Aloe vera is a rather simple plant, possible to cultivate and grow in the comfort of your own home. Its gel and juice has been used for a very long time in the form of ointments, creams, gels and many more. Another aloe use option is to take it orally, as a supplement or juice, both equally beneficial. Making your own aloe juice is rather easy and takes just a few steps. Before you start consuming aloe vera juice, pick wide, thick leaves brimming with gel and cut the leaf so as to scoop the healthy gel out. The rest is a piece of cake. Place the gel in a blender, add a bit of your favorite juice to make the flavor more appealing and turn it on. However, if you believe purchasing already made aloe vera juice is a better idea, you will not make a mistake, since there is a plethora of juices available on the market.
When you think about side effects in general, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘negative’ effects. In the case of aloe vera, this is not so, since aloe vera is not known to bring about unwanted results. The key is not to exaggerate – taking a daily recommended dose is absolutely acceptable. If you do cross the allowed limit, there are certain consequences you should expect:
Stomach Sensitivity
Aloe vera leaf’s inner side contains the well-known gel that unfortunately causes a laxative effect when consumed in excessive amounts. Therefore, people who drink aloe vera juice made from a whole leaf, rather than just aloe vera gel, put themselves in risk of severe cramping. Taking into consideration that aloe vera has a special laxative property, what may also occur is unpleasant diarrhea and very loose stools. In addition, if you expose your stomach to a seven-day-long aloe vera usage, such a practice can bring about laxative dependency. To make matters worse, if you try to quit drinking aloe vera all of a sudden after a long period of usage, it can lead to the extreme opposite – serious constipation. Aloe latex being such a power cleansing tool, your body can slowly start suffering from dehydration, a lack of electrolyte balance, and potassium shortage. However, it is important to keep in mind that diabetes and kidney disorder patients are more prone to such problems. On the other hand, healthy people are less likely to be affected by aloe latex. The reason why low potassium can turn out be a serious issue is that they weaken the muscles and make the heartbeat irregular.
The worst possible case is when a person is exposed to aloe vera juice consumption for over a year. Aloe latex may be the main cause for the increase of colon cancer risk.
Irritated Skin and Allergies
Although aloe vera is normally used for skin care, excessive drinking of aloe vera juice may be counter-productive. To be precise, aloe vera can be healing when applied on the skin post-surgically, but applying aloe vera juice after dermabrasion may lead to skin redness. Furthermore, never put on aloe vera juice immediately before being exposed to sunlight due to the risk of a rash.
As regards allergic reactions, you may notice some changes on your skin if you take in aloe vera orally. Namely, such issues appear in people sensitive to the plant for the family Liliaceae. Some examples of Liliaceae plants are lilies, tulips, hyacinths, onion and garlic. Accompanying the symptoms of allergies, some of the conditions that may ensue are itchiness, hives, heavy breathing, chest or throat pain and swollen skin. Despite seeming benign, allergic reactions to aloe vera juice should not be taken for granted and the patient should urgently be sent to see a doctor.