The benefits of drinking aloe vera

“Aloe vera, known as the ‘plant of immortality’, has been used for centuries as it claims to have healing properties for your skin, digestive system, diabetes prevention, as well as many more conditions,” agrees Dr Claire Shortt, Lead Scientist at FoodMarble.

“It may have just jumped on the scene via TikTok but in actual fact, aloe juice has long been praised for its health benefits, notably on one’s gut health,” explains Dr Giuseppe Aragona, GP and health adviser for Prescription Doctor.

“Aloe vera juice may help those suffering from chronic constipation or constipation-predominant IBS,” says Shortt. That’s because people with IBS and chronic constipation have gut microbes that produce excess methane, which slows down the mobility of food within the digestive system. “Aloe vera contains compounds that when ingested, can have a laxative effect.” In other words, it can help to get things moving again.

One 2018 study in the Journal of Neurogastroenterol and Motility suggested that people with IBS had significantly improved symptoms after taking aloe vera in comparison to a placebo, while a 2013 trial in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences found that aloe vera could reduce pain, discomfort and flatulence.

Does drinking aloe vera juice really improve gut health or is it just another TikTok trend?