Aloe Vera Juice: Is Drinking It Safe?

In many countries people keep a pot of aloe vera on the windowsill and snap off a leaf when they get a minor burn. Its clear inner gel is a familiar home remedy for the skin.

Aloe juice and aloe drinks take the plant in a different direction. They are sold for constipation, digestion, detox, blood sugar and even weight loss. Drinking aloe is not the same as putting it on your skin, and the safety picture changes a lot. Here is a fair look at the claims, the evidence and some gentler options.

The claims behind the trend

Aloe drinks are usually promoted as a way to keep you regular, soothe the gut and cleanse the body. Some are marketed for diabetes, weight loss or inflammatory bowel disease.

It helps to know that an aloe leaf has two very different parts. The clear inner gel is mild. Just under the skin of the leaf is a yellow layer called the latex, which contains strong laxative compounds called anthraquinones. Some products use only the gel, while others are made from the whole leaf.

What the evidence says

The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that a small body of research suggests aloe taken by mouth may lower blood sugar in people with diabetes, and one small study of a specific aloe gel product found modest weight loss over 8 weeks in adults with diabetes or prediabetes. These are early findings, not proof, and there is not enough reliable evidence for irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center describes the evidence for internal use as inconclusive and says it should be discouraged. There is no good evidence that aloe juice detoxes the body.

The laxative claim is real, but that is the problem. Aloe latex can cause cramps, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In 2002 the US Food and Drug Administration required manufacturers to remove aloe latex from over-the-counter laxatives because there was not enough safety data.

The safety concerns

According to NCCIH, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classed non-decolorized whole-leaf aloe extract as a possible human carcinogen, after studies linked it to gut cancers in rats and mice. A 2023 review found that drinkable products low in aloin, one of the latex compounds, did not damage DNA, but some lab research has raised questions.

Aloe leaf extracts taken by mouth have also been linked to cases of acute hepatitis, after use lasting from 3 weeks to 5 years. Memorial Sloan Kettering adds low blood potassium and abnormal liver tests to the list of reported side effects. Short-term use of aloe gel by mouth, up to 42 days, has appeared safe in studies, but that is a narrow finding.

A safer way to keep things moving

If constipation is the reason you are looking at aloe, the NHS suggests simpler steps first: add fiber gradually from foods like oats, wheat bran or linseed, eat fruits such as apples, apricots, grapes, raisins, raspberries and strawberries, drink plenty of fluids and move every day. These steps may take a few days, sometimes a few weeks, to make a difference. If they do not help, a pharmacist can suggest a laxative made for short-term use. The smoothie below puts several of these ideas in one glass. If food or weight is causing you distress, talk to your doctor.

Questions people ask

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and health conditions. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before trying a herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, giving it to a child, or taking any medication.