Aloe vera is an ancient herbal powerhouse that has been used for ages and ages for its medicinal properties. From it's collagen-boosting, silica-rich nature, to the many different forms aloe vera supplements are now available in, the following are the top 10 qualified aloe vera supplements that certainly ranked among the best according to user reviews and company reputation.
After reviewing the most popular aloe vera supplements in 2024, details about the health benefits and possible side effects risks are covered as well as an extensively-research FAQ section where all of the trending questions get answered in a precise, concise manner.
Ranking the 10 Best Aloe Vera Supplements
Aloe vera is an amazing plant and has many benefits for the health of your skin. It can help you build collagen, fight against oxidation, and soothe sunburns. Some reports suggest that it can even help with Type 2 Diabetes.
We’ve reviewed some of the most popular aloe vera products currently available and ranked them to help you make sure you get the best supplement made with pure aloe gels, juices, drinks and extracts for your needs:
Contents
1. Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly
Aloe Vera Gelly from Lily of the Desert is a cosmetic product that is for external use only, so please don’t get confused by the word “supplement” and ingest it in any way. That being said, it does have some pretty good benefits for the skin.
This product contains a collection of skin-nourishing compounds, stabilizers, and thickeners, but each of these additions adds a bit more to the price tag. This is something to consider when there are other products on the market that are just as good, any of which can also be used as drinks for internal benefits. There are enough aloe vera products out there that can provide 2-in-1 benefits at a better price.
2. Just Javik Organic Aloe Vera Powder
Just Javik take an interesting and unique approach to this product that might appeal to those who want more control and would rather do the mixing themselves. They offer an Organic Aloe Vera Powder that is made by drying out aloe vera leaves and then crushing them into powder form rather than juicing them like most other companies do to create their concentrates.
Taking aloe vera in powder form gives you the unique opportunity to benefit from the phytonutrients that are available from the fiber in the leaves. Unfortunately, this is yet another product that isn’t edible at all. If you’re only looking for a topical use product, this one isn’t bad at all, but if you are looking for the full range of uses and benefits that a good aloe vera product usually provides, this isn’t the one.
3. Herbalife Herbal Aloe Concentrate
Herbalife is a huge company that makes use of multilevel marketing for their sales campaign. They have made a ton of money providing their aloe vera concentrate to the industry, and while they have other products it remains their main offering. They’ve even made it available on the open market so you don’t have to find an Herbalife member to purchase from.
The biggest downside to this product is that fact that it’s marketed as a drink. This means that the ingredients are only included on a nutritional label and there is no way to be sure exactly how much aloe vera is actually in each serving.
The drink also includes several other ingredients that aren’t related to aloe vera. It uses the artificial sweetener sucrose for flavoring, as well as citric acid and mango flavoring, which all bring the price up little by little from the standard price of a simple and straightforward aloe vera drink. The drink from HerbaLife is more focused on being a lifestyle product and isn’t as much of a supplement as many of the other products on our list.
4. Puritan’s Pride Aloe Vera Gel
Puritan’s Pride Aloe Vera Gel uses a concentrated dose of aloe vera, and their formula creates this concentrate at a 200:1 ratio. Each dose starts out as 5 full grams of aloe vera and is transformed into just 25 milligrams of aloe vera concentrate.
This product isn’t the most cost-effective of the lot, and it also contains soybean oil, but this should only be an issue for you if you are sensitive to soy products. If you’re not, then there isn’t too much to complain about in this product.
5. Nature’s Way Aloe Vera Leaf Juice
Nature’s Way Aloe Vera Leaf Juice includes a special ingredient known as PolyMax, which is a polysaccharide extract, alongside its aloe vera. This is the primary selling point for users who do want to get this ingredient. However, this addition, along with a number of stabilizers and preservatives, drive up the products price a bit. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether these ingredients are worth the extra cost to you. Unfortunately, the extra compound isn’t highly researched, so it’s hard to say what benefits it provides if any.
6. NutriWorth Organic Aloe Vera Gels
The aloe vera supplement from NutriWorth is no joke. Every single capsule uses a 200:1 concentration that squeezes down to 50 milligrams of organic concentrated aloe vera, which is also dissolved in olive oil, and great choice of solvent.
It is a little bit higher in price than many of the other options available, but that’s pretty run of the mill for products that contain fully organic ingredients. Growing the ingredients organically does cost more, so of course, it will make the end product a bit pricier. However, if a capsulated, organic aloe vera supplement is what you’re looking for, NutriWorth Organic Aloe Vera Gels are the best option out there, hands down.
