Top 10 Health Benefits of Aloe Vera Home » Kitchen Ingredients » Top 10 Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

The aloe vera plant is considered to be a miracle plant because of its numerous curative and healing benefits. Aloe vera leaves are filled with a gel containing vitamins like A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C and E, and folic acid.

Minerals found in aloe vera juice are copper, iron, sodium, calcium, zinc, potassium, chromium, magnesium and manganese. All these nutrients have tremendous health benefits.

Health experts regard aloe vera as nature’s most impressive and versatile herb. This herb is safe to use externally and internally. People across the globe use this herb for treating various health conditions from minor burns to cancer.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of aloe vera.

1. Immune Booster

Aloe vera is full of antioxidants, which are natural immune enhancers that help combat free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable compounds that are bad for your health and contribute to the aging process.

Drinking aloe vera juice regularly gives the body a regular supply of antioxidants, which can boost and enhance the immune system.

2. Enhances Skin Health

Aloe vera is one of the natural herbs commonly used in skin care products. It soothes the skin, hydrates it, nourishes it and accelerates the regeneration of new skin tissue. By applying fresh aloe vera gel on your face, you can enjoy well moisturized, glowing and flawless skin.

In addition, aloe vera can be used to treat sunburned skin, blisters, insect bites, allergic reactions, minor burns, inflammations and more. Even people who have sensitive skin can use aloe vera without any problem.

3. Regulates Weight and Energy Level

Drinking aloe vera juice aids in natural cleansing of the digestive system. There are many food substances that can cause fatigue and exhaustion, which you can combat by drinking aloe vera juice.

When consumed regularly, aloe vera juice will also help increase your energy level and help you maintain a healthy body weight.

4. Cures Gum Disease

Aloe vera is extremely helpful for your mouth and gums due to its natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It also contains vitamins and minerals that promote cell growth and healing of bleeding gums and mouth ulcers.

When suffering from gum disease, just massage your gums with fresh aloe vera gel. You can also sprinkle some aloe vera powder on your toothbrush before brushing and within a few minutes your mouth will feel much better. Drinking aloe vera juice regularly also helps promote strong and healthy teeth.

5. Ends Constipation

Aloe vera juice has natural fiber that aids digestion and improves bowel movements. Being a natural laxative, aloe vera juice can also be used to treat constipation.

When constipated, drink two ounces of aloe vera juice daily. Remember that after taking aloe vera, it takes about 10 hours to get positive results.

6. Halts Inflammation

Aloe vera can be used externally to ease inflammation of joints and reduce arthritis pain. You can also drink aloe vera juice to reduce inflammation throughout the body. People who drink aloe vera juice for two weeks typically begin to experience a significant reduction of inflammation and pain symptoms.

Aloe vera is also considered an excellent home remedy for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

7. Treats Acne

Aloe vera gel is used in a number of different skin care products to treat a wide variety of skin problems including acne.

Acne is a very common problem in which the sebaceous glands become more active and produce more oil. The oil combines with dead skin, dirt and bacteria to block the skin pores, causing inflammation and leading to acne.

The anti-inflammatory properties present in aloe vera help get rid of acne and pimples when the gel is applied on the affected skin twice daily. You can also use aloe vera skin care products to treat the scars and redness associated with acne.

8. Makes Hair Smooth and Shiny

Aloe vera has both emollient and moisturizing properties, which help make your hair smooth and shiny.  It even helps maintain the pH balance of the hair.

Plus, its rich nutritional profile promotes hair growth. It even prevents breakage, reduces scalp itching, and treats dandruff.

1. Cut 2 aloe vera leaves and extract the gel with a spoon or scooper.
2. Add the juice of half a lemon and blend the ingredients in a blender.
3. Apply this mask on damp hair using your fingers, starting from scalp till the hair ends.
4. Wrap your hair in a warm towel for 15 – 20 minutes.
5. Finally, wash your hair with lukewarm water and a mild shampoo.
6. Use this hair mask once a week or every fortnight.

9. Stabilizes Blood Sugar Level

Aloe vera juice can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar level and reducing triglycerides. For best results, drink aloe vera juice regularly for three months to see a significant drop in fasting blood sugar levels.

Also, aloe vera supplements can help treat peripheral neuropathy (hands and feet going numb) associated with diabetes.

10. Lowers High Cholesterol

Some studies suggest that aloe vera gel can lower high cholesterol levels. When taken internally, the gel improves the quality of the blood and also lowers high cholesterol.

A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology suggests that regular intake of this magic potion can help lower liver production of cholesterol by about 30 percent. Consult your doctor for the proper dosage of aloe vera supplements to take for your specific cholesterol condition.

