Aloe vera juice for the gut

I first heard of aloe juice way back in 2005. My husband was having horrible stomach problems and our natural doctor suggested it might help. We bought some at the store and he quickly decided that he hated it, but begrudgingly drank it after much discussion. And while it helped a lot with his reflux issues, it didn’t solve the problem completely so he gave up. (We found out later that he had gallstones, not sure if aloe alone could cure that or not.)

Fast forward many years later, my roommate and best friend would buy huge jars of it at Trader Joes and drink it daily. She would mix it with kombucha (another thing she introduced me to) and after I tried it I was hooked!! I loved the flavor of the tart aloe with the bubbly kombucha, plus I loved that it was good for me and helped my gut feel amazing.

Benefits of aloe vera juice

Aloe has been used for centuries in Asia to treat a wide variety of health issues. You’ve probably already used it on a cut or sunburn to help heal the skin. But did you know that aloe vera juice can also help with digestive issues such as sluggish digestion? For reals! It cleanses the digestive tract while reducing pain and swelling from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

It’s also been shown to reduce inflammation in the body and inhibits arthritis pain. It helps to detoxify and can aid in weight loss while also helping to support your immune system and helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels. There are even applications for teeth, hair, skin and heartburn.

Is there anything aloe can’t do? Nope! It even helps to prevent and heal cancer in the body. Like stops the growth of cancerous tissue. I don’t know about you, but I’m sold. To read more about the incredible healing properties of this wonderful plant, read this post.

Making aloe vera juice at home

This week I decided to try making it at home. I found this recipe and got to work. It was so simple.

I bought this leaf at Whole Foods. You could also use an aloe plant that you have at home. I don’t grow aloe because I’m not allowed to grow succulents anymore. Sigh. I always kill them. Always.

I cut the leaf into a few manageable sections, peeled off the curved side of the leaf with a paring knife.  Then I used a spoon to scoop out the gel.

It’s slimy and cool…ok this part kinda looks like snot. Just being honest. But I’m not easily grossed out so I found it fascinating. I put the aloe gel into my blender and then saved the leaves to use as a hair mask, it supposedly will help your hair to grow back, and I can use all the help I can get. I also rubbed it all over my face and neck to moisturize and bring energy back to my skin.

Next I added 2 cups of water, the juice from half a lemon and blended on high for about 40 seconds. Then I poured the juice through a nut milk bag to strain out the slimy bits so that they don’t end up in my juice.

All done! I put about 2 oz of aloe juice and added 6 oz of kombucha to make my aloe-bucha. It was sooooo good. Thank you Kathryn for upping my kombucha game!

If you want to try aloe but don’t have time to make it at home, I recommend this brand. You can find it at Whole Foods and Natural Grocer or I like the Trader Joes brand too.