By Karen Foster
Guest Writer for Wake Up World
Mineral-rich aloe vera juice is nutrient-packed, and known to aid in weight loss, digestion, immune function and ease general discomfort.
Aloe vera contains a multitude of vitamins including A, C, E, folic acid, B1, B2, B3, B6 and is one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12, which helps with brain and nervous system function.
It is also mineral-rich, containing calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, selenium, sodium, iron, and potassium, as well as being packed with amino and fatty acids.
You can purchase the leaf of aloe vera at many many grocery retailers and health food stores. For those who want to make their own aloe vera juice at home, all you need is to harvest the leaf and then immediately remove the rind and the yellow layer just under the rind (aloin). Using the following steps, you can make aloe vera juice as an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal moisturizing spray.
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Ingredients:
1. Fresh Aloe Vera leaf
2. 1/4 to 1/3 cup of lemon juice
3. Sharp knife
4. Spoon
5. Strainer
6. Blender
7. Ice cube tray
8. Water
9. Spray bottle
Directions:
1. Remove all the green by cutting away the top and end of the leaf then the spiny sides but leave the bottom of the leaf to hold in the aloe meat. With a spoon scoop out the aloe meat and discard
all the green.
2. Place all the clear aloe meat into a strainer and rinse with cold water
3. Place the rinsed aloe meat into the blender with 1/4 to 1/3 cup of lemon juice depending on how much Aloe Vera meat you are processing. The lemon keeps it from turning brown.
4. Blend for about 30 to 60 seconds and pour into ice tray. All that is not being frozen must go into the refrigerator until ready to freeze into ice cubes.
Note: If you are not freezing the Aloe Vera mixture into ice cubes you must keep the mixture refrigerated. It will only last a week in the refrigerator. After a week discard the mixture and make a new batch. Remember the mixture is very concentrated. If you are going to use the mixture in this concentrated form you would use a very small amount, such as 2 tablespoons or 1/4 cup of mixture to 3 cups of cold water to get the desired affect.
5. Once frozen place only one ice cube into the blender with 3 cups of cold water and blend for about 60 seconds. Pour the juice into a spray bottle and use on your hair/skin as often as you like. Keep refrigerated between uses. The juice is good for 7 days. But if you are like me you will be making about 2 spray bottles of juice a week. The juice will be cold on your hair but cold water is good for natural hair.
About the Author
Karen Foster is a holistic nutritionist, avid blogger, with five kids and an active lifestyle that keeps her in pursuit of the healthiest path towards a life of balance.
The article reposted with permission from preventdisease.com
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