Can Aloe Vera Juice Help Weight Loss?

Aloe Vera juice has been advertised as a remedy or aid for many problems, including overweight, but has only been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for one purpose, which is laxative use.

What exactly is Aloe Vera juice?

• Aloe Vera juice is a yellow liquid extracted from tubules near the skin of the plant leaves. It is described as having a bitter quality.
  It is different from the gel inside of the leaves traditionally used to aid in healing surface wounds.
  The juice is sold in two forms, as a liquid and in a powder form. The powder form is created by drying the liquid and is brown in color due to air exposure.

Weight Loss Use

• Many manufactures and supporters of the juice suggest that it holds multiple properties, making it suitable as a weight loss aid.
  Among the suggested benefits are that it aids in digestion, is a detox agent, accelerates metabolism and works as a colon cleansing agent.
  According to sources advocating the use of aloe vera juice, it contains a type of protein that the body has to exert a lot of energy to break down, therefore speeding metabolism. They further state that amino acids methionine, serine, threonine and molybdenum in the juice act to detoxify the body of certain metals and further aid in speeding up metabolism.

As a Laxative

• The FDA has approved aloe vera juice as an ingredient for laxatives, and the fact that it has been proven as a potent laxative could be why it might help with weight loss.
  When harsh laxatives are taken they can force digested food out of the colon before much of the energy, or calories, from the food have been absorbed by the body. The result is that you actually absorb less of what you consume.

Dangers of Using Laxatives for Weight Loss

• The continual use of a laxative for weight loss is not only dangerous, it is classified as an eating disorder.
  Laxatives are meant only to ease constipation, and using them when you are not constipated is considered drug abuse.
  Abusing laxatives comes with a long list of side effects including strong stomach cramps and pain, nausea and vomiting, chronic diarrhea, bloating, gas, and electrolyte disturbances. Electrolyte disturbances are potentially the most serious of these side effects and can lead to heart complications.

Other Side Effects of Aloe Vera Juice

• The safety of aloe vera juice is still unknown, and several serious side effects have been documented. These side effects include nausea, dermatitis, urine discoloration, liver dysfunction, and allergic reactions.
  It is suggested that those with allergic reactions to garlic or onions may also have allergic reactions to aloe vera juice.
  A few instances of death were also reported; however, these deaths occurred in cancer patients who were given the juice intravenously.
  Aloe vera juice can also be toxic in children.