People everywhere are talking about the benefits of drinking aloe vera juice for hair and skin.

What is it? 

Aloe Vera is that pointy plant that we all mistook for cactus at least once in our lives.

Here’s what it looks like:

It belong to the Asphodelaceae family.

The juice extracted from the stem of this plant is aloe vera juice.

How to make aloe vera juice?

Making aloe vera juice at home is quite simple. But the process can be tricky for beginners. Here’s a gist:

• Take a 6 inch aloe vera stem
• Remove the rind by cutting through the edges with a knife
• Extract the aloe vera gel inside
• Wash the gel under running water
• Put it in a blender with 150ml water
• Run the liquid through a sieve
• Drink

Some things you should be careful about:

• Handle the knife with care. The gel of aloe vera is quite sticky in nature, and can slip off very easily. Having loose knife skills can result in cuts and wounds.
• Sieving the liquid is highly recommended. Here’s why:
  • The slimy gel residue which does not have any significant nutritive values is left behind
  • This makes the juice long lasting with the lack of viscous gel 
  • It makes the texture enjoyable for all the picky eaters out there
• Look out for aloe latex! It is yellow in color, and seeps out of the flesh when cut in half. If you see that, immediately discard the stem. Taking 1 gram a day of aloe latex for several days can cause acute kidney failure and can be fatal.
• You can eat the aloe vera rind. It is high in fiber and salicylic. However, you must wash it thoroughly before consumption.

How much aloe vera juice to drink daily?

200ml aloe vera juice everyday is perfect for all your health goals.

If you want to lose weight, you can go up to 250ml.

4 key benefits of aloe vera juice

Helps with regular bowel movement

Among all the benefits of drinking aloe vera juice, regular bowel movement is usually #1. Aloe vera is rich in anthraquinones. This is a class 1 harsh stimulant natural laxative that helps to:

• Treat constipation
• Increase colonic peristalsis
• Soften the stool

Like a natural multivitamin pill

It is rich in minerals and nutrients such as vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E that help provide you with everyday nutritional requirements.

Here are the nutritional facts of 100gms of Aloe Vera juice :

VITAMIN A	8.3mg/100g
VITAMIN C	7.7mg/100g
SODIUM	141mg/100g
VITAMIN E	5.3mg/100g
CALCIUM	15mg/100g
ENERGY	338kcal/100g
CARBOHYDRATE	3.7g/100g

Good for skin

Aloe vera juice contains collagen. Collagen is the major protein of the extracellular matrix, and is the component which when applied externally on skin, it helps:

• Trap the moisture
• Staying hydrated 
• Ensures the skin is smooth and supple. 
• Reducing gum inflammation

Good for diabetics

Aloe vera gel contains compounds like lectins, mannans and anthraquinones. These are naturally antidiabetic in nature, which help with reducing sugar levels.

Side effect of aloe vera juice

While there are benefits of drinking aloe vera juice daily, too much can result in side effects.

Excess consumption can lead to fatigue

Aloe vera exhibits hypolipidemic properties. It enhances the responsiveness of the body tissues towards insulin, thereby making insulin more effective. Excess consumption can lead to unhealthy downfall of blood sugar levels i.e. hypoglycemia.

May cause burning or itching

Aloe vera has natural receptors of Cetuximab. It is epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor that, when consumed in excess everyday, can cause:

• External Burning 
• Itching of the throat

Too much can give you the ‘runs’

Aloe vera rind exhibits potent laxative effect. This can induce:

• Stomach pain and cramps
• Flatulence in individuals
• Diarrhea 

May mildly irritate gastro lining

Aloe vera latex contains Barbaloin. It is a mild gastrointestinal irritant, which overtime with excess consumption can damage the anal blood vessels causing:

• Blood in the urine
• Low potassium
• Muscle weakness
• Heart disturbances (long-term use at high doses)

How much does aloe vera juice cost? 

A bottle of ready made aloe vera juice costs around Rs. 200/- on an average.

Making it at home can be a better way ( only @Rs. 10.4  per serving)

Here’s the math:

1 kg aloe vera gel costs around = Rs. 300/-

With around 200g aloe vera gel, you can get= 250 ml aloe vera juice.

This means, 1kg of aloe vera can give you: 1250 ml juice.

Therefore, 1 L homemade juice can cost you: Rs. 240.

When you dilute it with water, it becomes almost 2.3L.

That means, 1l of diluted aloe vera juice costs you only Rs. 104!

If you manage to grow a plant at home, it will only cost you a one time investment of around Rs.100.

After that, you have free aloe vera juice for life!

Other beneficial factors are:

• No tension of preservatives!
• You can adjust the taste as per your liking!
  • Add lemon or sweetener if it’s too bland. Some sweeteners we recommend you for their mineral content are- jaggery syrup, honey, unmilled sugar.

However, despite the benefits, there are many drawbacks of making aloe vera juice at home:

• Extra labor for making the juice
• Extra resources ( such as dishes and electricity for blender)
• Not looking out for latex can cost you your life over term
• Cutting aloe vera can be quite tricky. Hence, beginners need to be extra careful to prevent wounds and cuts.

If you wish to buy yourself a bottle of aloe vera juice, here are some market options:

Product Name	Price	Qty.
Patanjali – Aloe Vera Juice	Rs. 200	1L
Sri Sri Tatva Aloe Vera Juice	Rs. 250	1L
Baidyanath Aloe Vera Juice	Rs. 206	1L
Nutriorg Aloe Vera Juice	Rs. 463	1L

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you apply aloe vera juice directly on skin?

It’s safe for most people to use aloe vera topically for minor skin care concerns. Using aloe vera on the face can help: 

• Moisturize skin
• Various skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and sunburn. 

Generally, it’s well tolerated. However some disclaimers include:

• Skin irritations and allergic reactions are possible. Always test a small amount on your hand before applying it to your face.
• Never use aloe vera or any severe cuts or burns.