lychees are sometimes used in remedies for abdominal pain, coughs, neuralgia and swollen glands. A tea made from the peels is sometimes prepared to alleviate diarrhea. In India, lychee bark, flowers and roots are all used in a gargle to relieve sore throats.

Note: Although the health benefits of lychees are vast, make sure to eat them in moderation, as they contain a high concentration of natural fructose.

Aloe Vera juice benefits: They seem to be endless

Aloe vera juice benefits seem endless. After all, the Sanskrit name for aloe vera is kumari, which means ‘princess’, attesting to its ability to help you maintain youthful beauty and a healthy glow. Sounds good, right?

Sebastian Pole, co-founder of Pukka Herbs and an expert in herbalism, says: ‘Aloe vera is renowned as a ’heal-all’ that is good for many conditions, both internal and external.

‘It is a great rejuvenator and can help in some of life’s big transitions, from cleansing teenage skin to cooling menopausal hot flushes and soothing dryness.’

Here, Sebastian breaks down the benefits of aloe vera juice:

1. Detoxifying

Aloe vera juice is crammed full of amino acids, vitamins and minerals making it one of nature’s most effective cleansers. ‘It can help strengthen digestion and rid the body of any nasty waste, thus detoxifying the body naturally,’ says Sebastian. ‘Its main property is to be soothing, cooling and moistening which helps to clear inflammatory and irritating heat, such as in menopause, plus inflammatory skin and digestive problems, such as acne, rosacea and IBS.’

2. Supports the immune system

Aloe vera is packed full of immune-boosting polysaccharides which help the immune system to behave properly. ‘Too much inflammation in the body can cause problems within the immune system and can cause conditions like asthma, eczema and Crohn’s disease. Soothing herbs like aloe vera juice can slow the inflammatory cascade and help reorder the immune response to prevent these conditions.’

3. Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

There is some evidence to suggest aloe vera lowers cholesterol and has a positive effect on blood sugar levels, meaning it can be useful for treating diabetes and obesity.

4. Excellent for digestion

It’s worth trying for anyone who suffers with digestion problems like IBS. Its healing and soothing properties can help with the painful symptoms.

Aloe Vera Juice Benefits

5. An easy way to boost your vitamin and mineral intake

Aloe vera juice is packed with vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and folic acid. It’s also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium and potassium. Sounds pretty good, right?

6. Hair growth

Full of natural vitamins and enzymes that can directly promote healthy hair.

7. Good for burns, acne and hydrating skin

When used topically aloe vera can soothe inflamed skin and enhance collagen and hyaluronic acid to help rejuvenate skin.

Benefits of Raspberry Juice

A healthy and balanced diet should include plenty of fresh fruit, either whole or juiced. The nutrients in fruits help to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and may protect against some types of cancer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Drinking raspberry juice increases your fruit intake and contributes to the general benefits of a fruit-rich diet. While it should be consumed in moderation, raspberry juice offers health benefits due to its vitamin and mineral contents.

Vitamin C

Raspberry juice provides a rich source of beneficial vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. Getting enough vitamin C promotes proper healing of wounds and burns, helps your body metabolize cholesterol and aids in hormone production. Vitamin C also maintains tissue integrity -- it helps you make collagen, a tough and fibrous protein that acts like glue to hold your tissues in place. A cup of raspberry juice provides approximately 72 milligrams of vitamin C. This makes up 96 percent of the recommended daily ascorbic acid intake for women or 80 percent for men, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center.

Manganese

Consume raspberry juice as a source of manganese, an essential mineral. Each cup of juice contains approximately 2.1 milligrams of manganese -- 91 percent of the recommended daily manganese intake for men, and an entire day's worth of manganese for women, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Manganese protects your body from damaging free radicals, helps you get energy from the foods you eat and aids in wound healing and bone development.

Vitamin K

Raspberry juice provides a source of vitamin K, a nutrient important to healthy blood and bones. Vitamin K promotes bone development, helping your body make the proteins it needs to deposit new bone tissue. It also activates proteins needed to form blood clots, a process you need to stop bleeding after an injury. Drink a cup of raspberry juice to consume approximately 22 micrograms of vitamin K -- 24 and 18 percent of the recommended daily vitamin K intake for women and men, respectively, according to NYU Langone Medical Center.

Serving Tips and Considerations

Raspberry juice is delicious on its own, mixed with other fruit or vegetable juices or blended into fruit smoothies. Experiment with using the juice in your cooking -- blend raspberry juice with raw tomatoes, whole raspberries and mint for a refreshing raspberry gazpacho, or combine the juice with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a nutritious homemade salad dressing. Consume raspberry juice in moderation. While it offers many health benefits, raspberry juice lacks the beneficial dietary fiber found in whole raspberries. You can consume juice on a regular basis as part of a balanced diet, but make sure you still get most of your fruit intake from whole fruits.

What Are Health Benefits of Strawberry Juice?

The vibrant hue and naturally sweet flavor of strawberries make them a summertime favorite in many households. The berries also juice well, yielding a beverage packed with beneficial nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. Incorporating strawberry juice into your diet promotes tissue health, and some of the nutrients abundant in strawberry juice also prevent chronic disease.

Fight Cancer

Some of the nutrients in strawberry juice -- namely vitamin C and folate -- promote long-term health by fighting cancer development. Folate helps your body metabolize nucleic acids -- the building blocks of DNA -- and regulates gene methylation, a process essential for regulating gene activity. Abnormal gene methylation contributes to cancer development, and a diet rich in folate is associated with a lower risk of some types of cancer, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, a type of chemical that protects your cells from cancer-promoting free radicals; as with folate, a diet rich in vitamin C reduces your cancer risk. Each cup of strawberry juice provides all the vitamin C you need each day, according to the Institute of Medicine, and also provides 16 percent of your recommended daily folate intake.

Strengthen Tissues, Heal Wounds

Adding strawberry juice to your diet promotes tissue strength. Its impressive vitamin C content boosts collagen production, so that your body can make the collagen it needs to hold your tissues together. It also fights the skin tearing, blood vessel rupture and bone weakening that can develop as a symptom of vitamin C deficiency. Manganese also supports collagen production and plays a key role in helping you heal after an injury. A cup of strawberry juice provides 56 percent of the daily recommended manganese intake for women and 43 percent for men, according to the Institute of Medicine.

Boost Your Brain

Strawberry juice supports the health of your nervous system. Each serving contains 13 grams of naturally occurring sugars, a source of fuel that allows your brain cells to function. The juice's vitamin C content also helps you produce norepinephrine -- a neurotransmitter, or chemical involved in nerve communication -- and its copper content aids in the production of other neurotransmitters. Copper also allows your brain to metabolize neurotransmitters and helps you make myelin, a fatty substance needed for nerve function. Each cup of strawberry juice provides 125 micrograms of copper, or 14 percent of your recommended daily intake, according to the Institute of Medicine.

Uses for Strawberry Juice

One thing missing from strawberry juice is beneficial fiber. Although juicers remove fiber from the strawberries during the juicing process, you can still reap the cardiovascular benefits of fiber by using strawberry juice to add flavor to fiber-rich meals. Use it as the base for a smoothie, a mixture of strawberry juice -- mixed frozen berries, Greek yogurt and ground flaxseed makes for a nutritious meal with a vibrant red hue. Alternatively, pair strawberry juice with balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil to make a dressing for spinach or other dark leafy greens.

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