If a plant could be called “iconic”, aloe vera would warrant the description. With its spiky, tentacle-like leaves and gooey insides, everyone wants an aloe vera plant on their window. But it’s not merely ornamental. Aloe vera, which grows in tropical, semi-tropical and arid climates, as well as your living room, has been used for centuries for its beautifying and medicinal benefits (there’s a reason it’s in all your most calming skincare products). From its anti-inflammatory effects to antimicrobial properties, the aloe vera plant really is that girl.
What a lot of people forget, though, is that you can reap plenty of benefits by going straight to the source – as in by drinking pure aloe vera juice, which you can buy from most health food shops (don’t go crunching on the aloe vera plant in your bedroom; the latex surrounding the gel inside the leaves can irritate the stomach). When I first started incorporating aloe into my morning breakfast routine a few weeks ago, I just stirred it into coconut water. Unlike other health hacks, like acupuncture or 5am runs, this is an easy one to introduce.
But – and now for the important bit – why? Here’s everything you need to know about aloe vera juice benefits.
What does aloe vera juice taste like?
Depending on the type of juice you go for (there are sugary options that don’t contain the same health benefits or the 100 percent pure and organic kind), aloe vera can taste a little bitter and mildly citrusy. Again, I like stirring a 50ml shot of the pure stuff into a glass of coconut water in the morning with ice or throwing it into a smoothie, where it’s barely noticeable. But a lot of people find it easier to just knock back a few neat tablespoons.
