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Aloe Vera

We all know that the gel works great on sunburns, and that it’s good for digestion. There is always more to learn and the following information I sourced primarily from Lily of the Desert’s website, and further along I will compare other brands of aloe that we carry (George’s, Lakewood & Herbal Answers)

Aloe vera contains nearly 200 biologically active components, including polysaccharides, vitamins, enzymes and minerals. It helps balance the stomach’s pH levels, promotes healthy bacteria growth, and Lily of the Desert has clinical studies that prove it is safe to use their aloe daily if needed. Other benefits include immune strengthening and enhances nutrient absorption.

*The most frequent question I get with our aloe products is what’s better, whole leaf or inner filet? LOTD suggests that the whole leaf is slightly better for health benefits.*

Whole leaf: aloin content is 1 ppm (parts per million). Contains high and low molecular weight polysaccharides.

Inner fillet: contains high molecular weight polysaccharides.

Juice vs Gel: The only difference is in the consistency. Both provide the same benefits.

Polysaccharides: molecular strands that store energy from the food we eat. They prevent fatigue, keep our blood pressure and blood sugar in check, help us stay in a positive mood, including many additional benefits. One polysaccharide found in aloe vera is called acemannan, which does more than store energy, this one “boosts the immune system, improves dental health, and can even be used to help support wound healing.” (Source: Global Healing Center)

Whatever you do, do not break a piece of aloe vera plant and eat it straight.

Aloin: Harmful in high doses, it is called aloe latex located just beneath the rind, and is the yellow sap of the plant. Unfiltered aloe contains 10,000 ppm (parts per million). “These substances are irritants and when ingested can cause cramping and diarrhea and in some cases nausea.”

Food grade potassium sorbate- Almost every aloe vera product on the market has a small amount of this preservative. Once opened, it will last 5-6 months.

In 2005, LOTD came out with a preservative free option, which will last 45-60 days.

Between 2 oz- 8 oz a day is safe to consume. Upon starting this supplement, it’s best to start with a 2 oz size and working your way up. For digestive reasons, take 15-30 minutes before a meal. Because of the finished product’s aloin content, it is not a laxative, but promotes healthy regularity.

LOTD’s products are cold pressed and heat processed to remove harmful bacteria on the plant. Some companies use bath pasteurization, Lily uses flash pasteurization.

Aloe is recommended for ages 13 and up. Pregnant women and children under the age of 13 should consult a physician, as the aloe might cause a laxative effect. For pets, applying aloe topically is safe, but feeding it to them might give them a laxative effect as well.

Aloe has a naturally bitter, citrus-like flavor. Aloe products that taste like water have been fractionally distilled, where the biologically active components have been removed, which is where I will explain more about George’s line of products.

 

George is a chemist who developed a method to completely take out the aloins from the aloe plant, which give the aloe its bitter taste and greenish color. He also removed the starches and sugars from the polysaccharide chain, so that his aloe does not require refrigeration after opening and does not spoil, while also not containing any preservatives. At the same time, all of the beneficial properties of the plant are kept in tact. “The finished product looks and tastes like spring water.” (Source: George’s aloe website) It is a refined product.

“For several years we examined various species of Aloe Vera whereby separating the chemical components of the Aloe Vera leaf. We continued to study the effects of Aloe as a food supplement, we found the digestive tract seemed to be the most important factor, other than our parents genes and chromosomes in determining our health and well being. A newborn’s food conversion efficiency approaches 100%. However, as we mature our digestive membrane system loses its efficiency and our body thus makes changes to compensate. The aches, pains and malfunctions of the body can result from changes in the digestive process and many of which may have occurred over a number of years.”

As it says on the bottle, Herbal Answer’s aloe vera juice is live, raw, and whole. There is no cold processing whatsoever.

