Aloe Vera is a popular wonder gel which is extremely useful for medical, cosmetic, therapeutic and nutraceutical purposes. It is an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, hormones, and laxatives which offer immense health benefits. The anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties of Aloe Vera are said to be beneficial in improving overall immunity, enhancing skin health, treating wounds and cuts, etc. It can be consumed orally as Aloe Vera juice or can be applied exteriorly on skin. In spite of the numerous benefits of Aloe Vera, if it is consumed in higher quantities, it may cause severe side effects due to presence of latex. Latex is the yellow colored gel-like liquid found in the Aloe leaf along with green gel.
Oral consumption of Aloe Vera juice or gel during pregnancy or breast feeding has been reported to bring negative results [1] . It has been found that the purgative, laxative and irritant qualities present in the Aloe Vera can lead to stimulation of uterine contractions in pregnant woman and cause miscarriage or birth defects. Hence, it is advisable for pregnant and lactating mothers to totally avoid drinking Aloe Vera juice. Even the topical application should be done after seeking proper medical advice.
Aloe Vera is a part of Liliaceae family including onions, garlic, tulip, lily, hyacinths and many others. So if you have an allergy towards any of these, your body will produce allergic reaction towards Aloe Vera juice also [2] . To know if you are allergic to Aloe Vera, do a quick test by directly applying some gel on your skin. You will feel a burning sensation or the skin will form rashes if you are allergic. Some of the other common allergic reactions of Aloe Vera are skin rashes, hives, inflammatory or swollen skin, redness, chest pain, throat infection, or breathing problems. Avoid Aloe Vera juice completely in case you develop any of these allergic reactions.
Aloe Vera is reported to bring down blood sugar levels. So if you are a diabetic and are already consuming medicines to reduce [3] blood sugar level, having Aloe Vera juice can further decrease sugar levels which can be harmful for health. It can also lower down the potassium content in the body. So if you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, in either of the conditions, it is suggested to be cautious before consuming Aloe Vera juice.
The laxative properties in the Aloe Vera can hinder absorption of certain drugs [4] . So if you are on a medical treatment and are taking some prescribed drugs, Aloe Vera juice can hamper the positive effects of those drugs in the body. Aloe Vera juice also disturbs digestion of garlic, fenugreek, bark root and other herbs leading to problems of diarrhea and dehydration. So consumption of Aloe Vera juice should be under the supervision of a doctor if you are undergoing treatment for any ailment.
It has been found that Aloe Vera juice can elicit levels of adrenaline in the body which can have adverse impact on the people who suffer from heart diseases [5] . Further, Aloe Vera also reduces the levels of potassium in the body which leads to irregular heartbeats, soft muscles and weakness. This could some times be life threatening for heart patients. Therefore, it is highly recommended for patients suffering from heart disorders to stay away from Aloe Vera juice.
Although Aloe Vera is a trusted remedy for various health issues, medical research suggests that it has negative impact on kidney related problems [6] . High dosage of latex through Aloe Vera interferes with the functioning of the kidney and sometimes results in kidney damage and kidney failure. Hence, it is the best to consume Aloe Vera in moderate quantities.
Excessive intake of Aloe Vera juice can lead to reduction of potassium levels in the intestinal lining and can lead to constipation issues [7] . Therefore, Aloe Vera juice should be strictly consumed in moderate levels to check any kind of gastro-intestinal issues.
Aloe Vera has excellent effects on regularizing and stimulating bowel movements [8] . However, if an overdose is taken, it can prove harmful and lead to severe diarrhea. Higher laxative content causes diarrhea which is often combined with cramps, pain and dehydration.
It is not that Aloe Vera is harmful and unsafe for consumption. The only point is that ingestion of excessive quantity can lead to these side effects which are accompanied by major health risks. Therefore it is the best advisable to be cautious and take recommended dosage only.
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