Today I received a question about aloe. The answer to this question is one thing that separates Stockton Aloe 1 Aloe Vera Gel from most of the aloe vera beverage competitors.
Susan writes:
Does your aloe vera have the aloin taken out? I saw the following information about aloin, and wanted to see if your aloe vera is free of it.
“Taking aloe vera that contains aloin in excess amounts has been associated with various side-effects.”
and
“Once ingested, aloin increases peristaltic contractions in the colon, which induces bowel movements. Aloin also prevents the colon from re-absorbing water from the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to softer stools. This effect is caused by aloin’s opening of chloride channels of the colonic membrane. In higher doses, these effects may lead to electrolyte imbalance, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which are common side-effects of the drug. Because aloin can potentially cause uterine contractions, pregnant women should avoid ingesting aloe products.”1
Dr. Haley’s Response: (video provided by www.rawlifehealthshow.com)
The aloin is the yellowish brown sap in the outer green leaf. Many people do ingest small quantities of whole leaf aloe juice as a laxative to improve their bowel movements. But aloin is not considered to be a safe and effective laxative and may be somewhat unpredictable when using it in this manner. It is especially hard to dose consistently since different parts of the leaf may have different aloin concentrations.
This brings out an important distinction in the various aloe beverages and the terminology associated with them:
Aloe Vera Gel – contains little or no aloin – made from the inner leaf filet. The outer green parts have been cut away.
Aloe Vera Juice – contains aloin – made from whole leaf aloe vera. Essentially, the whole leaves are put in a blender and processed into a beverage
I do not consider aloin to be a desired nutrient from aloe. With certain fruits and vegetable, we remove the outer coverings to eat the nutrition inside. Consider the orange, banana, corn, etc. The good part is on the inside. We throw away the outer wrapper. In the same way, the mucopolysaccharides from the inner gel contain the healthy nutrition from the aloe vera plant.
Stockton Aloe 1 uses inner gel from the filet only in their 100% pure aloe vera gel beverage. Prior to grinding, the filets are rinsed to minimize the possibility of aloin content.
REFERENCES
1. Wikipedia
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Dear Dr. Haley,
I have been growing my own aloe vera for about 10 years now. For about 5 years I have harvested the meat and use it in my smoothies, juice drinks and etc. I a familiar with alion and the effect on the body. About two years ago I started harvesting the leaf only by cutting off the spikes, washing it and freezing it. I would then put about a 1 cup to 1 1/2 cup cut up into my smoothies the entire leaf. I have never experienced any bad digestion problems like so many people comment on. I will say this that my hair, skin, overall well being has improved so much over the past 5+ years of using aloe that when I go shopping with my 11 yr. old granddaughter most everyone thinks she is my daughter. I am going to be 62 in June those who I have not seen in a long time cannot believe how well I look almost no wrinkles with no surgeries. I heard the other day that there is a poison between the meat and the skin is this true and what could it be? I have also heard that there is over 140+ kinds of aloe I feel great and enjoy life to the fullest would appreciate your comments.
I do indeed believe that aloe vera is not only a tissue healer, but also an anti-aging food. I am glad to hear that you are using it that way.
Some people use aloe vera “therapeutically” for their immune systems consuming as much as 24 ounces in a day. Large quantities such as this will require removing the entire outer leaf.
To find out the details about the outer leaf “anti-nutrient” aloin, I recommend the article “Is Aloe Vera Safe To Drink?“.