Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been used for centuries by different peoples around the world, from the ancient Greeks, Romans and Babylonians, to the people of India, China and the Caribbean. It has many different names – the burns plant, the wand of heaven, the miracle plant, the plant of life. It’s mentioned in the Bible and drawings of it have been found on the walls of tombs in Ancient Egypt.

Around 300 different types of Aloe have been been identified by botanists. Of  these, the one used by Forever, Aloe Barbadensis Miller, is recognised as having the most potent medicinal properties.

It takes around four years for an Aloe plant to grow to maturity. Although often mistaken for a cactus, it is in fact part of the lily family, related to onions and leeks. The outer leaf has a thick rind which protects the inner gel.

Studies have found that this gel contains around 75 ingredients, with a variety of medical benefits.

• Lignin – a cellulose substance which has no known medical properties but is able to penetrate human skin.
• Saponins – a  natural soapy substance used in detergents and foaming agents which contains antiseptic properties.
• Anthraquinones – natural laxatives, painkillers and analgesics, with powerful antibacterial, antifungal and virucidal properties.
• Minerals – Calcium (for proper bone and teeth density), Manganese (necessary for the activation of other enzymes), Sodium (ensures that body fluids don’t become too acidic or too alkaline), Copper (enables iron to work as oxygen carriers in the red blood cells), Magnesium (used by nerves and muscle membranes to help conduct electrical impulses), Potassium (regulates the acidic or alkaline levels of body fluid), Zinc (contributes to the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats), Chromium (necessary for the proper function of insulin, which controls sugar levels in the blood), and Iron (controls the transportation of oxygen around the body via the red blood cells).
• Vitamins – A, C, & E (crucial antioxidants that combat dangerous free radicals in the body), Vitamin B & Choline (concerned with the production of energy, amino acid metabolism and developing muscle mass), Vitamin B12 (responsible for the production of red blood cells), and Folic acid (helps develop new blood cells).
• Amino Acids – the building blocks of protein, which manufacture and repair muscle tissue. Aloe Vera provides 20 out of the 22 amino acids required by the human body and 7 of the 8 essential ones.
• Enzymes –  help to break down fats, starches and sugars and assist in digestion.
• Sugars – both monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose, and polysaccharides, which aid proper digestion, maintain cholesterol levels, improve liver functions and promote the strengthening of bones.
• Sterols – important anti-inflammatory agents, containing antiseptic  properties and with pain killing properties similar to aspirin.

Aloe Vera is made up of around 99% water, so all of these helpful ingredients are contained in just 1% of the plant – a tiny percentage but a significant one, as they work together synergistically to create an affect far greater than the sum of the individual parts. Aloe can provide essential nutrients, helping to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts,  reducing inflammation and balancing the immune system.

A healthy balanced diet supplemented with Aloe Vera is a good way to give the body the essential nutrients it  needs to function at an optimal level.

It seems that scientific studies are now confirming what ancient cultures and indigenous peoples have known for centuries.