Aloe Vera gel has packed with magic ingredients of numerous medicinal properties; it appears to help reduce blood-glucose & glycosylated hemoglobin levels.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera plant: Aloe Vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent (having thick, fleshy, water stored leaves) plant growing to 60 to 100 cm (i.e. 24 to 39 inches) tall. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green, or grey-green; margin of the leaf is serrated (saw-toothed) and has small white teeth.
Aloe Vera nativity is unclear and may be from Africa; the modern gardeners have widely grown Aloe Vera as an ornamental plant.
What is Aloe Vera Juice?
Aloe Vera juice is from the leaves of the aloe plant by just removing the marginal saw-toothed spikes and the green layer of the leaf. Inside this, you can find a watery gel with yellow sap wash it out. Because consuming this sap may cause dysentery, but it can help treat constipation.
Crash this clean Aloe Vera’s jelly to become watery liquid called Aloe Vera juice. It is always best to take it as a fresh juice, but even commercially available Aloe Vera juices are effective. Consuming this Aloe Vera juice can help various health conditions, for details looks at the Aloe Vera benefits.
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Aloe Vera help lower blood sugar level
Co-administration of conventional drug and herbal medicine may cause potential interactions that lead to adverse events. So get doctor’s consent before starting herbal treatment.
The mechanism of action of Aloe Vera to reduce blood-glucose levels is by enhancing glucose metabolism.
Additionally, the glucose-lowering effect could be by an antioxidant mechanism; it attenuates oxidative damage in the brains of streptozotocin (a naturally-occurring chemical that is particularly toxic to the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas) induced mice and reduced peroxidation levels in the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Aloe Vera scientific evidence in blood sugar management
- Blood sugar and triglyceride levels in the treated group fell. The results suggest the potential of aloe vera juice for use as an antidiabetic agent. Ref: Phytomedicine. 1996 Nov;3(3):241-3.
- The current evidence suggests some potential benefit of Aloe vera in improving glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Ref: Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Volume41, Issue2, April 2016, Pages 180-188.
- We conclude that aloes contain a hypoglycaemic agent which lowers the blood glucose by as yet unknown mechanisms. Ref: Horm Res. 1986;24(4):288-94.
- Improvement of Glucose and Lipid Profile Status with Aloe Vera in Pre-Diabetic Subjects: A Randomized Controlled-Trial. Ref: Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders 14 (2015): 22.
- Reduction of Fasting Blood Glucose and Hemoglobin A1C Using Oral Aloe Vera: A Meta-Analysis. These results support the use of oral aloe vera for significantly reducing FBG (46.6 mg/dL) and HbA1c (1.05%). Ref: The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 22(6) June 17, 2016, Pages:450–457.
- Efficacy of Aloe Vera Supplementation on Prediabetes and Early Non- Treated Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients 2016, 8(7), 388.
Unlike conventional drugs, herbal medicines are complex mixtures of bioactive compounds. Season, growing condition, processing method can vary the constitutions of the bioactive compound.
14 Medicinal Uses of Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera possesses anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemia, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant property, which may help prevent heart disease and strokes. Numerous studies show Aloe has a beneficial effect in the prevention of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
Aloe vera can nourish the body with minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and glycol-nutrients. Thus, Aloe vera beneficial from the head to toe.
- Control blood sugar - taking two tablespoons of aloe vera juice per day can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Many types of research show the aloe gel contains active constitutions that reduce blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels (A1C).
- Lowers cholesterol level, oxygenate the blood, protect the body from stress, and reduce high blood pressure.
- Improves digestion – It is useful for indigestion, liver problems, stomach ulcers, intestinal worms, and many other conditions. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a digestive disorder result in heartburn. Consuming 1 to 3 ounces of aloe gel at mealtime could reduce the heartburn severity.
- Useful for constipation – Aloe vera is a natural laxative; 0.04 to 0.17 grams of dried juice is sufficient to relieve constipation.
- Skincare - Aloe vera gel is widely known to relieve sunburn and help heal wounds. It helps many skin conditions; use internally or externally such as for wounds, burns, rashes, sores, herpes, fungus, vaginal infections, acne, sunburn, psoriasis, warts, etc. It protects the skin from the aging effects of sunlight.
- Immune booster – Internally taking it increases immunity, thus helps cancer patients by stimulating the development of non-cancerous cells and white blood cells. Fight breast cancer - it has the potential in slowing the growth of breast cancer.
- Reduce Inflammation - It can help to slow down or inhibit inflammation.
- Fight infection – useful for urinary tract infections and kidney infections.
- Healthy joints - This may help painful joints due to stiffness and improve joint flexibility.
- Reduces dental plaque - Aloe vera in tooth gels is effective in fighting cavities.
- Treat mouth ulcers - Aloe vera can accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers.
- Improves mood - Aloe Vera reduced depression and improve memory.
- Adaptogen - is something that boosts the body’s natural ability to adapt to external changes and resist illness. Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen.
- Detoxification - This supports the proper elimination of waste from your body and thus detoxifies your body.
Aloe Vera dosage
Normally suggested aloe dosage for the treatment of diabetes is 30 ml, dilute with water and take in the early morning. Otherwise, take 600 mg tablets 1 to 3 daily.
Aloe Vera availability
Aloe Vera is available as gel, juice, spray-dried powder and as a capsule.
How do you take Aloe Vera?
Aloe Vera gel or juice can dilute with water, taste it as per your choice or drink the juice as it is. Spray dried powder capsules can swallow as a supplement.
If you have aloe plant around your location, you can try to consume it as fresh juice every alternate day.
Bioactive constituents of Aloe Vera
The aloe plant gel contains about 99 to 99.5 % water, with an average pH of 4.5. It contains over 75 different ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, saponins, sterols, amino acids, and salicylic acid.
Vitamins and Minerals are C, A, E, B vitamins, B-carotene, Zinc, Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, and Phosphorous.
It contains at least five different enzymes and likely more. It contains twenty-two amino acids. Plant sterol is a plant-based compound, potent anti-inflammatory agents.
Gibberellin is a growth factor, which assists in healing. Polysaccharides, including B1-3 and B1-4 Glucomannan known for their immune stimulating effects, Based on its constituent make up; aloe has a wide array of applications.
Possible side effects of Aloe Vera
Other than occasional allergic reactions, there is no serious problem in the use of aloe gel, both internally and externally.
If aloe is useful in your diabetes treatment, you should closely monitor your glucose levels.
If possible, you can lower your medication in steps. Otherwise, hypoglycemia may occur.
The laxative effect (yellow sap from aloe vera) of aloe may cause abdominal cramps, pain, and severe diarrhea, with subsequent fluid and electrolyte disturbances.
This form may deplete potassium, predisposing people who use it to cardiac abnormalities. However, after removing the aloe vera skin there is yellow sap appears, if you properly remove these sap in running water, then these laxative effect disappears and provide abdominal benefit by calming down the digestive system.
Additive hypokalemia may also occur when it is coadministered with other drugs that deplete potassium, such as diuretics or corticosteroids.