Benefits of Drinking Honey & Aloe Vera

Benefits of Drinking Honey & Aloe Vera
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Honey and aloe vera are full of healthful nutrients and antimicrobial compounds. Honey's sweet taste makes it a popular, low-calorie substitute for sugar, while aloe vera is commonly used as a topical cream to treat cuts, burns or scrapes. Beyond their common uses, drinking honey or aloe vera regularly might provide you with significant health benefits.

Antioxidants

Drinking raw, unpasteurized honey can provide your body with an increased amount of protective, immune-boosting antioxidants. While all honey can provide benefits, unpasteurized honey retains greater healthful properties, according to the Manuka Honey USA website. A study performed by researchers at the University of California-Davis found that drinking 4 tbsp. of honey per day most likely increases the amount of antioxidants present in your blood stream. According to an article on the Medical News Today website, this UC-Davis study included 25 individuals who consumed 4 tbsp. of honey per day for 29 straight days. Each participant showed a distinct increase in the number of antioxidants circulating within their blood.

Allergies

Consuming wildflower honey that is also raw and unpasteurized could provide you with relief from seasonal allergy symptoms, suggests the website, Manuka Honey USA. When your local bees collect pollen from the area's wildflowers, the honey created might contain the potential allergens that aggravate your body's immune system. Ingesting these allergens by drinking wildflower honey could potentially improve your body's immunity through a process similar to having a vaccination. Your body may respond to these compounds by producing antibodies to the allergens, similar to how a vaccination can produce antibodies to certain diseases. According to the Manuka Honey USA website, 2 tbsp. of wildflower honey per day might alleviate your seasonal allergy symptoms.

Digestion

Drinking aloe vera juice could improve your digestive health. According to the Herbal Wisdom website, aloe juice has traditionally been used as a body cleanser, helping to improve the condition of your digestive organs, namely the stomach, liver, spleen, bladder and colon. Additionally, the site suggests using it to treat such conditions as colitis and Crohn's disease. If you suffer from indigestion, stomach distress, ulcers, heartburn or diverticulitis, you might benefit from drinking aloe vera, this site adds. According to the book, "You Are What You Eat" by Nutritionist Gillian McKeith, drinking aloe vera juice daily can offer relief from bloating, gas and flatulence.

References

Article reviewed by Kirk Ericson Last updated on: Aug 11, 2011

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