There are many claims made for the benefits of aloe vera, a succulent plant native to northern Africa. The plant has supporters all over the world and is a common sight on the shelves in health food stores.  Aloe Vera has many properties including antibiotic, astringent, coagulating agent, pain inhibitor, cell growth stimulator and scar inhibitor. Numerous studies show that it is great for treating and curing skin conditions and delaying the onset of wrinkles. Research also suggests that it contains around 200 healing substances – including most vitamins, minerals, enzymes, protein and amino acids – and that using aloe vera is a great way to boost your health and wellbeing.

Skin conditions are said to improve when treated with clear gel taken from the aloe vera leaf, such as eczema. Cuts and burns are treated too resulting in reduced inflammation and pain. It is said that the gel boosts the immune system. The sap, which is at the base of the leaf, is used to treat digestive disorders, chronic constipation and low appetite.

The Indian sub continent promotes the plant and it is part of the culture there. In Pakistan, the benefits of aloe vera have been recognised for hundreds of years. People routinely take a mixture of aloe vera and herbal seeds after meals if they suffer from indigestion. The people of the Hazara region in Pakistan believe that the nutrient value found in the gel gives them more stamina. In addition to medicine and food, aloe vera is often used in products such as shampoo, moisturisers, soaps and sunscreen. This is because of the benefits of aloe vera in preventing dry skin and scalp.

There are numerous aloe vera products on the market, including creams for skin problems and heat lotions for aching muscles. Aloe Vera is also sold as a nutritional supplement, blended with other vitamins, minerals and herb, such as ginseng, reishi mushroom, ginger oil, turmeric and folic acid. Enthusiasts can also take aloe vera in the form of a drink, blended with fruits such as apples, cranberries, pomegranates, peaches, grape seed and blackberry. Drinking two to four ounces a day is all that is required to gain the many benefits of aloe vera juice. If you drink it daily, aloe vera can aid your digestion, improve your metabolism (fat burning) and help detoxify your body and cleanse your colon.

Perhaps, one of the most valuable health benefits for today’s society is aloe vera’s ability to assist weight loss. Throughout history aloe vera has been associated with achieving healthy body weight and it has been known as “the dietary plant” and “the harmony remedy.” This is because aloe vera works to both reduce and stabilise weight by stimulating metabolic rate so that we burn more energy. In addition, aloe vera contains amino acids, methionine, serine threonine and molybdenum, which work together to detoxify heavy metals and additionally aid in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and protein. This action prevents a build up of fat in the liver and the arteries. These detoxification and laxative qualities of aloe vera, improve the efficiency of the colon, which is extremely important for good health. Poor colon health results in the re-absorption of toxins into the human body resulting in low energy and un-wellness.

Another of the most important health benefits of aloe vera is its operation as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent, helping to prevent the onset of disease in the body. Thus, taking aloe vera daily helps to maintain good health and provide a sense of wellbeing and energy.

Aloe vera juice can contain nineteen amino acids, twenty minerals and twelve vitamins and as such it is in my opinion an excellent, natural nutritional supplement. But beware; you need to choose the juice carefully as many are preserved with benzoates or benzoic acid which you definitely want to avoid.  Research has shown that sodium benzoate can damage DNA in the mitochondria causing the cell to malfunction.  When mixed with vitamin C, sodium benzoate forms benzene, a carcinogenic substance.  You can also get liquid aloe vera in capsule form which avoids the need for a preservative (see the Resources Page).

 

Eating healthily over Christmas is one thing when you’re in the comfort of your own home but everything changes when you get a party invite. It’s so easy to overindulge when music and conversation distract you. Here are some tips to help you eat healthily at parties.

1) Read your napkin. If hors d’oeuvres are circulating, use a fresh cocktail napkin for each one. Before you reach for seconds, check your napkin for grease spots. If the paper’s soaked through or the spot is huge, make a different selection next time. 
 

2) Switch hands. A sneaky but surprisingly effective trick: Hold your drink in your right hand if you’re a righty, or vice versa. It will make grabbing food a bit more difficult – so you’ll eat less. 

 
3) Cross-examine. As friends pass you what they’ve prepared, exclaim, “That looks terrific! What’s it made with?” (Ask the same of the hostess at other parties.) You’re likely to get valuable information that’ll help you decide how deeply you want to dig in to a dish. If you’re at a buffet table inspect the food you pick up before you eat it. For example, go for food that doesn’t contain pastry and doesn’t shine (suggesting it’s covered in oil), 
 

4) Dance the night away. It’s gotta be the happiest way to burn off calories! With party disco dancing you will burning off abut 350 calories per hour (based on a 10 stone person.  Keep the fun coming and you may forget all about christmas pudding. 
 
