Aloe vera juice: a dangerous and banned trend in Brazil –

In the old days, it was common for our grandmothers to plant aloe vera in their backyard and use the “drool” from the plant to take care of their hair. The so-called aloe vera, the scientific name of this homemade miracle worker, is still famous today for the effects it have in hair and skin – no wonder it is such a popular ingredient in the world of beauty.

However, did you know that it has also gained popularity in food? Aloe vera juice is a growing trend on social media – especially on TikTok, who loves a new and different recipe. Today, we will understand better about this idea and the reason for the controversy that surrounds it.

WHAT IS ALOE VERA?

“Aloe vera is a very well-known plant, popularly called aloe vera”, explains the nutritionist. doctor Alvaro Amaral, from the HealthSculp group. “Aloe vera is very old, even historically speaking, as there are records and historical reports of the use of aloe vera in Mesopotamia since 2100 BC It was a well-known plant also in Egypt, where it was called, out of curiosity, the plant of immortality .”

Aloe vera is widely used in the form of aloe vera gel. This gel has several compounds that are good for health, such as vitamins A, B, C, E, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, in addition to prostaglandin and interleukin, anti-inflammatory substances.

Aloe vera gel has scientifically proven benefits in hair and skin care, which is why it is also used in the form of creams and other cosmetic products and is 100% safe in these formats – its use is even approved by Anvisa, the National Health Surveillance Agency.

Initially, aloe vera was recognized as a pharmacological substance and released for topical use in 1932 in England. However, there are alleged benefits that justify its consumption in other ways, such as glycemic control (the amount of sugar in the blood), treating burns and healing wounds, as well as joint pain, especially rheumatic ones. But in these cases, which include aloe vera juice, there are still controversies about its effectiveness.

ALOE VERA JUICE: PROHIBITED IN BRAZIL

Maybe you don’t know this, but aloe vera-based foods and drinks were banned by Anvisa in 2011. The regulatory agency’s justification is that there are still no scientific studies proving the health benefits or safety of plant consumption.

“There is no indication for the use of aloe vera juice because there is no scientific evidence that offers a safety basis”, reinforces the doctor. “This is due to the reports of adverse reactions that aloe vera caused with chronic use, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, muscle injuries and liver injuries, which were the most serious effect, with cases of hepatitis, including fulminant ones. ”

The reported cases have a dose-dependent relationship, that is, it depends on the amount consumed, but even so, the juice was banned here in Brazil 11 years ago and continues to this day.

“You hear a lot about the use of aloe vera for weight loss, but it is very dangerous and risky, mainly because of the effects on the liver. So, the contraindication, in fact, is the use of juice. For pregnant women, when the juice was still released, there was a contraindication due to the risk of contraction of the uterus, which could lead to miscarriage. It was also not recommended for patients who used cardiac glycosides, what we call digoxin, that is, those who had heart failure could not use it, as well as those who used diuretics and antiarrhythmics.”

However, there is no need to panic: the topical use of the substance for skin and hair care is still allowed. However, it is important, even in these cases, to rely on the guidance of a dermatologist – only a professional can indicate the best products according to his needs.