The aloe vera plant is very distinctive looking with its plump green prickly pointy leaves branching out into the shape of a rosette. It’s considered a succulent plant that grows naturally outdoors in arid tropical environments and is also a common house plant. The reason its leaves are so plump is because they contain a health-supporting gel that is used topically; however, aloe vera is also available as a dietary supplement taken orally in the form of a capsule, juice, or powder.
Is Aloe Vera Good for Digestion?
The gel in those plump aloe vera leaves is packed with numerous health-supporting compounds including enzymes, fatty acids, vitamins like A, C, E, and B12, and minerals like calcium, copper, selenium, and zinc.1 Aloe vera is also a source of natural antioxidants that support health and digestion.2
Along with enzymes and other nutrients, aloe vera gel contains polysaccharides, proteins, organic acids, and aloin which are the key compounds that keep things moving when it comes to digestive health.3
Research from 2018 looked at aloe vera and gut health and found that it can help support digestive health in people with digestive issues.4 Those results are consistent with a newer 2021 analysis of two randomized double-blind controlled studies that also found aloe vera extract helped support gut health in people with bowel issues.5
So, is aloe vera good for digestion? Absolutely.
Additional Support with Magnesium
Aloe vera can also be combined with magnesium to provide even more health-supporting benefits. Magnesium is an important mineral that is involved in more than 300 enzyme systems in the body that help support a variety of functions including bone, heart, muscle, teeth, and nerves.6
Magnesium helps support the body while aloe vera supports digestion. Together they are a great combination! Gut Magnesium Powder combines both aloe vera plus magnesium to support healthy digestion, plus heart health, muscles and nerve function.*
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Sanchez M, Gonzalez-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gomez-Serranillos MP. Pharmacological update properties of Aloe vera and its major active constituents. Molecules. 2020;25(6):1324. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144722/
- Hes M, Dziedzic K, Gorecka D, et al. Aloe vera (L.) webb: natural sources of antioxidants—a review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2019;74(3):255-265. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6684795/
- Shen X, Gong L, Li R, et al. Treatment of constipation with Aloe and its compatibility prescriptions. Chinese Herbal Medicines. 2024;July 25. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674638424000741
- Hong S, Chun J, Park S, et al. Aloe vera is effective and safe in the short-term treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurogastroentrol Motil. 2018;24(4):528-535. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175553/
- Ahluwalia B, Magnusson MK, Simren M. Aloe barbadensis Mill. extract improves symptoms in IBS patients with diarrhea: post hoc analysis of two randomized double-blind controlled studies. Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. 2021;14. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562848211048133?icid=int.sj-full-text.similar-articles.7
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium fact sheet for health professionals. 2022;June 2. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