7. Dynamic Health Labs Organic Aloe Vera Juice
Dynamic Labs makes it a priority to use only a perfectly pure, tested, and proven source for their aloe vera. It’s a top shelf product, and the premium quality comes at a premium cost, but if having quality organic ingredients is important to you, this product is definitely the one for you.
This product contains aloe vera as it’s one and only ingredient, and its purity is tested by an independent laboratory to ensure objectivity. If it’s extremely important for you to be absolutely sure your aloe vera product is pure and minimal, this is definitely the way to do it.
8. Herbal Secrets Aloe Vera
Herbal Secrets offers another capsule-based aloe vera supplement, and their product contains a pretty decent amount of aloe vera. Every capsule contains a 200:1 ratio concentration of 5 g of aloe vera, leaving you with a 25 milligrams concentrate in each capsulated serving.
It’s a very good product, but it could be better when it comes to the balance between cost and quality. It would be great if they could include a bit more aloe vera in each serving, but it’s still a good product at a perfectly respectable price.
9. George’s “Always Active” Aloe
If you’re interested in a do it yourself solution for aloe vera, then you’re going to need to skip past the concentrates and go straight for pure, distilled aloe vera. George’s Aloe is a pure distilled gel that comes in a massive 1-gallon jug, and it’s the best of its kind on the market. Every jug is filled with dozens of single servings of aloe vera, and their pure and straightforward delivery allows for a variety of uses. You can add it to your homemade cosmetic products, rub it on your skin for healing and soothing, or drink it.
George’s understands the importance of purity when it comes to aloe vera, especially when using this delivery method, and every jug is labeled at the nutritional value so that you can be 100 percent sure it is safe for all of its many possible uses.
10. NOW Aloe Vera Gels
NOW Aloe Vera Gels are an inexpensive option that delivers a direct dose of pure aloe vera in capsule form at twice the quantity per serving as many of their competitors. They are a very popular option and provide 50 milligrams of 200:1 aloe vera concentrate in every dose. That’s a full 10 gram of aloe vera. As with many of the other top-quality products on the market, this company uses olive oil as their solvent and wraps the whole formula in a gelatin capsule.
Unfortunately, this does mean that vegans are unable to use the product. However, for most users who are looking for a good product at a reasonable price, NOW Aloe Vera Gels are a great option. At the end of the day, this is the best product out there when it comes to the full balance of quality, dosage, and price.
Aloe Vera Benefits & Side Effects
Aloe vera is widely popular for its value as a medicine, especially for its ability to soothe and heal sunburn. It is a type of plant known as a succulent and has leaves that are long and spiky which store a gelatinous fluid that is chocked full of bioactive compounds that can provide a wide array of benefits depending on how it is used.
Because it is so versatile, it is utilized in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries and has a total market value of about $13 billion every year in sales. Aloe vera is quite possibly the most popular and versatile of all the medical plants, and it grows in climates that are dry where the temperature never goes below the freezing point. It grows best in soil that is more sandy than loamy and can also be easily grown indoors.
So, why exactly is aloe vera so popular? Let’s have a closer look and see how this classic and natural remedy can be added to your own health regimen.
Benefits of Aloe Vera Supplements
Aloe vera leaves grow to be somewhere between 1 foot and 2 feet long and are very think. If you were to break one open, you would find a thick, slimy gel that is responsible for many of the bioactive compounds that aloe vera has to offer. This gel contains antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.
The antioxidant that aloe vera leaves contain is a polyphenol antioxidant, so it is able to provide the body with the polyphenols it needs and often lacks. Of course, antioxidants of all kinds are important because they can help rid the body of harmful free radicals, and keeping plenty of antioxidants in your system can help to protect it from the ongoing damage of oxidation and keep it performing effectively.
Aloe vera is also a powerful antibacterial, which makes it great as a simple and natural sanitizer to help control the growth and development of bacteria. What aloe vera is known for best is it healing properties that can soothe the skin, especially when you are suffering from sunburn or any burn for that matter. The FDA approved it in 1959 for skincare because it was clearly recognizable even then how powerful of a natural remedy aloe vera could be.
While it’s most popular for healing sunburn, it can also heal more serious burns that may be caused by accidents or other injuries. This is often done by cutting open the leaves and laying them out flat directly against the burned area. You can simply tape the open leaf face down on a burn to create a delivery method that will stay put and protect the gel from drying out as quickly.
