Page 6 - Good Health English

Cell Function: One of the most Many preparations are available that claim
remarkable qualities of Aloe Vera to provide Aloe Vera in tablet or capsule
gel is its ability to speed up form. It is unlikely that many of the delicate
the cell renewal process. beneficial components will survive the
This helps to improve manufacturing process, and these products
many cellular functions and often contain so little Aloe Vera anyway. The
protects the skin from market for Aloe Vera products is so clouded
degeneration. Aloe Vera with conflicting claims with manufacturers
has an astringent action in for a quick buck, and unscrupulous
and tightens the skin, thus players, that it is no wonder that many
protecting it from early health professionals remain skeptical of the
aging. benefits of Aloe Vera.
Antiseptic: The Aloe Vera Importance of Stabilization
plant produces at least 6 antiseptic agents:
lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, The Aloe Vera plant thrives in warm, dry
cinnamonic acid, phenol and sulphur. conditions – a climate which is not prevalent
All of these substances are recognized in every part of the world. The popularity and
as antiseptics because they exhibit anti- effectiveness of Aloe Vera, in climates where
microbial activity. Aloe has been used the plant does not grow, are made possible
to eliminate many internal and external only by a process called stabilization.
infections, wounds and ulcers. Lupeol, The inner leaf gel of the Aloe Vera plant is
salicylic acid and magnesium are very where most of the curative and medicinal
effective analgesics. This explains why Aloe properties of the plant lie. In the wild, this
is effective in alleviating pain. gel is well protected by the fleshy outer rind,
With all of the benefits that are known for which prevents moisture loss and protects it
Aloe Vera, it is no wonder people use Aloe from the atmosphere. However, once the leaf
Vera so much. There are all kinds of Aloe is cut and the gel is exposed to air, it begins
Vera products available. However, those to oxidize and as the oxidation process
using Aloe, should heed the words of the continues, the gel is robbed of many of its
ancient Greek physician Dioscorides, who beneficial properties. This is because in
said that the healing properties are to be order to survive, the plant starts to feed on
found in the yellowish to liver-coloured, its own nutrients and so, all the beneficial
offensive smelling, bitter tasting gel. But properties are re-absorbed by the plant
many “so-called” 100% Aloe Vera products itself in its effort to provide nutrition for
available in the market, of which most do itself. Hence, a method had to be derived to
not meet the description of Dioscorides, prevent this oxidation from occurring when
might be questioned, because if the product the leaves were harvested.
you are thinking of buying looks like water, Stabilization is a method of preserving the
smells like water and tastes like water, most gel, in a state as close as possible to its
likely you are buying - water. original form, without losing the original
potency and effectiveness of the fresh leaf.
Ensuring you drink true Aloe Vera Without stabilization, spoilage of the gel will
Aloe Vera has a mildly bitter taste which occur, even under refrigeration. A study
may be unpleasant in the raw state. It is conducted by the Food & Drug Research
possible to get used to the taste of plain Laboratories in New York found that
Aloe Vera gel, but if you can’t, the addition stabilized Aloe Vera was “virtually identical”
of some fruit juice helps to make it more to fresh Aloe Vera gel obtained from the
palatable. plant.

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