Instead of buying those expensive bottles of aloe vera juice at the gym and organic markets, make your own with this quick tutorial on creating this beneficial and hydrating drink!
I grew up in a home where every ailment was solved with two words: aloe vera. Does you stomach hurt? Drink some aloe vera juice. Did you get a massive sunburn? Rub some fresh allow vera on your skin. Is your hair dried out after one too many pool party? Add some aloe vera to your shampoo. Seriously, my parents – specially my Dad – has an affinity with aloe vera and it’s health benefits. And to keep us all well stocked, we had around 15-20 aloe vera plants in our front year at our disposal!
And surprise, surprise! Our local grocery store on Martha’s Vineyard carries full aloe vera leaves in the produce section, so I’m pretty sure your local market also has some tucked between the yucca, mangoes, and plantains.
It’s smooth down the front and back, but the sides have princely thorns that could pinch you, so be careful! (At my local Stop and Shop, one aloe vera leaf was $1.99, which is the same cost of one 8-ounce bottle of it’s juice! And from one leaf, you’ll get a lot more than 8 ounces!)
Now, not only can you make aloe vera juice and sip on it, but there are many other uses for the aloe vera gel, like:
- Use the aloe vera gel as skin relief after sunburns
- Treat minor kitchen burns and cuts
- Treats and prevents acne
- Speed up hair growth (my Dad blends aloe gel into his regular conditioner!)
- Aids in indigestion and constipation
As you can see in the pictures above and below, the inside of the aloe leaf is slippery and slimy! One of my favorite uses which I’ve lately discovered is freezing the aloe in cubes and keeping them in an airtight bag in the freezer – they make the perfect healthy addition to your morning smoothies!
Below I’ve listed some of my favorite smoothies to which you can add aloe to:
Sunflower Butter & Vanilla Smoothie
Spiced Apple Smoothie
Banana Coconut Smoothie
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Berry Breakfast Smoothie
Raw Cafe-Cacao Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 large aloe leaf
- filtered cool water
Instructions
- Wash the aloe leaf and cut down the sides to remove thorns.
- To remove the aloe crystal slowly peel both sides. The inside will be very slimy, this is normal.
- Remove all green peel and cut into one-inch cubes.
- To make aloe vera juice: place 6-8, one-inch cubes in the blender with about 6 cups of filtered water. Blend until the aloe crystal has been fully incorporated. If you'd like, you can flavor with a squeeze for fresh lemon or lime.
- To freeze for future use: place on a tray in one layer and freeze for 3-4 hours. Remove from tray and store in an airtight plastic bag. These frozen aloe cubes could be used as ice cubes for your drinks, or as a healthy addition to your smoothies.
How can i use aloe as an actual conditioner without mixing it with an artificial one?
Just blend the aloe gel and use on your scalp and hair directly, you don’t have to use a conditioner with it!
Love the aloe juice it’s helped a lot but how can i use aloe as an actual conditioner without mixing it with an artificial one?
How much do you add to your smoothie?
I add about a 1-2 inch piece!
Want to make a good juice. With fresh aloe vera
Was I supposed to wash off all the slim on the pulp?
My juice is slimy
no, you don’t wash the slime off! the juice is a bit slimy/gel like, but you can add more water if you’d like!
Can you use any kind of aloe and is not bitter? When used in drinks?
I grew up drinking this, so I personally do not think it’s bitter. you can definitely add a natural sugar like honey or maple syrup to sweeten it or just use it as a base for smoothies!