The Benefits and Side Effects of Aloe Vera
Online, June 24, 2012 (Newswire.com) - NutritionGang.com, the site dedicated to give quality information about health, has shared some of its insights about the benefits and side effects of aloe vera, the wonderful superfood.
Aloe vera is one of the superfoods because of its numerous health benefits. It has been used by many people from different parts of the world like Europe, Asia and America for hundreds of years. Studies conducted on the aloe vera reveal that the plant contains medicinal properties that help to treat a lot of sicknesses like burns, wounds, infections, diabetes and other diseases.
Here are some of the health benefits of aloe vera:
1. It helps to promote digestion and cleanse and nourish the colon.
Aloe vera helps to improve digestion and it has the ability to relieve stomach cramps. It also provides cleansing and nourishment to the colon. It can prevent constipation and it is capable of removing old feces from the colon wall. These wastes can become toxic if they stay in the colon for prolonged periods.
2. It helps to relieve inflammation.
It contains anti-inflammatory properties which work to provide relief from joint pains due to arthritis.
3. It helps to promote healthy skin.
Aloe vera is rich in Vitamin C which plays an important role in healing wounds, cuts and burns. It contains antioxidants that help to nourish the skin and protect it from wrinkles and signs of early aging.
4. It helps to strengthen the immune system.
Aloe vera helps to fortify the immune system by cleansing the body from toxins. This lightens the load of the immune system and enables it to focus on the harmful organisms that threaten the body.
These are some of the health benefits of aloe vera. Although it is considered very beneficial, caution should be observed when they are to be taken internally, especially if they are combined with other products. There is a warning about some aloe vera brands because they mix aloe vera with some unhealthy chemicals, such as combining ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in their products. According to cancer.org, the combination produces benzene - a chemical that can cause cancer.
NutritionGang.com recommends thorough reading of the ingredients before buying aloe vera products to ensure that benzene is avoided.
Caution should also be exercised when using aloe vera for extended periods as it is known to cause loss of potassium, hematuria or the presence of red blood cells in urine, albuminuria or the presence of albumin in urine, and fluid imbalance.