Four individual studies collected data that was then reviewed to show an overall decrease of 9 days on average in regards to the amount of time that it took for burns to heal when subjects were given aloe vera treatments, as compared to the results when using conventional burn treatment methods. Many people have wondered exactly how aloe vera works its magic, and many studies have been performed to try to discover this, but none of them have achieved conclusive results.
When it is applied to the skin topically, aloe vera is also able to increase the body’s natural collagen production. As we age, our bodies are able to produce less and less collagen, and collagen is a vital factor in the elasticity of the skin. One study which asked women who were between the ages of 30 and 45 to apply aloe vera topically for 3 months found that over this course of time collagen levels clearly increased.
Aloe vera is able to relieve redness on the skin when it is initially applied, but it should also be noted that as the gel dries it can also dehydrate the skin’s cells and cause the skin to dry out, as well.
The most common products that include aloe vera are designed for skincare or serve as topical relief for sunburns. Many believe that the reason aloe vera is so helpful in improving the health of your skin is that it has high levels of specific vitamins, namely B complex vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These nutrients also help to provide overall moisturizing benefits when it is taken internally, so drinking aloe vera or taking aloe vera pills have both become popular delivery methods.
Aloe vera is also known to help with oral problems. Periods of high stress, either mentally or physically, can cause you to develop a common type of ulcer known as canker sores in your mouth. These are sores that can form inside your mouth and they are painful to experience and ugly to look at. You may wonder why it matters what they look like if they are inside your mouth, but unfortunately, they can also develop on or around your lips on the outside of your mouth. These sores usually take as long as 7 days to 10 days to heal and go away.
One study followed almost 200 test subjects who had issues with outbreaks of these canker sores on a repeating basis. The study directed the subjects to apply patches that contained aloe vera onto their mouth directly where the sores were located, and the results found that the sores became smaller.
Although the healing process was no faster than was experienced using the more common treatment of corticosteroids, the sores were smaller and less painful in the meantime. The study also showed that aloe vera was just as effective as a treatment method, which is good news for those who do not wish to use corticosteroids for whatever reason.
A different study did find that recovery was faster with aloe vera, and the subjects also experienced less pain caused by the ulcers than they had without the treatment or when using more conventional treatment.
Aloe vera can also help you to control the plaque that can accumulate in your mouth. This is a widespread issue that affects many people, no matter how hard they try to eradicate it. Plaque is basically a biofilm that forms from bacteria and settles on your teeth, and if it is not dealt with it can lead to tooth death and gum disease such as gingivitis.
Most mouthwash products contain an active ingredient known as chlorhexidine that can reduce the amount of plaque build-up on your teeth, but studies have shown that aloe vera can provide comparable results.
One study followed 300 people over the course of 4 days and found that those given aloe vera as a treatment method for plaque were able to see benefits that were just as good as those who used conventional mouthwash products, many of them containing chlorhexidine. A different set of test subjects were then given aloe vera as a plaque treatment over the course of 2 weeks and 4 weeks, and they also achieved very similar results.
Aloe vera has been proven time and time again to be an effective oral health product, and the reasons for this are mostly due to its ability to kill some of the major bacterial strains that are present there.
Streptococcus mucans is a type of bacteria that is known to increase the production of plaque as well as promote its formation, while candida albicans is a type of yeast that is known to cause a wide array of health problems if there is too much of it in your body. Aloe Vera as an oral treatment has been shown to kill both of these unwanted strains.
While it is far from being a cure or even a primary treatment method, aloe vera has been used in traditional medicine to help treat diabetes. Some results have been achieved in using aloe vera to regulate blood sugar more effectively and increase sensitivity to insulin. There have been studies performed on both animals and humans, and these trials have shown promising results when using aloe vera consumption to treat Type 2 Diabetes.
Side Effects
There are studies that have shown that using aloe vera internally for a prolonged period of time can lead to a decrease in liver function. When it comes to treating and maintaining diabetes, more research is needed to get conclusive results.
Aloe vera is also an effective treatment for those who are suffering from constipation. The outer skin of aloe vera is prickly, but just below it is a deposit of latex, a substance that is yellowish and is very concentrated in barbaloin. Barbaloin contains aloin, which is a substance that is well-known as an effective laxative. Because of this, aloe vera can run circles around pharmaceutical grade laxatives and proved this in a trial that followed 28 adults who were experiencing issues with constipation.
