health benefits of aloevera

What Is Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera is gel from the leaves of aloe plants. People have used it for thousands of years for healing and softening the skin. Aloe has also long been a folk treatment for many maladies, including constipation and skin disorders. Modern-day research into aloe vera's benefits is mixed, with some evidence showing it can cause cancer in lab animals.

There are no foods that contain aloe vera, so it must be taken in supplement or gel form.

Some forms of aloe vera are safer to take than others, and chronic use is discouraged.

What is aloe vera?

Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that's been used to treat various health conditions for thousands of years. It's usually safe to use also vera directly from the plant or you can buy it in gel form.

Aloe vera creams, gels, and ointments contain the clear gel found in aloe veraleaves. These products can be applied topically to treat various skin conditions. Aloe is sold in capsule or liquid form to take internally to promote health and well-being.

Read on to learn how to use aloe vera and the potential benefits and risks.

How to harvest the plant

It's relatively simple to harvest an aloe plant for gel and juice. You'll need a mature plant that's at least a few years old. This ensures a higher concentration of the active ingredients.

You'll also want to wait a few weeks before cutting leaves from the same plant. You may want to have a few plants on rotation if you plan to harvest aloe often.

To harvest your aloe plant for gel and juice:

1. Remove 3-4 leaves at a time, choosing thick leaves from the outer sections of the plant.

2. Ensure the leaves are healthy and free of any mold or damage.

Cut them close to the stem. Most of the beneficial nutrients are found at the base of the leaves.

3. Avoid the roots.

4. Wash and dry the leaves.

5. Trim the prickly edges with a knife.

6. Using a knife or your fingers, separate the interior gel from the outside of the leaf. The interior gel is the part of the aloe that you'll use.

7. Allow the yellow sap to drain from the leaf. This is the aloe vera latex. If you plan to use the latex, you can catch this in a container. If you're not planning to use the latex, you can dispose of it.

8. Cut the aloe gel into slices or cubes.

9. If you want smooth aloe gel, after separating the aloe from the exterior part of the leaf, you can put the aloe into a blender and then strain the substance to remove the pulp.

Fadya Razak

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