Legends are associated with this plant. For its sake, Alexander the Great conquered an entire island in the Indian Ocean (Socotra) to heal the wounds of his soldiers. It is credited with the most miraculous properties, from aphrodisiac to immunomodulatory. Therefore, it is not surprising that nutritionists propose using aloe for weight loss, since its effect on metabolism and digestion makes it effective for this purpose.
Weight Loss Mechanism
The proposal to use aloe for weight loss is based on its comprehensive effect on the body:
- It triggers the fat-burning process;
- It has a laxative effect;
- It has detoxification properties;
- It accelerates metabolism, regardless of age;
- It improves digestion;
- It lowers blood sugar levels.
All these processes, launched in the body with the regular and proper use of aloe juice, gel, or extract (another name for the plant), lead to weight loss. However, there is one drawback: it increases appetite.
Benefits
Losing weight with aloe, you can get a lot of pleasant bonuses, as it has a оздоравливающее effect on the body:
- It eliminates constipation;
- It reduces pain and inflammation in gastritis, enterocolitis, gastroenteritis, stomach ulcers;
- It makes breathing easier and relieves apnea and dyspnea in bronchial asthma and tuberculosis;
- It prevents the development of eye diseases: blepharitis, keratitis, conjunctivitis;
- It strengthens the immune system;
- It speeds up recovery in case of exacerbation of infections;
- It relieves cough and removes mucus from the lungs;
- It cleanses the skin of the face from acne and pimples;
- It is prescribed to eliminate “female” problems in gynecology.
The plant owes its beneficial properties to its chemical composition, which includes sterols, pectins, volatile substances, enzymes, catechins, vitamins, polysaccharides, organic acids, and other bioactive substances that normalize the functioning of the body.
Contraindications
These include:
- Pregnancy (aloe can cause a miscarriage);
- Breastfeeding;
- Heavy menstruation, uterine bleeding;
- Insomnia;
- Inflammation of the meninges;
- Pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- Hemorrhoids;
- Diabetes;
- Kidney, liver, and bladder diseases;
- Age under 14;
- Allergies.
Recommendations
How to make aloe juice at home?
- Only a plant that is at least 3 years old contains beneficial properties.
- Do not water it for 2-3 days before harvesting the material.
- Cut off 5-6 of the juiciest lower leaves with scissors or a sharp knife.
- Rinse in warm, boiled water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
- Wrap in 2 layers of gauze or cheesecloth, place on a saucer, and place on the top shelf of the refrigerator for 2 weeks. This is necessary for the formation of beneficial substances in the leaves.
- Cut each leaf along one of its sides.
- Extract the green, jelly-like substance with a teaspoon – this is the gel itself, which is intended for the preparation of home remedies.
- Place in a glass jar with thick walls, close the lid tightly, and store in the refrigerator.
- Use within 3 days.
If you do not have two weeks to keep the leaves in the refrigerator, you can simply pass them through a мясорубка, squeeze them, and get the juice, which can be used in the same way as the gel.
How to prepare a product for weight loss?
Here are a few recipes. They enhance the effect of aloe with additional fat-burning and metabolic ingredients. However, there are also some classics – 2 simple recipes that do not require any additional components.
Recipe #1. Consume the gel or juice from the leaves, 1 teaspoon twice a day: 15 minutes before dinner and just before bed. Drink plenty of water. Keep in mind that it tastes very bitter.
Recipe #2. For 1 teaspoon of gel (juice) – 100 ml of water at room temperature. Stir well. Drink in one gulp. The schedule of use is the same as in the previous recipe.
It is better to consume the gel in its pure form (as in Recipe 1), and the juice is better diluted with water (as in Recipe 2).
When is the best time to drink it?
The laxative effect of aloe is moderate, and bowel movements occur 7-8 hours after ingestion. Therefore, if your goal is to lose weight by cleansing the body, then it is better to consume it just before bed.
However, there is another important nuance. Aloe has a slight tonic effect on the central nervous system. Therefore, people suffering from neuroses, depression, or who are emotionally excitable and unbalanced may not be able to fall asleep if they consume it just before bed. If you have such problems, it is recommended to do this in the first half of the day. Another option is to add juice or gel to soothing herbal teas.
Each recipe and instructions for preparation must contain information on how to take a particular remedy, since the scheme of their use can differ significantly. It depends on the additional components.
How long should you take it?
Any remedy, whether it is a pharmacy drug or a traditional medicine recipe, should not be taken for more than 2 weeks. The plant extract has too strong a laxative effect on the digestive tract. And this leads to the “lazy bowel” syndrome, when after the end of the course, the stomach is unable to digest food on its own, as it will be waiting for help from the outside. As a result, there will be pain in the abdomen, discomfort, and constipation will return. However, this is not the most dangerous thing.
According to the latest research, this syndrome is one of the causes of gastrointestinal tumors. Given such serious consequences of active aloe consumption, it is strongly recommended to consult a specialist beforehand.
Moreover, there are cases when aloe juice caused poisoning. Symptoms of this condition include:
- Abdominal cramps;
- Prolonged, severe diarrhea;
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Dizziness;
- Severe thirst;
- Tremor of the limbs.
Poisoning or overdose can lead to serious health problems, such as inflammation of the intestines and hemorrhagic nephritis.
Is it necessary to follow a diet at the same time?
If you only consume aloe without changing your diet and lifestyle, then you will not achieve great success in losing weight. Perhaps, during the first few days, 1.5 kilograms will go away due to the detoxification effect, but as soon as the intestines are cleansed, the weight will stabilize. To continue to reduce it, you need to reduce your daily calorie intake. Since one of the properties of the plant is to accelerate metabolism, it is good to support this with fractional and balanced nutrition. If you manage to do this, then you will not need diets. On the contrary, they will only interfere with the process, since they slow down the metabolism.
Additional Tips
Find out in advance how your body will react to aloe. Start with a minimum dose and gradually increase it to the recommended volume if there are no side effects.
The course of taking the remedy should be completed in the same way – gradually reducing the dose so that the digestive tract can get used to the idea that it is no longer worth waiting for help from the outside.
