Is Aloe Vera Edible?

After a long day in the sun, when your skin is bright red and burning, aloe vera is often your go-to remedy. While it’s famous for alleviating sunburn pain, the plant has many more uses thanks to its healing properties.

What Exactly Is Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera has been a staple in natural medicine for thousands of years, treating everything from skin conditions to digestive problems. There are over 420 varieties of this succulent, with Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) belonging to the Liliaceae family. It thrives in arid regions across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Both the clear gel and the yellow latex found within the aloe vera leaf are safe to consume. The gel, often referred to as the 'meat' of the plant, offers various health benefits. Meanwhile, the yellow latex, which lies between the gel and the skin, is commonly used to treat constipation. While the taste may be bitter and the texture tough, some people do eat the raw slices of the leaf.

How to Safely Consume Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera gel is safe to consume and adds a cool, refreshing flavor to a variety of foods and beverages. However, caution is needed when it comes to the leaf's latex. The anthraquinones in the latex are linked to the plant's laxative effects, and some research suggests they may even be carcinogenic. Consuming the latex can also lead to diarrhea and cramps, but separating it from the gel is fairly easy.

Fresh aloe vera leaves are often available at grocery stores, typically in the produce aisle. When selecting a leaf, look for one that is firm, plump, and has minimal imperfections.

The aloe vera gel can be eaten raw or cooked. To prepare it, start by peeling off the outer skin. Trim the sharp edges and the white base of the leaf. Then, use a sharp knife or vegetable peeler to carefully slice away one side of the skin from top to bottom. Afterward, you can either scoop the gel out with a spoon or remove the second side of the skin.

Once you've extracted the gel, cut it into small cubes and rinse them to remove any dirt or the bitter yellow latex residue. The gel can be eaten raw or gently cooked by methods like poaching, blanching, or steaming. Cooking the gel will release more water and reduce its bitterness, giving it a milder flavor.

Creative Ways to Incorporate Aloe Vera into Your Cooking

• You can easily make aloe vera juice by adding aloe gel to water and drinking it.
• If you're not a fan of the texture and slightly bitter flavor of an aloe vera juice, you can also blend cubes of the aloe meat into smoothies like this Pineapple Cleanser Smoothie and juices like the detoxifying Healthy Green Juice for a refreshing drink with an antioxidant boost.
• Try topping your salads and chilled noodle dishes with cubes of aloe vera. The cooling properties of the plant pair especially well with spicier salad recipes like Spicy Rice Noodle Salad.
• To eat the aloe vera skin, rinse it and slice it up thinly to add crunch to salads or cut it into "chips" for appetizers like hummus, a fruity salsa, bean dip.

The Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is packed with 75 active compounds, including vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins act as powerful antioxidants, helping to shield your body from free radicals, which are associated with conditions like cancer and heart disease. Additionally, aloe vera provides essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Aloe vera also offers digestive benefits. The yellow latex contains compounds called anthraquinones, which have strong laxative effects. It can also provide relief for those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, helping reduce symptoms like stomach discomfort, pain, and bloating.

Proper Storage of Aloe Vera

While fresh aloe leaves are ideal, they can be stored in the fridge for a couple of weeks. To prolong their shelf life, freezing is a great option. For both the fridge and freezer, wrap the leaves in plastic wrap or place them in plastic bags. When you're ready to use a frozen leaf, allow it to thaw at room temperature for a few hours.

The aloe vera gel can also be stored in the fridge or freezer. Place it in a jar for refrigeration, or a plastic bag for either storage option. For easy use, you can freeze the gel in ice cube trays. Keep in mind that it’s normal for the gel to change color over time.