DESCRIPTION

Aloe Vera is a stem-less or very short-stemmed plant, growing approximately 80-100 cm tall, spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy, green to greygreen, with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2-3 cm long. The tissue in the center of the aloe leaf contains a gel which yields aloe gel or aloe vera gel.

PLANT CHEMICALS
The Aloe Vera plant is essentially a cactus plant, which is composed of mainly water and 75 different ingredients. These include vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones and many more. Carboxy-peptidase is an important enzyme, which produces an anti-inflammatory effect, after rendering bradykinins inactive. Found in the sap are phenolic compounds, such as lsobarbaloin, Anthrone-C-glycosides and Barbaloin-lO. Various essential amino acids and antioxidant vitamins A, C and F are derived from this plant. Sallcylic acid, calcium, zinc, manganese, magnesium are some of the compounds present in the aloe vera plant as well

USES & BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA

Aloe Vera is useful for treating X ray burns, dermatitis, cutaneous and disorders of skin. The drug from its juice is tonic and used in jaundice, ameneorrhoea, atonic and piles. Aloe Vera gel has the remarkable ability to heal wounds, ulcer and burns. The acid present inside Aloe Vera is used as an effective pain killer. It is used to make antiseptic, which can kill mold, bacteria, funguses and viruses.

 Aloe Vera is known to be highly beneficial for skin. It prevents the growth of acnes and is used as a beauty product to enhance skin growth. Both oral intake and tropical dressings of Aloe Vera encourage healing of any kind of wound on the skin, burn or scald. It also speeds up the convalescing period after recovery. Aloe Vera can be tried on blisters, insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria, athletes foot, fungus, vaginal infections, conjunctivitis, sties, allergic reactions, and dry skin.

 Topical used of this plant includes sunburn, frostbite, shingles, screening out x-ray radiation, psoriasis, preventing scarring, rosacea, warts, wrinkles from aging, and eczema. According to some studies, oral consumption of Aloe Vera works effectively to soothe conditions like heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma. Studies have also suggested that it is has a very positive effect on lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics.

CAUTION
Use of Aloe Vera over a long period of time can result in loss of potassium, hematuria, albuminuria and fluid imbalance in the body. Oral intake of Aloe Vera supplements might result in abdominal cramps and diarrhea in some cases. Aloe Vera should not be consumed during pregnancy, menstruation, breast-feeding, and also in case of an inflamed intestinal disorder.

NATURAL BEAUTY CARE

1. Acne: Beauty products containing Aloe Vera can help reduce the severity of acne. 2.Freshness: Aloe Vera can keep you feeling fresh, which is why its used in new Carefree Aloe Panty Liners. The Aloe works to protect the delicate skin in that area, ensuring a clean, fresh feeling. 3.Allergies: Aloe Vera is great for treating the pain and swelling associated with bites and stings. Just break open a leaf and apply it directly to the skin.

 4.Burns: Aloe Vera is excellent at relieving the pain of sunburn, rub it on directly from the plant or buy an after-sun formula which contains an extract of the plant. 5.Chapped Lips: When I had dry lips as a child, mum always made me rub Aloe Vera on them it sure does the trick! 6.Skin Care: Aloe Vera has a softening and moisturising agent, making it great for skin care products. We love Johnsons Aloe Baby Oil, which is used post-showering to get your skin in super soft shape.

 7.Cuts: Rest a fresh leaf directly on the wound as it will help relieve the pain. Apply more fresh Aloe Vera frequently over the first 24 hours. 8.Stomach Problems: Aloe Vera is thought to help with indigestion and heartburn when taken internally. It does have laxative effects though, so imbibe it with care! 9. Sinuses: Aloe Vera can act as a decongestant when used through an inhaler.

10.Health Supplement: Aloe Vera is packed with essential minerals and amino acids to keep your body healthy, so get into the habit of drinking it daily.