There have been some questions about how safe it is to use aloin too frequently, which caused a few products that contained aloe vera’s unique latex to be pulled from the shelves in 2002. However, aloe vera can still be used to this end, and the dangers are only of concern if you are using laxatives more than is generally needed or considered safe.
There are some rumors which claim aloe vera is an effective treatment for a variety of digestive tract issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there is no conclusive evidence that this might be the case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aloe Vera
Q: What is aloe vera?
A: Aloe vera is the common name of one specific species of the genus Aloe. Aloe vera is a member of the Xanthorrhoeaceae family and is one of more than 400 species of Aloe. It’s also the most commonly-used species in consumer products.
Q: What’s the difference between aloe vera and Aloe barbadensis?
A: Aloe barbadensis is a synonym for Aloe vera. They’re the exact same thing: it’s just two words for the same item. You can see either term listed on many product labels.
Q: Which parts of the aloe vera plant are used in products?
A: The primary component of the plant used in most products is the leaf, which can be processed in two ways to make aloe vera juice. Manufacturers then turn aloe vera juice into a powder or concentrate.
Q: Where is aloe vera grown?
A: Aloe vera is grown worldwide in temperate climates. Commercial aloe vera growing operations can be found in the United States, Central America, South America, China, India, Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, and the Asian tropics.
Q: Is aloe vera organic?
A: Nearly all aloe vera grown worldwide is organically grown. Aloe vera is typically grown without pesticides because the plant has so few natural predators.
Q: Is aloe vera edible?
A: Aloe vera leaves are generally safe to eat. Most people use aloe vera as a topical skin treatment, but it can also be eaten. This study published in 2018 found that eating aloe vera could reduce constipation and lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Raw aloe pulp and gel can also relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers.
Q: Does aloe taste good?
A: Aloe has a mild taste and is naturally bitter. Some people soak leaves in water overnight, then drink the water. Others mix prepared aloe with fresh juices – like orange or lemon juice – to mask the flavor.
Q: Does aloe vera help acne?
A: There’s some evidence that aloe vera can treat acne. Aloe vera is a particularly popular overnight treatment for acne. You apply it generously to your face instead of a cleanser. It seems to work by boosting blood flow to the skin and killing off harmful bacteria.
Q: Is aloe vera good for skin?
A: Aloe vera contains antioxidants, enzymes, vitamin A, vitamin C, and other compounds that can enhance skin health. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory and can treat burns, acne, and dry skin.
Q: Is aloe vera juice good for you?
A: Daily consumption of aloe vera juice is linked with certain health benefits. Some studies have shown that aloe vera juice can reduce symptoms of digestive disorders, including poor digestion, constipation, acidity, and gas. Some believe aloe vera juice detoxifies the body, acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Q: Does aloe vera gel expire?
A: Aloe vera gel typically expires within two years, although you should check the label of your aloe vera gel product to verify the expiry date.
Q: Why does aloe vera gel expire?
A: Aloe vera gel is an organic, plant-based product, which means that the ingredients will naturally expire over time. Sometimes, the gel hardens, making it difficult to apply. In other cases, aloe vera gel loses its active ingredients and will no longer be effective when used.
Q: What is aloe vera good for?
A: Aloe vera is rich with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Some also believe aloe vera is linked with digestive health. You may be able to enjoy the benefits of aloe vera by eating it, applying it topically, or applying to your face.
Q: Is aloe vera good for face?
A: Aloe vera may help moisturize the face, while certain ingredients within aloe vera may soothe inflammation on the face. There’s evidence that aloe vera can treat burns, acne, and dry skin.
Q: Does aloe vera help acne scars?
A: There’s evidence that aloe vera can treat burns, acne, and dry skin. Evidence suggests that aloe vera cannot fix depressed or pitted acne scars, which are caused by a loss of skin tissue, although it may help with hyperpigmentation.
Q: How can I use aloe vera on my face?
A: Aloe vera gel can take the place of both facial cleansers and moisturizers when used correctly. Some people apply aloe vera instead of a cleanser, for example, while others use it as an overnight moisturizer.
Q: Can I eat aloe vera?
A: Yes, aloe vera is edible. Some people find the taste to be mild and bitter, while others mix aloe vera with other compounds – like fruit juices – to make it more palatable.
Q: Can I eat aloe vera skin care products?
A: No. Aloe vera skin care products do not offer the same benefits as the aloe vera leaf and are not meant to be ingested.
Q: Can you use aloe vera straight from the plant?
