Normally, I think of aloe as the sticky gel we slather on sunburned skin—and while it’s fantastic for that, it also boasts nutritional benefits [source] and internal healing properties. Aloe can help clear out the digestive tract, lower blood sugar, boost the immune system, and assist in weight loss [source].

The juices you’ll find in health food stores often contain pure aloe juice without any added sugars or other ingredients and can be a little hard to swallow on its own. So this aloe smoothie recipe is the perfect way to take it in.

Healing Aloe Smoothie Recipe

This smoothie uses the fresh gel from inside the aloe leaf, although you could use pure store-bought juice. It is a naturally sweet mixture, using organic apple juice and strawberries to help hide any unpleasant taste. I’ve been eating aloe vera to help with digestive issues, and it’s long been one of my favorite nutritional supplements.

Consuming 1 tablespoon of aloe gel a day is said to help with everything from reducing constipation and healing inflammation of the digestive tract to soothing canker sores and preventing wrinkles [source]. That’s because aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory containing powerful plant antioxidant compounds [source]. It also improves blood circulation, and all of these qualities speed up wound healing [source] and help prevent cell death inside the body.

Aloe also has antimicrobial properties that protect the body from certain types of harmful bacteria and fungi, so it keeps bad bacteria at bay and allows good bacteria to flourish [source].

If you are using the liquid from an aloe plant, be sure to use one that hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides, and wash it well first. Simply slice the leaf open lengthwise with a sharp knife, then use the knife to scrape the gel out of the center.

You can also buy food grade aloe vera gel at the natural food store or online. Aloe vera breaks down quickly, so the commercial gel is likely to have preservatives in it. Otherwise, it’s just as good for you as the fresh-from-the-plant kind.

While aloe is certainly the star of the show, this smoothie contains other ingredients beneficial to the body [source].

Leafy green veggies are loaded with much-needed vitamins C, D, and K, not to mention antioxidants that help to detoxify and boost liver activity [source]. Consider adding spinach, kale, parsley, beet greens, or chard to your diet as a simple step toward a healthy lifestyle.

Strawberries are considered one of nature’s best superfoods, thanks to an abundance of phytonutrients. Like kale, they’re chock full of polyphenols, a type of antioxidants that combat free radicals [source].

They’re also loaded with significant amounts of zinc and iron, both skin-friendly minerals. Strawberries are also antiaging by preventing UV skin damage and supporting collagen production [source]. And as an added bonus, they can even be used as a natural method to whiten your teeth!

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Healing Aloe Smoothie Recipe

A healthy smoothie made with fresh aloe gel, apple juice, strawberries, and kale.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Wellness

Keyword: smoothie

Servings:

Author: Lindsey Johnson

Cost: $8

Equipment

Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup organic apple juice
2 cups chopped greens of choice (parsley, kale, spinach, or chard)
2 cups frozen or fresh strawberries
1 spear aloe (split and gel scraped out)

Instructions

Puree apple juice and kale together.
Add the strawberries and aloe gel. Puree until smooth.

Notes

Best served immediately. If you have any extra, freeze it in an ice cube tray for use in future smoothies.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow's medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Photos by Ana-Maria Stanciu