PINEAPPLE

 Pineapples are some of the most popular tropical fruits in the world. They are sweet, juicy, and delicious. More importantly, they are very healthy and nutritious. It is no wonder many people who want to have a healthy lifestyle include these fruits in their diets. To know more about them, here are some of the many health benefits of eating pineapples.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PINEAPPLES

1. Packed with Vitamins and Minerals Pineapples are loaded with vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. It is also rich in fiber and calories. On top of it all, this fruit is low in fat and cholesterol. All the nutrients it contains promote good health. 2. Prevents Cough and Colds Since pineapples are rich in vitamin C, it can fight off viruses that cause cough and colds. Even when you are already infected with such ailment, pineapples can help you. These fruits have bromelain, which is effective in suppressing coughs and loosening mucus. Eating pineapples while taking the right medications prescribed by the doctor for your sickness can help you recover more quickly. 3. Strengthens Bones Pineapples are also popular for their ability to build and maintain strong bones. This is because these fruits contain manganese, which is a trace mineral that your body needs to build bones and connective tissues. In fact, if you consume a cup of pineapple, you can already get 73 percent of your total body requirement for manganese.

4. Keeps Gums Healthy People are always very concerned with their teeth that they sometimes fail to give importance to the gums, which are equally essential since they hold the teeth in place. If a person has unhealthy gums, his/her teeth would be in bad condition, and eventually will fall out. Eating pineapple will strengthen your gums that will help keep your teeth healthy and strong. 5. Lowers Risk of Macular Degeneration Pineapples are known to prevent different kinds of ailments. One example is macular degeneration. This disease, which is the primary cause of vision loss in adults, is caused by damage to the retina. Reading, recognizing faces, and doing daily activities can become a lot more difficult because of this problem. Including pineapple in your diet can lower risk of this disease by as much as 36 percent. This is because this fruit contains beta carotene that is good for our sense of sight. 6. Alleviates Arthritis Since these fruits have anti-inflammatory qualities, eating pineapples can greatly alleviate the pain of arthritis while at the same time improve the condition by strengthening the bones. Apart from arthritis, it can also improve other similar conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and gout. 7. Improves Digestion Bromelain found in pineapples work to neutralize fluids to ensure that they are not too acidic. It also helps regulate the secretions in the pancreas to aid in digestion. Apart from that, since bromelain has protein-digesting properties, it can keep the digestive track healthy.

BEAUTY BENEFITS OF PINEAPPLES

Pineapple, native to Central and South America, contains enzymes and the antioxidant vitamins A and C, according to Epicurious. In addition to providing a healthy treat, pineapple has a long history in folk medicine and natural beauty treatments. It's a source of alpha-hydroxy acid, an ingredient in wrinkle creams that helps with exfoliation, the process of sloughing off old skin.

 Enzymes A mask of crushed pineapple may offer the benefit of enzyme activity on the skin. The bromelain from pineapple helps in removing dead skin from burns, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. Although pineapple flesh contains much less bromelain than a bromelain extract, it may help to relieve dullness and dryness from dead skin cells on the surface. A blender works well to make pineapple into a thick consistency for a mask.

 Vitamin C Applying vitamin C to the skin may have a beneficial effect because of its antioxidant properties. Correctly formulated vitamin C creams may protect against the aging effects of sunlight and reduce wrinkles, although further research is needed, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society's website, DermNet NZ. As with bromelain, the vitamin C in fresh pineapple isn't concentrated the way it is in wrinkle creams, but it provides an inexpensive alternative for a home beauty treatment. Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to get enough vitamin C, DermNet NZ suggests. Pineapple is a rich source of vitamin C, and its antioxidant activity may help to protect your body from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage cells and lead to visible signs of aging.

 Soothe and Soften Feet Pineapple has a mild exfoliating effect due to the fruit's acids, including alpha-hydroxy acid. A mask made with fresh pineapple blended with mint and other herbs creates a cool and soothing treat for the feet, according to the American College of Healthcare Science. A fresh pineapple foot mask may help smooth rough skin and calluses. Leave the mixture on for 10 minutes, then use a pumice stone to polish your heels and other rough areas. A pumice stone is a fine-grained volcanic rock that sands away calluses.