To conclude, due to the medicinal potential of aloe vera, it is essential to have this herb in your kitchen garden. This wonderful herb will help you solve many health problems at home without the need to go to the doctor’s office.

Have you eve benefited from any positive effects of using aloe vera? Do you use commercial formulations or your own product? 

Resources:

http://www.top10homeremedies.com/kitchen-ingredients/10-health-benefits-of-aloe-vera.html/3

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21506934

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3200013/

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14598919

50 Beautiful Things You Can Do With Vaseline In 5 Minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YuHHneR3j8

Treating dandruff with natural, homemade remedies is easier than you think

If you like to keep things natural when it comes to your hair care regimen, don’t let dandruff get in your way. Before you resort to manufactured products packed with harsh chemicals, give some simple home remedies a go.

More:  Top 10 superfoods for healthy hair 

Dandruff is basically a buildup of skin cells that have matured and dried too fast, which can cause itching and leave unsightly flakes on the hairline.

The best products for treating dandruff are those that get rid of the skin buildup or that act as a fungicide.

1. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has many surprising benefits, and one of them is as a treatment for dandruff and a dry, itchy scalp. Simply wash your hair with your regular shampoo, and rinse well. Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 3 parts water, pour it over your hair, and leave it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water.

2. Baking soda

Baking soda is a natural, mild exfoliator and also acts as a fungicide, making it a powerful treatment for dandruff. Everyday Roots recommends mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water and pouring it into an old (clean) shampoo bottle. Shake the mixture well, then apply it generously to your hair. Use in place of shampoo, preferably once a day, until you notice a difference in your dandruff. Don’t worry if your hair feels dry initially — its natural oils will soon do their job. To give the mixture a pleasant fragrance, add a few drops of rosemary oil.

More: 10 Apple cider vinegar beauty benefits you're missing out on

3. Fenugreek

The plant fenugreek, commonly used as a spice in Indian cooking, is known for having medicinal properties. The seeds of the plant are high in protein and amino acids, which are believed to boost hair health and help eliminate dandruff.

Mix 3 tablespoons of finely powdered fenugreek seeds with as much plain yogourt as you need to make a thick paste. Mix well, and leave it to soak overnight. Apply the paste once per week, leaving it on the scalp for up to 10 minutes. Rinse well, and wash as normal.

4. Tea tree oil

While it might seem strange to use oil to treat dandruff when excess oil can be the root cause of the problem, certain oils can help keep it at bay, and one of the most popular is tea tree oil. The oil extracted from the leaves of the tea tree plant have fungicidal properties and also help soothe itchy, irritated skin.

Pour 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil into 1 cup of warm water, and mix together in a clean spray bottle. Shampoo your hair as normal, then spray the tea tree mixture all over your scalp. Massage it gently into the scalp, then leave it to sit for a few minutes. Remove excess moisture by patting, but don’t wash it out.

5. Salt

A natural home remedy for dandruff everybody has in the kitchen is salt, and it couldn't be simpler. According to Reader's Digest, shaking some salt onto your dry scalp before you shampoo is great for removing dandruff flakes. Work the salt through your hair with your fingers, massaging it into your scalp, then shampoo as normal.

More:  Shampooing with oil isn't as crazy as it sounds 

http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/1103647/how-to-treat-dandruff

Hair Care - Oily Hair - Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies

This is another way of coping with oily hair. Have a look at this about 2 minutes long guide,

No more oily scalp with this cheap DIY hair wash

Have an oily scalp that leaves your hair looking limp a day after you shampoo? Well, if you have tried everything without much luck, here is a great natural remedy by Charmaine D’souza in a book Kitchen Clinic.

How it helps
This wash contains green tea, mint and lemon. Lemon is a natural astringent and helps get rid of oiliness from your scalp and helps condition your hair. Also, mint and green tea nourish your hair, help keep infections at bay due to their antibacterial and antifungal qualities and are great gentle astringents that keep your scalp oil free. (...) 

What you need

• 2 sachets of green tea
• 5 mint leaves
• 500 mL water
• Juice of one lemon
• Strainer

Method

• Take two sachets of green tea and 5 mint leaves and add them to a vessel with 500 mL of boiling water. Take it off the flame and leave it to infuse for about half an hour.
• Next, add the juice of one lemon and mix it well.
• Strain this mixture and leave it aside to cool.
• How to use this remedy
• Use this mixture to rinse out your hair to help reduce oiliness on your scalp and  hair.

(...)

Image source: Shutterstock

Reference: Kitchen Clinic. Charmaine D’souza. Random House India, Noida, 2013. Pages 265.

http://www.thehealthsite.com/beauty/get-rid-of-oily-scalp-with-this-easy-and-cheap-hair-wash-p915/