Today In the Kitchen: Aloe vera’s benefits

Aloe vera is a perennial plant in the lily family that grows in desert climates and hordes moisture in its thick leaves. The clear gel of the leaf has been used for centuries, and has well-known medicinal uses.

First, it makes an excellent treatment for all kinds of skin disorders. It creates a protective coating over the skin, preventing infection and increasing healing through one of its primary ingredients, Aloectin B, an immune stimulant. It is naturally antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.

Aloe vera gel is used in numerous skin care products and cosmetics. As most of us know, aloe is very soothing on sunburns. The straight gel makes an inexpensive and effective face and body lotion. For people adapting to a desert climate, it can be a lifesaver for the nasal passages, which can get very dry and bleed. It can even be used as a personal lubricant (ahem). With no artificial or chemical ingredients, it is healthy for delicate tissues.

Aloe can be used internally as well as externally. Both the juice and gel can be added to juice drinks and smoothies, salad dressings, chilled vegetable soups, and desserts that call for liquids... anything you would use fruit juice in.

Another significant use for Aloe vera is the healing and maintaining of a healthy gut. It is used to clean the colon, end chronic constipation, stimulate a weak appetite, and soothe the internal lining of the bowel. It’s important to note that no matter how well you eat, if you don’t have a healthy gut, you cannot utilize the food you consume. We need good, strong digestion in order to absorb the nutrients in our food.

As you know, a good diet comes from freshly prepared foods that include a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, like brown rice and oats, and the highest quality protein sources you can find, primarily beans, legumes, wild-caught fish, grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, eggs, and nuts and seeds.

Here is my “Morning Gulp” recipe, especially good for people who don’t like to eat breakfast. It helps get you going, and also contains aloe vera juice.

4 ounces of low-sugar juice (cranberry, pomegranate, citrus)

1 ounce aloe vera juice

1 dose of liquid vitamins (much more absorbable than pills)

1 scoop of “green” superfood powder (contains powdered greens)

Combine and blend or shake well.

Aloe is also a natural source of antioxidants, which are key to keeping our systems free of disease. It contains SOD (superoxide dismutase), an enzyme that helps protect cell membranes from free radical damage. As with all nutrients, those in natural food form are better than pills because the body can more readily absorb and utilize them.

Although Aloe vera has a low risk of side effects and can be used daily, people suffering from hemorrhoids or Irritable Bowel Syndrome should consult a healthcare practitioner before using it.

You can buy Aloe vera gel and juice at natural foods stores, or grow a plant. To use the gel from a live plant, just cut off a section of leaf, slice it open, and apply the pulp over the afflicted area. It provides an immediate cooling and soothing effect.

Look for organic products, free from preservatives, especially methl- and poly- parabens, artificial colors, and fillers. Read labels for expiration dates to get the freshest product possible. Once opened, bottles should be capped and refrigerated to reduce oxidation. Gels in tubes usually have a little preservative in them so they don’t need refrigeration. I keep a plant in the kitchen, a tube of gel in the bathroom, and a bottle of juice in the fridge.

Aloe is a plant that keeps on giving — one of the best examples of nature’s endless abundance.

Samaya Jones is a Holistic Nutritional Consultant and Natural Foods Personal Chef, who cooks for you and your guests in your home. She writes for health Web sites, newspapers and teaches wine education classes. She can be reached at ncsamayaj@gmail.com.