By Karen Masterson Koch
Skin takes a beating year round, yet summer comes with extra abuse that truly requires the A-Team. A is for Aloe and it belongs in every back pack and "Herbal First Aid" kit.
Using a quality Aloe Vera is fun because herbs really work. Along with making smart food choices this summer, applying an Aloe Vera on the outside "pre-sun" with and SPF of choice and also "after-sun" with a favorite lotion is a good skin protector regimen. Researchers have found that applying a quality Aloe Vera to the skin reduces the UV-B Ray damage emitting from the sun. (1) More anecdotally, reports from Aloe Vera juice drinkers state they just don't burn as easily drinking it daily. Either way, the results will speak for themselves, especially when living an active outdoor life. Give it a try!
Summer Skin Regimen
- Skin Nutrients - Eat Smart Foods containing vitamins, minerals and proteins.
- Pre-Sun - Apply SPF and Aloe Vera Skin Gel, Aloe Mist Spray or Aloe leaves (may be drying).
- After-Sun - Apply Aloe Vera with a favorite lotion.
- Supplement - Take a quality Aloe Vera Juice or Tablets daily for skin support and body wellness.
Without a doubt, a good topical Aloe Vera Skin Gel is amazing for soothing sunburn or other types of burns, rashes, scratches or wounds. Even brushing one's teeth or using it as a mouth rinse helps a lot. And swallow it afterwards to receive even more health results. Look for the Aloe Mist spray for a more gentle and quick application for advanced burns or jagged scrapes.
The Nutrition Business Journal reports aloe is at #4 of all herbal superfoods, and sales keep increasing. This consistent growth shows the popularity of taking it is catching on for all ages. Quality products give the best support for many health issues including troubled skin, healthy aging, allergies, energy and immunity. Coupled with a healthier diet and a few key supplements, Aloe is a catalyst for reaching optimum health and performance. These results explain why many athletes are adding Aloe to their workout supplements - it's a game changer!
Why Does Aloe Vera Work?
Ancient civilizations knew how the Aloe Vera plant worked like no other herb. In fact, they called it the Miracle Plant! They used all its properties, never once thinking it was harmful, because it wasn't. The whole plant is 100% safe for topical use and also taking it internally as a daily herbal health tonic. Consumers beware - look for products that are not over-processed to receive all the support the plant can provide.
Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice or Tablets in the concentrated variety, including the dark yellow sap, works closest to the plant itself. It works fast to support digestion, detoxification, allergy, energy, skin, and even balances immunity. This is important information, since there are over 80 auto-immune conditions today. And to experience the support with the immune system, it's dose dependent, so two to three times the daily maintenance amount, best taken before meals.
Research on Quality Aloe Vera Supports (2)
- Healthier Skin & Aging plus Type I Collagen Production
- First Aid, Scrapes & Troubled Skin Renewal
- Digestion, Energy, Immunity Balance & More
A quality product works as a standalone herb, to soothe discomfort and pain because of its natural pain relievers. It also works as a catalyst (herbal bitter), taken daily before meals to improve one's digestion of food nutrients, reducing gas, heartburn, and constipation, which are all critical for optimizing healthy skin and a health body.
The whole leaf Aloe Vera plant contains Actives, to include both nutrition and Phyto-nutrients. Researchers have isolated over one-hundred. They include vitamins, minerals, proteins and essential fats. The inner gel is only half the potency of whole leaf. It's void of yellow sap and, if diluted with water, only testing can reveal the true activity. You get what you pay for in Aloe. The whole leaf concentrated variety with ActivAloe logo has performed the best thus far.
Five Important Phyto-nutrients in Whole Leaf Aloe Vera
The dark Yellow Sap, Anthraquinones, is where the Herbal Bitter is in the whole leaf and it is essential to receive all the benefits through improved digestion and bioavailability of food nutrients; 200-300% greater. Fats and oils, including Sterols, are linked to lowering inflammation in the body, soothing joints and allergies. Salicylic Acid teams up as well to soothe pain on the skin, including acne. A growth hormone from Aloe called Gibberellins speeds cell renewal. And lastly, the polysaccharide activity including Acetyl Mannose appears to be responsible for the potential Immunity Factor that all kids and adults may benefit from these days to look and feel our very best.
Big Difference in Aloe Vera Products - Purchase Wisely!
Search for the Aloe Vera products that are not over processed. When the products still contain more of the actives including the important dark golden color, you will experience what the ancients knew - that Aloe Vera is the most important foundation herb of all time. Enjoy!
*Caution: Ingesting Aloe Vera is safe for kids & adults, however; the plant contains the phyto-nutrient, Aloin. Some scientists believe Aloin helps support immunity in the body, yet it also stimulates the bowels to move. If sensitive, start with just a small amount of a product and if diarrhea occurs, reduce your daily amount.
References :
(1) 1999, Modified Aloe Barbadensis Polysaccharide with Immuno-regulatory Activity, Z,. Qui, K.Jones, S. Ornforff, Dept of Drug Discovery, Univera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Broomfield, CO USA. Original Paper; Fresh Native Aloe Gel, 80k Dalton showed the highest protective activity against UVB irradiation-induced immune suppression equal to the sun rays.
(2) 2012, Beyond Gluten Intolerance GIS, K.A. Masterson Koch, Isbn-13:978-0-692-01650-3, Santee CA. 92071, 700 pgs., Aloe Vera and health pg. 123. Reference 18 Science of hundreds repeatable papers in support of Aloe Vera's actions.
*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.