“Among its 250 naturally occurring nutrients and cofactors are: Vitamins/Minerals (vitamins C, A,E,B-1,2,6,12, zinc, beta carotene, calcium, niacinimide, folic acid, carotene, choline, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium…the only known plant source of vitamin B12) Enzymes* (including digestive enzymes, amylase, lipase, oxidase, lactic dehydrogenase…)[easily broken down by heat] Growth factors* (gibberellin, auxin…) Amino acids 9 of 10 essential amino acids (only missing tryptophan), glutamic and glutanic acids, glycine, histidine,tyrosine…. Essential fatty acids Plant Sterols* Antiseptic & analgesic compounds* (salicylic acid, lupeol, sulfur, cinnamonic acid, phenol…) Glycoproteins Polysaccharides -fresh aloe contains the full range of all sizes of the long-chain, intricate, delicate (easily damaged) polysaccharides also known as mucopolysaccharides, MPS, Beta-linked glucomannans (including the Beta- 1,3; Beta-Glucan and the Beta-1,4 known as Acemannan). It is important that these nutrients be protected as they are responsible for most of the immune enhancing properties documented by research.”

Herbal Answer’s aloe contains 97% juice and 3% herbs. These herbs are extracted into the aloe, making them incorporated into the product, not just added. The aloe then gently delivers the herbs’ constituents and is more efficiently used in the body compared to heat or alcohol extractions. This product is adaptogenic and tonifying to the systems of the body.

Specific Herbs in Herbal Answers:

Cats Claw, a good immune supporting herb & Essiac herbs, a cancer “remedy” consisting of the following herbs: Slippery Elm, Turkey Rhubarb, Burdock, Sheep Sorrel
Astragalus, Pau d’Arco, Hawthorn Berry, Chamomile

Herbal Answer’s Skin Gel contains these ingredients in addition to green tea and hyaluronic acid.

✓ No Preservatives
✓ No Citric Acid Added
✓ No Sodium Benzoate
✓ No Potassium Sorbate
✓ Latex & Aloin FREE

Taken INTERNALLY, PURE ALOE GEL is associated with:
• Bowel Regularity and Bowel Motility
• Joint Function and Circulation
• Soothing Occasional, Mild Stomach Irritation
• Supporting the Healing Process
• Supporting the Immune System
• Aiding Digestion

Taken INTERNALLY, PURE WHOLE LEAF ALOE is associated with:
• Bowel Regularity and Bowel Motility
• Soothing Occasional, Mild Stomach Irritation
• Supporting the Immune System, Joint Function & Circulation
• Aiding Digestion

Lakewood Pure Aloe: Pressed from Fresh Aloe Leaves. Lakewood’s modern bottling techniques pioneered the process to add natural lemon juice to pure aloe and bottle the product under standard pasteurization controls. This technique naturally protects the aloe, without the use of preservatives, while retaining the maximum amount of polysaccharides and desirable constituents. Pure Aloe, Inner Fillet Juice: Pressed from Fresh Aloe Leaves has a very mild flavor representative of the aloe inner leaf.
Pure Aloe Gel, Inner Fillet Gel: Pressed from Fresh Aloe Leaves has a mild flavor and a thick consistency similar to the aloe inner leaf gel.
Pure Whole Leaf Aloe: Pressed from Fresh Whole Aloe Leaves has a somewhat pungent flavor representative of the oils found in the aloe outer leaf.

Herbal Aloe was developed in conjunction with Dr. Aviva Romm, noted herbalist, teacher, practitioner, author and medical doctor. She is a recognized expert in the field of botanical medicine and women’s and children’s health. Lakewood is proud to recognize Dr. Romm’s contributions to these fields and is appreciative to her for her consultation in developing Lakewood’s Herbal Aloe.

Lakewood does not and never has used preservatives in any of their juices. In fact, Lakewood pioneered the modern bottling technique of adding lemon juice to pure aloe. This technique protects the integrity of the Aloe while retaining the maximum amount of natural polysaccharides, without using any preservatives.