What’s The Deal With Aloe Vera Juice?
BY BETHANY HEITMAN
First it was coconut water. Then collagen water became a thing. Now, it’s all about aloe vera juice. In fact, the hashtag #aloeverajuice has been used over 16 million times on Tik Tok, with many wellness influencers swearing it can clear up your skin and help your digestive tract.
But, here’s the thing: There are a ton of wellness trends out there that aren’t actually all that great. Some are even questionably dangerous—does anyone else remember when putting a jade egg into your vagina was buzzy?
Before following a viral trend blindly, it’s always important to do a bit of a reality check. Here, we’re diving into whether these claims about aloe vera juice have any truth to them.
Photo by Miguel Bruna
What is Aloe Vera Juice?
The aloe vera plant and its healing properties have been used for thousands of years. Cut open an aloe plant and you’ll find a clear gel that has soothing properties. That gel is often packaged and sold to be used topically to treat wounds, skin infections and burns—you may know it best as a way to soothe sunburns.
More recently, the slightly bitter gel is being sold in a more edible form—meant to be stirred into water, smoothies or even consumed on its own.
What Are the Benefits of Aloe Vera Juice?
Some fans of aloe vera juice swear it has helped their digestive tracts, while others say it has cleared up their skin or helped them lose weight.
There are actually a few small studies that say that aloe vera juice may help those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), along with easing the symptoms of heartburn. However, experts agree that larger studies need to be conducted to affirm these findings.
When it comes to your skin, there’s really no proof that it can clear up acne when ingested. So, why do people think it can? Well, aloe vera, when applied topically, has anti-inflammatory properties. So, if you dab some on a blemish, it may reduce your pimple. But the same cannot be said about ingesting it.
That said, staying hydrated is good for your skin. If mixing aloe vera juice into water is making you drink more water, that could have a positive effect on your complexion.
As for weight loss, this is a bit more complicated.
A study done on rats, showed that ingesting aloe vera juice did boost their metabolism. But there’s no proof yet that it can do the same for humans.
Aloe vera juice does also have some laxative properties, so it may help you shed water weight fast. But that weight won’t necessarily stay off.
So, Should You Drink Aloe Vera Juice?
The bottom line is this: Aloe vera has been used topically for thousands of years to soothe skin. However, there’s no substantial proof that ingesting aloe vera juice has any health benefits. That said, if you like the taste or want to try it out, there’s also no harm in drinking some every now and then.
Bethany Heitman, Contributor
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