A: Yes, it’s typically safe to eat aloe leaves straight from the plant. However, it’s important to choose leaves from the aloe vera plant and not from other species of aloe, as these may be poisonous and unfit for human consumption.
Q: How do I use aloe vera on my hair?
A: You can rub aloe vera gel in your hair, then let it sit for an hour. Some people collect aloe vera gel, blend it with olive oil or coconut oil, then rub the gel mixture directly into the scalp and let it sit for an hour. Rinse with shampoo, then repeat 2-3 times per week, as needed.
Q: Can aloe cause hair loss?
A: There’s limited evidence that aloe causes hair loss. Many claim that aloe vera causes hair to grow much faster.
Q: Does Aloe Vera have side effects?
A: Some people are allergic to aloe vera gel, which can lead to skin allergies, eye redness, skin rashes, irritation, and a burning sensation. Consuming aloe vera juice can also cause blood sugar levels to drop. Aloe has laxative properties as well.
Q: What is aloe vera supplement good for?
A: Aloe vera supplements act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, reducing oxidation and inflammation throughout the body. Aloe vera supplements can also act as a laxative, reducing constipation.
Q: What is the best aloe vera supplement?
A: The best aloe vera supplements will vary depending on your needs and budget. However, Now Foods, Earthen Supplements, Pharm Aloe, Puritans Pride, Herbal Secrets, and Global Healing all make similar aloe vera supplements that are well-rated top-sellers on Amazon and other retailers.
Q: What are the side effects of aloe vera?
A: Side effects of aloe vera include low blood sugar, burning and itching of the skin, stomach pain and cramps, and diarrhea. However, side effects are rare and unlikely unless taking aloe vera in high dosages – or if you’re allergic to aloe vera.
Q: Can aloe vera reduce belly fat?
A: Aloe vera may help you shed belly fat naturally. Aloe vera is linked to improved digestion and reduced constipation, both of which can reduce belly fat. However, aloe vera has not been linked specifically to weight loss in any major study to date.
Q: Can aloe vera cause cancer?
A: One study on rats found that aloin, a chemical inside aloe extract, caused cancer in rats. California made headlines in 2015 for adding a specific version of aloe vera to Prop 65, which is a list of cancer-causing compounds. There’s limited evidence that aloe vera causes cancer in humans, although ingesting certain types of aloe vera in large doses may be linked to cancer.
Q: Which part of aloe vera is toxic?
A: Aloe vera has a compound called aloin that may give the plant toxicity. Aloe vera is generally safe to eat. However, the state of California recently listed non-decolorized aloe vera leaf extract as a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity under Prop 65.
Q: Does aloe vera kill cancer cells?
A: You can find anti-cancer claims about aloe vera online, although there’s no major studies linking aloe vera to reduced risk of cancer or anti-cancer effects.
Q: How can I use aloe vera on my hair?
A: Many people use aloe vera on their hair by applying the gel, then letting it sit for an hour. You may also mix the aloe vera gel with olive oil, coconut oil, or other bases.
Q: Can aloe cause hair loss?
A: There’s no evidence that aloe vera causes hair loss. In fact, some believe aloe vera causes hair to grow much faster.
Q: How long should I put aloe vera on my hair?
A: Generally, it’s recommended you let aloe vera sit in your hair for an hour. However, some evidence suggests you should not apply aloe vera to your hair regularly, as it could cause hair breakage.
Q: How to make my hair grow faster?
A: Some believe aloe vera can help hair grow faster, although there’s limited evidence.
Q: What is the best supplement for hair growth?
A: The supplement supplements for hair growth include vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, zinc, and protein. Your hair needs all of these compounds to grow.
Q: What foods promote hair growth?
A: Certain foods may promote hair growth, including eggs, berries, spinach, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, avocados, nuts, and seeds.
Q: Is coconut oil good for hair?
A: Coconut oil is used as a natural way to help hair grow longer, thicker, and faster. The fatty acids found in coconut oil nourish the scalp and help remove sebum buildup from hair follicles, which could enhance hair growth.
Best Aloe Vera Supplements 2024 Review Summary
Aloe vera is a very common and popular remedy for healing burns and relieving pain caused by sun exposure. However, it also has many other uses. Aloe vera can be used as a safe and natural remedy to help you regulate your blood sugar, increase your antioxidants, improve your oral health, and treat a variety of skin problems.
As always, remember to consult your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment regimen. Do not ever stop taking prescribed medication in favor of natural remedies without first consulting your doctor to make sure it is safe for your personal needs.