Need a Digestive Aid for Your IBS? Soothing Aloe May Be Just Your fix

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, better known as IBS, is a disorder that affects the large intestines and digestive system. If you suffer from IBS, you may experience bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, and/or cramps. Dealing with these symptoms is uncomfortable and often problematic, but they can be controlled. One digestive aid that can help with IBS symptoms is aloe vera. Aloe vera gel or juice is great for topical use, but it can also be used to help soothe the colon and relieve IBS symptoms.

What is the Intestines’ Job?

Understanding how the intestines work during digestion will help you better understand how aloe vera can help heal your body. The digestive tract absorbs nutrients and gets rid of toxins. The healthy bacteria in your digestive tract should separate the good nutrients from the bad toxins. However, an unhealthy diet makes it difficult for your digestion to do this properly which often results in more toxins and impurities in your system. IBS is a sign of toxin buildup. These toxins and unabsorbed food build up inside your colon. With build up, not only do toxins get trapped, but nutrients will no longer be able to absorb into your body and blood stream as they should. This can cause more problems in addition to typical IBS symptoms such as malnutrition or fatigue. Such buildup will only get worse if it is not taken care of properly.

How Does Aloe Effect the Colon?

In order to use aloe to soothe the intestines, it must be ingested, either as a liquid, gel, or capsule. Aloe is very gentle on the intestinal tract. It can heal the intestines from inflammation, act as a stool softener for those experiencing constipation, and help the digestive system work more efficiently. Efficient and effective digestion can help relieve diarrhea and constipation symptoms as well as other systems that result. Aloe can also help cleanse the colon. The soothing effects of aloe and abundant vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients in aloe help to remove toxins and food buildup in the colon and the body. These toxin can make you feel ill and mess with your entire digestive system if they remain in your body. Aloe vera contains enzymes that can help in digestion by breaking up the undigested food. It will take a few weeks of regular aloe consumption to completely clean up the colon.

The Chemical Make Up of the Aloe Plant

One reason why the aloe plant is so beneficial is that it is thought to have a chemical make up closer to the chemical make up of humans than any other plant. Aloe has the ability to restore the digestive system and bring back vital nutrients. Highly processed diets lacking proper nutrients are often the cause of intestinal problems. Aloe vera can help return the digestive system to its optimum state, even after all the damage done by an improper diet.

Improved or Relieved Symptoms

When the colon and digestive system are improved or restored by the enzymes and nutrients from the aloe vera plant, some individuals find improvement in many IBS systems. You may experience less bloating and heartburn, an ease in stomach pain and gas, and most importantly, healing from diarrhea and/or constipation. Healing from IBS can occur with regular use of aloe vera and a healthy diet.

Drinking Aloe vs Taking a Pill

There are several ways to consume aloe vera. There are powders, pills, gel, and juice. They each have their benefits, but one may still be better than the other. Juice or gel form is most often recommended and should be tried first if possible. Pills, or capsules, are more convenient. You don’t have to mix them with anything, drink anything that doesn’t taste good, etc. Pills travel well. If you plan to consume aloe with every meal, it is easier to take a pill. Also, some people can’t handle the taste or consistency of the gel, which isn’t a problem when you swallow a pill.

Juice or gel absorbs better into the system. It is in its natural form and is faster-acting than using a pill. If you find pills more convenient, but you want to try drinking juice or gel, you can carry it in a water bottle. Usually, you should keep it chilled before you use it, if possible.

How to Drink Aloe

Some people don’t mind the taste or texture of aloe. Others have trouble drinking it once, let alone on a daily basis. The gel is thick and lumpy, and it is difficult to drink normally. If you are worried about the consistency, use the liquid instead of the gel. You can water down the gel to thin it out and make it easier to drink if you can’t get the juice. Some people take the juice or gel quickly in one or two gulps. If you don’t like the taste, mix it with water or juice. Often, mixing it with juice is enough to completely disguise the taste.

What Kind of Aloe

Do not drink the kind of aloe gel you find in the beauty aisle at the drugstore. This is not meant for ingesting. This should only be used for topical use such as on burns or rashes, or as a moisturizer. Usually these aren’t 100% aloe. They often contain alcohol, preservatives, and fillers. Eating the gel directly from the plant might not be a good idea either. Some plants can be poisonous if you don’t have the right kind. The easiest way to do it, and often the cheapest, is to buy ready-to-drink gel or juice. This can be found in a health food store or online.