What are aloe vera benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Is aloe vera vegan? Good for you? Sustainable? Food you should buy organic and fair trade? Here are aloe vera pros and cons…
Food is something we consume every day. If you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on aloe vera benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about aloe vera benefits and side effects. This will include aloe vera benefits for your health and potential risks, aloe vera water footprint and carbon footprint, sustainability, if aloe vera are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if aloe vera is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about aloe vera benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Top Aloe Vera Benefits And Side Effects
HEALTH
Aloe vera benefits may include:
- aid stomach ulcers
- constipation relief
- digestion
- heal burns (applied topically)
- heartburn relief
- hydration
- reduce constipation
- regulate blood sugar
- treat canker sores (applied to effected area)
- detoxification
- liver function
- anti-aging
- healthy gums (reduce inflammation when swishing with aloe vera juice)
- reduce dental plaque, skin (when applied topically)
- wrinkle prevention (when applied topically)
Additionally, aloe vera is…
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
- Note: Decolorized (purified, low anthraquinone) whole leaf aloe vera is considered safe compared to non-decolorized, un-purified aloe vera juice which can have side effects that include diarrhea and cramping. Consume in moderation.
ENVIRONMENT
Water footprint: likely low, the water footprint of aloe vera is likely low, as it is highly drought resistant
Carbon footprint: likely low, the carbon footprint of aloe vera is likely low
Destruction: low, aloe vera production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc., aloe vera plants do not require much land to grow, succulent plants have a very high tolerance against drought
Aloe vera is…
- Sustainable
ANIMALS
Kills: none, aloe vera production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, aloe vera production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from aloe vera production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Aloe vera is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
LABORERS
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Aloe vera is…
- May have labor issues
Where does most aloe vera come from?
The world’s top aloe vera exporting country is Germany, followed by China, India, USA, Spain, Poland, Egypt, Canada, Hong Kong, UK. Aloe vera in commonly produced in Australia, Bangladesh, Cuba, Dominican Republic, China, Mexico, India, Jamaica, Spain, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa and the USA.
What are aloe vera uses?
Aloe vera is used to make juice, smoothies, lemonade, slushes, drinks, jelly, cocktails, desserts, ceviche, hand sanitizer, moisturizer, and more.
Is aloe vera nutritious?
Aloe vera contains vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids as well as vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E, vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline.
aloe vera is gluten free.
Is aloe vera gluten free? Yes, aloe vera is gluten free. Aloe vera does not contain gluten. Aloe vera is a type of succulent plant, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
aloe vera is not a common food allergen.
Is aloe vera a common food allergen? No, aloe vera is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to aloe vera but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
These foods account for about 90% of all food allergies in the United States.
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
aloe vera likely has a low water footprint.
Does aloe vera have a high or low water footprint? Aloe vera likely has a relatively low water footprint. Aloe is a succulent plant, meaning it is drought tolerant, requires little water to live and retains water in arid climates or soil conditions.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
We must do what we can to conserve fresh water and a major way to reduce needless water consumption is to change the way we eat. That’s not to say we need to reduce our water intake….quite the opposite. It’s important for our health to drink lots of water and eat foods that hydrate. The kind of water conservation we’re talking about here is behind the scenes.
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
aloe vera is likely sustainable.
Overall, is aloe vera eco friendly? Is aloe vera sustainable?
Aloe vera production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
A 2010 United Nations report said that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world the worst impacts of climate change.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
aloe vera is vegan.
Is aloe vera vegan? Yes, aloe vera is vegan. Aloe vera is a succulent plant and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
According to Sentient Media, “more than 200 million land animals are killed for food around the world every day. Including wild-caught and farmed fishes, we get a total closer to 3 billion animals killed daily.”
Animals of factory farms and the livestock industry are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. They’re also injected with growth hormones to become fatter faster and live short lives, being slaughtered as soon as they finish growing and are killed prematurely, well before their natural lifespan.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Check It Out! – Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
aloe vera may have labor issues and human rights concerns.
Is aloe vera a product with labor concerns? At this time there have been no major concerns with aloe production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may be associated with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Sadly, many labor concerns exist around the world in both developed and developing countries. We must be vigilant to ensure what we buy is not contributing to industries that are unfair to their valuable workers. Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
This post was all about aloe vera benefits and side effects.