5) Avoid wasting calories on alcoholic beverages. The average alcoholic drink contains 150-200 calories per glass. Indulge in just 2-3 drinks and you’ve drunk the equivalent calories of an entire meal. If you have these drinks, choose wisely. For example, instead of having a full glass of wine, try mixing half a glass of wine with sparkling water. This will help cut your calories in half. Another great way to cut back on the drinking is putting your drink down in between sips so you won’t be tempted to keep swigging without realising

 

6) Don’t linger at the buffet or in the kitchen. If you loiter in close proximity to all the guilty temptations, you’ll struggle to keep from unconsciously shovelling food into your mouth. Focus on socialising Remember one of the great things about the holidays is spending time with friends and family. During get-togethers spend the majority of time sharing conversation instead of sharing desserts. 
 

7) The key to resisting unhealthy foods and to a successful healthy eating Xmas is to eat little amounts often. This is because the hungrier you feel, the more likely your resolve will weaken – hunger makes you think more about food. Fill yourself up with plenty of healthy snacks every few hours. Drink lots of water to fill your stomach up, add a slice of lime and lots of ice. Herbal tea is also an excellent alternative to cappuccinos and lattes that are packed with calories.
 
8) Wear something snug and well fitted so you look great and feel good. Wearing well fitted clothes is a great way to remind yourself not to overindulge and stay on track with the healthy eating. So put on your little black dress or tight fitting jeans and start dreaming of a light Christmas.

 

Q: My family and friends have started to tell me that I’ve got bad breath. I clean my teeth regularly but I’m not sure what else I can do.

A: First of all, you are not alone. About 25 per cent of the population are affected by persistent bad breath and this generally has a bacterial cause. Your mouth is a complex system made up of over 500 billion bacteria per square centimetre and factors that upset the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria can lead to bad breath or halitosis as it is called.  The bacteria can build up in various areas of the mouth, with the tongue being the largest reservoir for bacteria because here bacteria lie undisturbed and have a ready supply of nutrients from the remnants of food. Bacteria that live without oxygen thrive in these conditions and give off a characteristic rotten egg smell. The gap between the tooth and gum also provides a natural breeding ground for bacteria, as it is little sheltered from the effects of saliva and chewing. Other areas of the mouth that may harbour bacteria, which can cause bad breath, are areas between the teeth where the food gets caught and old unclean dentures.  I would recommend that you add in a good probiotic.  In this case a powder would be good so that you rinse it round your mouth before you swallow it (see the Resources Page for an acidophilus powder.)

 

In addition to bacteria build up, bad breath can be caused by certain foods, such as garlic and onions or smoking or alcohol. It can also be caused by the mouth becoming dry for long periods of time which is why many people suffer from ‘morning breath’ first thing in the morning. Another cause can be high protein diets. In these diets the body burns fat for energy due to the reduction of available carbohydrates and this triggers the production of ketones, which have a distinctive odour, leading to a condition know as ketotic breath.

 

You may feel upset that your friends have told you about your problem but let me assure you they are doing it for the best possible reason. Many people who suffer from bad breath simply aren’t aware of it because most self-assessment tests for bad breath – such as licking your arm and letting the saliva dry so you can smell it – are unreliable and friends and family haven’t got the heart to tell them. Aside from the elimination of any oral disease or decay that may be present in your mouth a well balanced diet and plenty of hydration should ensure that any temporary causes of bad breath are kept to a minimum. Drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day – more if you are exercising – and make sure you don’t go for long periods without food. Ideally you should eat a meal or snack every two to three hours. Eat more carrots, apples and celery to prevent bad breath and plaque build up and sprinkle chopped parsley on your food to neutralise bad odours. If your breath is bad after a night out, drink lots of water and take three doses of the homeopathic remedy Nux vomica 30c over a 24 hour period.

 

Good oral hygiene is, of course, essential in limiting the number of bad bacteria present and preventing the build up of plaque which can trigger bad breath. You mention that you brush regularly but do you also floss? Three minutes of brushing twice a day is recommended and after each brush you should also floss between your teeth. A clean and healthy mouth in a person with good oral hygiene practises, combined with a well balanced diet and good hydration will minimise the incidence of bad breath.