By Karen Masterson Koch, CN
Certified Nutritionist and Aloe Life President Karen Masterson Koch is a health researcher, educator, and author with over 25 years’ experience counseling individuals back to health from every type of health challenge imaginable. Her book Beyond Gluten Intolerance has opened the door for many to health discoveries including weight loss, reversing failing health which often includes digestive challenges, mood disorders, allergies, and skin conditions.
Aloe Vera is the most remarkable and fun herbal plant of all time. It’s great for the inside and out; in times of a health crisis or every day like giving the body a tune up for anything that ails you.
Superfoods give special support for preventative health. When paired with making healthier dietary and lifestyle choices, experts agree on Aloe Vera. It multi-tasks as no other herb can do, supporting the way the body was designed to look and feel its best. This must be why more and more athletes, along with kids and adults of all ages, are using it. In fact, it ranks in the top five picks through health food stores today earning it the title of #1 Herbal Superfood.
How does Aloe Work?
Most people view Aloe Vera as a topical natural pain soother for burns in the kitchen or sunburn. Some have applied it to a bug bite, a cut or acne scars with unforgettable results. Yet, taking it daily as a supplement is like super sizing health and it all relates to the plants 100 actives!
Catalyst Action – Reviewing ancient history and science, Aloe Vera appears to work as a catalyst unblocking and supporting pathways of function with repeatable results.
100% Safe – Applied on the body or taken internally, it is a safe herb. Only Caution: Conduct a skin test for allergy response and reduce the amount taken if diarrhea results.
Quality Counts – Big quality and potency differences exist from the plant to each Aloe Vera product. Even a diluted product may have some affect. Yet many people have found the concentrated whole leaf juice products with more actives, including a dark yellow sap their favorite. The color test makes it easy to spot and the results seem similar to the products made by the ancients and early researchers.
History and Research
Ancient civilizations use of the Aloe Vera plant was first depicted in 3500 BC from Egyptian drawings. Greek herbal writings around 1500 BC revealed traditional uses of this high sulfur herb. The primary support told of digestion, glandular issues, cleansing and burn relief. Herbalists made the point to use both the valuable bitter from the yellow sap (whole leaf) along with the fleshy part of the plant (inner gel) for best results.
Published research papers show the wide range of applications when using undiluted and not over heated specimens. In his book, Aloe Vera – A Scientific Approach, Robert Davis PhD underlines how critical the processing is to preserve the actives.
He made special mention about the yellow sap anthraquinones, their safety and also the fragile nature of polysaccharides that are heat sensitive.
Researchers from around the world have isolated over 100 active compounds from the plant. Dr. Davis divided these into 15 family groups to include vitamins, minerals, amino acids and phytonutrients (plant nutrients). The phytonutrients are dynamic to the support and provide scientific understanding of function including: polysaccharides, anthraquinones, saponins, sterols, sterolins, gibberellins, growth factor (speeds cell renewal), cinnomonic acid and salicylic acid.
- Modern science from 1980 to present day, has revealed many of the actual pathways of how Aloe Vera works, addressing co-factors supporting; digestion, immunity, auto-immunity, allergies, sugar metabolism, cholesterol and skin proliferation.
Skin and Collagen
Both personal care and beauty products with Aloe Vera number into the thousands. The plant is famous for giving support to skin. It appears from the research this is primarily due to the pain soothing agents and growth factor called gibberellin, encouraging fibroblast, for faster skin renewal.
- Early U.S. studies with Aloe Vera from 1930-1979, targeted skin research supporting burn patients to resolve related issues three times faster including X-ray side effects, frost bite and gum tissue challenges.
- As a health drink, people boast support for a faster hair and nail growth. A recent published study in 2009, Dietary Aloe Vera, Collagen Expression (Type I Pro Collagen), Wrinkles and Elasticity in Human Skin in Vivo, medical research center, Seoul National University, concluded, women drinking Aloe Vera, experienced a lessening of wrinkles in the skin, greater elasticity and an increase of Type I Pro Collagen.
Digestion, Energy and Immunity
Most people feel better with some Aloe Vera added to their health program with results from A-Z including; energy and stamina. Energy is a great indicator of health value. It’s most likely due to Aloe Vera’s digestive support as an herbal bitter, working like a digestive enzyme. Human studies have shown a 50% increase in absorption of protein. Essential vitamins also soared when taken with Aloe Vera juice. It’s easy to see why athletes have gravitated to Aloe Vera with their protein intake exceeding four times the normal daily recommendation when bulking up for a competition.
University of PA, Scranton, 2003 conducted, Effect of Aloe Vera preparations on the human bioavailability of Vitamins C and E, resulting with Vitamin C being absorbed into the plasma cells two times the level of controls and Vitamin E almost three times greater. In 2007 at Univ. CA, Davis, a second study confirmed the first, along with B12 (challenging to absorb), and all three showed greater absorption with more timed-release efficiency.
Immunity support may also be involved with heightened energy of drinking Aloe Vera. The studies on mammals show Aloe Vera activates four distinct pathways of protection.
As immunity drops in the human body, dormant viruses, bacteria and even fungus are allowed to reactivate. Reviewing the factors for maintaining healthy immunity include diet, digestive efficiency, exercise, toxicity (drugs & chemicals) and genetics. The review of many published papers on immunity of a variety of issues has made the case that the polysaccharides in Aloe Vera appear to support immunity in mammals and is safe to give to one’s pet too.
Cholesterol and Blood Sugar
Aloe Vera also contains natural plant sterols. A spokeswoman from the American Dietetic Association (ADA), Ruth Frechman, RD, states, “Eating sterol and stanol containing foods is an easy way to lower your LDL Cholesterol which may help reduce risk of heart disease. “Along with Aloe Vera (not over filtered), a variety of foods contain sterols including vegetables, legumes, walnuts, salmon and some grains.
Lastly, a variety of 14 minerals are found in the whole leaf Aloe Vera including over 30 trace minerals. Minerals are extremely valuable to overall body function support, even in smaller amounts. Studies have shown Vanadium, in particular, to be associated with balanced insulin metabolism which may support stamina.
Tapping into your Potential with Health and Herbs!
Be your own best health detective. And why not join the growing numbers of Aloe Vera users who have learned why the ancients called it the Gift of Nature and today the #1 Herbal Superfood!
HIGHLIGHTS OF SUPPORT
- Energy & Stamina – Electrolyte Replenisher plus added Protein Efficiency
- Endurance & Recovery – Blood Sugar, Fat Metabolism plus Immunity and Oxygenation
- Reduced Injury – Stronger Collagen Integrity
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products and suggestions are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.