Aloe Vera Juice For IBS Or Irritable Bowel Syndrome Can Aloe Help?
Aloe Vera For IBS
Is Aloe Vera suitable for treating irritable bowel syndrome? That’s what we are going to try and answer for you all today and our studies, research, and findings may interest you.
Have you ever felt fobbed off by your doctor and simply handed another round of tablets that never seem to work? Are you looking for natural ways to alleviate problems or even better prevent them from happening in the first place?
Aloe Vera can possibly help so many problems from developing in the first place but before we discuss this it’s good to know the underlying causes of the problems we are facing.
Many of our lifestyle choices are common causes of illness and make hereditary problems more relevant. Whether you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or not, it is always good to learn and when it comes to aloe there is a fountain of interesting things to delve into.
Aloe Vera is an alternative medicine but it is not and never should be used as a replacement for prescription medication- it should be considered as a boost to a healthy lifestyle made through informed choices and balanced habits.
What Is IBS Or Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
IBS occurs in a lot of people and affects the digestive system- the main issues that arise are stomach cramping, bloated or gassy stomach, and bouts of diarrhea or constipation. Not everybody gets it severely and symptoms vary from person to person.
Sometimes uncertain triggers can cause problems over a few days up to several months and a vicious circle of guessing whether stress causes an IBS flare-up or if an IBS flare-up causes stress. Either way, it can have a negative mental impact on sufferers, so it is good to be vigilant and try to work out which foods or beverages you are sensitive to this way you can avoid being victim to as many flare-ups.
Who Is Most Likely To Get IBS?
Around one in 5 people get IBS and will usually first start to rear its ugly head when somebody enters their 20s, with almost twice as many women suffering IBS as men do. It can be improved though and the outlook is not as bleak as you may think it is.
What Is The Cause Of IBS?
The exact cause is not known as we write this article but more advanced techniques to deal with it are developing all the time. Most research points to the theory that trouble with digesting food thus creating a sensitive gut is the root cause of the problem.
Trouble digesting food can lead to inflammation, an overworked immune system, and a decreased appetite. All of this makes for a sensitive gut and infections may arise if the problem is left alone untreated or if you don’t seek medical advice.
Stress Related IBS
Sometimes when people tell you it’s all in your head- they couldn’t hit the nail more on the head if they tried but that doesn’t mean we are fobbing it off like the common phrase would permit- in fact we are suggesting the total opposite. The majority of physical issues can be triggered by a response in our brain and phycological can play a role in triggering IBS. Stress and anxiety can be triggered by social pressures or bad memories and this can disrupt our normal functions.
Even people without IBS can suffer digestive issues from mental stress so it is always a factor to bear in mind when trying to find causes and possible solutions to treat your IBS.
Try and exercise regularly and do things that take your mind off the stress.
So How Can Aloe Vera Help Aid Symptoms Of IBS?
In a nutshell, your digestive system breaks down food, absorbs nutrients that it needs, passes them into your blood, and discards any waste material. Your bowels/ intestines move the food through your system by contracting and flexing the muscles involved in helping you ‘go to the toilet.’
When IBS starts causing discomfort or muscle spasms during this process, one can try and treat it with a commonly practiced aloe protocol of 1-3 teaspoons of true aloe gel twice a day- (depending on your personal preferences and response.)
You can dilute it with water or fruit juice if you really don’t like the taste (we have some amazing aloe juice recipes on our website for you to try!) You can try soft gels or capsules too but effects will begin to gradually take effect over the space of a few months- it does not gratify with instant relief for most people.
Troubled Intestines
We mentioned earlier that your intestines help pass food through your digestive tract, absorbing nutrients and getting rid of toxins- but here lies a problem if your body suffers from IBS then this process becomes dysfunctional.
IBS can disrupt your intestines by absorbing water from your nutrients too quickly which causes diarrhea or doing it too slowly and thus causes constipation, a build-up of bile from the liver can also cause pain in the intestines.
Aloe Vera is packed with nutrients that can aid your intestinal tract and help you become more regular.
Helpful Nutrients In Aloe To Help IBS
Vitamin D- Aloe Vera is packed with Vitamin D which is essential for a healthy functioning digestive tract, your intestines are made up of an intricate network of nerves that are responsible for signaling to and from your brain. These nerves require a normal amount of calcium to omit such signals and a lack of this could be a cause of IBS flare-ups.
Aloe Vera helps regulate the normal uptake of calcium and vitamin D can also support your immune system- protecting your digestive tract from possible diseases and infections- things that happen much more commonly in people who suffer from IBS.
Vitamin C For IBS
Your digestive tract relies on collagen to help hold the soft tissues in your body together. The body is producing new collagen all the time and this keeps organs, muscles, joints, etc working in the proper manner. When collagen production is impaired somehow, damaged tissue can take longer to heal and lead to more flare-ups and stress caused by IBS.
A regular dose of Vitamin C that is easily delivered by true aloe gel can help maintain healthy levels of collagen. It is best to take aloe gel in its purest most natural source available to you for the maximum benefits and is safe to take for long periods alongside a healthy nutritious diet.
Vitamin A For IBS
The cell walls of your digestive tract are lined with mucous membranes, these membranes secrete digestive compounds that help food pass through your intestines comfortably. They also help you absorb optimal amounts of nutrients from your food.
Vitamin A helps to nourish your mucosal tissues so they can help nourish you! If this is jeopardized then it is a surefire way to lead to malabsorption which is very common in people with IBS- so it is wise to get a healthy daily dose of this micronutrient. Fresh aloe Vera gel is a perfect way to do so!
Typical Foods To Avoid If You Have IBS
Not every food is going to trigger the same reaction in everybody but we have made a list of the most common causes of IBS flare-ups.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gluten and grain products
- Dairy products
- Hydrogenated oils and fats
- Chocolate (usually milk choc)
- Fizzy carbonated drinks
- Caffeinated or other energy drinks
- Processed packaged foods like biscuits or crisps
- Deep-fried foods high in fat
As we mentioned earlier, it may be a good idea to keep track of your diet in some way so you can identify root causes and eliminate them.
Are There Any Known Side Effects Of Using Aloe Vera For IBS?
At present, there are no known side effects of using Aloe Vera to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Aloe is very easy on the digestive system although we suggest you don’t take more than a few teaspoons a day- starting at one per day and seeing how you manage is a good way to start. After that initial phase, you can adjust accordingly.
For those of you who do suffer from IBS, Aloe possibly offers a natural remedy that might help you in more ways than one. Even if it reduces symptoms mildly alongside your other protocol, it’s worth the time and investment.
Stay Healthy Folks ;)
