Aloe Vera is quite an incredible medicinal plant, full of nutritional benefits. It contains: • 20 minerals, including iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, chromium, calcium, sodium, and potassium. • Amino acids – 19 of the 20 amino acids required by the body. • 12 vitamins – including vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene. It’s also one of the few plants in the world to contain vitamin B12. • Enzymes – lipases and proteases, which aid in digestion. • Saponins – Substances that exert a powerful anti-microbial effect against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and yeast. • Salicylic acid – When used topically, it helps to break down dead tissue. When taken orally, it acts as an anti-inflammatory. No wonder it’s used for such a wide range of remedies! The bulk of the Aloe Vera leaf is filled with a clear, gel-like substance, which is approximately 99% water. Humans have used Aloe Vera therapeutically for over 5,000 years – now that’s a long-standing track record!

Kim Ten Krooden
AloeLifestyle.ca