Informed Bodybuilding Nutrition

There are over 200 species of aloe, but only three or four have medicinal benefits, including aloe vera barbadensis and aloe vera linne. Aloe vera has been used as a medicinal herb for over 4,000 years by many cultures, including the Ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Indians. The mature aloe vera plant is harvested and extracts from the leaves, the inner gel and sap are preserved and bottled for sale as a supplement preparation.

There are 75 known ingredients of aloe vera gel including vitamins, minerals, sugars and amino acids. There are enzymes which can aid digestion and the inflammatory process; plant sterols which help control serum lipids and are involved in inflammation; lignin which gives aloe one of its skin-helping properties; saponins which act as anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antifungal and anti-yeast, i.e. help fight infections; anthraquinones which are anti-inflammatory and pain killers, and are also laxatives; and salicylates, another anti-inflammatory agent. There are also a number of anutrients, many of which are antioxidants.

These ingredients act synergistically mainly as anti-inflammatory agents in cases where inflammation is pathogenic, but promote favourable inflammation where it is advantageous. Aloe vera ingredients can act on epithelial tissues (the layer of cells which cover a tissue, organ or cavity) likeskin, gut lining, bronchial tubes, etc, and the immune system.

Aloe vera has been anecdotally reported to favour a number of inflammatory diseases including arthritis, cystitis, gastritis, back pain and many more disorders. It has also been linked to improving mood in depression, though its effects here are doubtful.

In bodybuilding, I feel ingesting aloe vera orally, may be useful in reducing inflammation associated with joint injuries and also speeding recuperation after an intense workout.

For a 'well' bodybuilder take about 25ml of quality gel daily, for a bodybuilder with disorders or long standing injuries try 25m1 two times a day. You need to take aloe vera consistently and it is doubtful that any effects will be noticed for at least six weeks. Watch out for this herbal supplement in the future in both medicine and sports.