Aloe Vera Juice Benefits and Risks to Consider

Acne, digestive woes, and heartburn are common problems, and they’re not easy to solve. With their tremendous impact on quality of life, we can’t be blamed for hoping celery juice, lemon water, or aloe vera juice might offer a solution. Aloe vera juice benefits range from clear skin and silky soft hair to constipation and heartburn relief.

But should you consider using aloe vera for more than just a topical solution for sunburn relief and start sipping the pulpy, thicker-than-water juice? Given that people have compared the taste to everything from laundry detergent to bitter wheatgrass, we thought it necessary to turn to nutrition experts to separate fact from fiction.

Aloe Vera Juice Nutrition Facts

“Aloe vera juice is extracted from the green outer leaf of the aloe vera plant,” says registered dietitian Rachel Berman. “It’s made by crushing the plant and filtering out the liquid. Naturally, it tastes bitter and is slightly thicker than plain water.” But don’t confuse this with aloe vera gel, found by breaking open the leaf and has been used topically for centuries to treat burns and abrasions.

Similar to orange juice, milk, and other beverages, the nutrition information of aloe vera juice can vary depending on the brand. For example, some brands may add more sugar, which can change the nutritional profile. Generally, eight ounces of aloe vera juice contains:

• Calories: 37
• Protein: 0
• Fat: 0
• Carbohydrates: 9.3
• Fiber: 0
• Sugar: 9.3
• Vitamin C: 9.4 mg

Aloe Vera Juice Benefits

There’s limited scientific research to substantiate claims that aloe vera juice can help with digestion, skin and hair health, or immune function. Berman points out that most research surrounding aloe vera’s benefits focuses on topical applications. Here’s where the science stands on ingesting aloe vera.

Might Reduce Gastrointestinal Distress

The oral administration of aloe vera may relieve constipation for people with and without IBS. According to a review in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, aloe vera leaves contain aloin, a compound that acts as a laxative.

The evidence supported the short-term use of aloe vera ingestion for IBS symptoms, but the review had a small sample size, and it wasn’t clear if they consumed aloe vera juice or another form of the plant.

Could Improve Gut Flora

One study found that a concentration of 5% aloe vera juice encouraged the growth of the gut bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, and L. casei. However, when the aloe vera juice had higher concentrations, the juice had an antibacterial effect.

The researchers suggest that, at low concentrations, aloe vera juice could act as a prebiotic, improving overall gut health. Again, more research is needed.

May Improve Cardiovascular Health

Aloe vera juice may have more health benefits when combined with other juices. A recent study from the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that adding aloe vera juice to orange and carrot juice increased the fruit juices’ antioxidant capacity due to higher phenolic and flavonoid levels.

The researchers found that rats who consumed the juice had lower levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol. In general, consistently lowering these markers to a healthy range reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. More studies on human subjects are needed to confirm the results.

Drawbacks and Risks of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice

While there are some drinks, like Alo Drink, which taste slightly better than straight-up aloe juice, thanks to added ingredients like apple and pear juice, they’re also full of added sugars.

According to the nutrition experts we spoke with, there are no added benefits to drinking any aloe vera beverage. “You’d be better off having water or even a serving of 100 percent orange juice for the vitamin C,” Berman says. Here’s why:

Lack of Nutrients

Although aloe vera juice does have some nutrients, like vitamin C, experts say it’s not significant. “It’s questionable if there are adequate nutrients supplied by aloe vera juice once it’s diluted with water, and aloe vera juice doesn’t supply even close to the recommended daily amounts of B vitamins and vitamin C,” says registered dietitian Suzanne Fisher.

Potential Side Effects

Research on the safety of drinking aloe vera juice in humans is limited. From the current studies, potential risks include diarrhea, skin irritation, vomiting, potassium deficiency, liver toxicity, abdominal pain, and kidney failure.

Medication Interactions

Berman notes that aloe vera juice has been shown to interact with some medications. Specifically, Fisher warns people taking drugs for diabetes, kidney disease, or intestinal conditions. “If taking laxatives, diabetic or blood pressure medication, aloe vera juice should be avoided,” she says.

Tips for Safely Consuming Aloe Vera Juice

If you decide the benefits outweigh the risks, there are a few tips to keep in mind. Some products contain 80 percent aloe vera, while others contain 90 percent of the plant. According to the International Aloe Science Council, there isn’t a “best” type of aloe vera juice.

However, you should look for products that contain less than 10mg per liter of aloin. Also, when purchasing aloe vera juice, look for an IASC certification seal, which means the product has been verified to contain aloe vera by the International Aloe Science Council.

Follow the consumption and storage directions on the package of your juice, and speak to your doctor before adding aloe vera to your diet, particularly if you have any health conditions.