THE NEXT BIG THING: ALOE

Asian Restaurant News

Aloe is called the "Lily of the Desert;" a very pretty name for an ungraceful, sharp-edged plant. But, do not let its ugly appearance fool you! The aloe plant, native to Africa, was employed in medications and beauty products by the ancient Egyptians, who referred to aloe as the "Plant of Immortality." Though it is anything but new, in the last few years, aloe has finally started to make a name for itself in the mainstream, especially in Asia. Its health benefits are attracting loyal customers. Aloe vera is known to regulate blood pressure, normalize blood sugar, help remedy bones and internal damage, boost the immune system, ameliorate constipation, improve circulation, protect gums the list goes on and on.

It has been used to reduce inflammation caused by bowel diseases. Aloe has the power to detoxify toxins from the blood and cleanse the human colon. It is also an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent, hence can build up your body's defense system. This lily plant is also packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Eight different amino acids, which are essential yet not present in the human bodies, are found in aloe. By drinking aloe daily, it helps replenish the body of the much-needed amino acids. In addition, the plant gel has also been traditionally used to treat sunburns. This "Lily of the Desert" seems one stop short of being a miracle plant.

Besides its health benefits, aloe also can be used as a weigh loss supplement, which adds attractiveness to this plant. With daily use, aloe vera can reduce the amount of energy absorbed by the body by means of reducing the time that food stays in the intestine. Less energy means less calories absorbed. Less calories means less calories stored. Less calories stored means less fat. Aloe vera also helps stimulate one’s metabolism so it helps burn more calories. In addition, this plant can wash out the unwanted substances that cause sluggishness. With your energy levels augmented, you can once again burn more calories.

Experts suggest a daily intake of two to four ounces to gain the best results. Due to the fact that the presence of aloe has mostly penetrated the online scene, most loyal customers who are looking for the plant's benefits order aloe drinks from the Internet.

With benefits that seem endless, aloe vera has also proven itself to be very flexible and versatile because of its subtle taste. It is no wonder that aloe is showing up in every product, even beverages. Companies like Young Woo Frozen Foods Co., Ltd sells plain aloe vera juice in bottles. Others like Forever Living (FL) are adding aloe to apple juice, peach juice, citrus juice, berry juice and herbal teas packets. Vietnam - United States - Australia Biotech Co Ltd. sells diced aloe vera gel that can be added to different fruit juices for cocktails or made with jello for dessert. The company also provides customers with dry aloe flowers, which can be brewed like tea leaves. Some sports and energy drinks such as those produced by Aquagen and Japsun Aloe are fashioning the lily plant with their lectrolytes. Aloe is included in laxative drinks, yogurt, sorbets and health drinks like Herbal Aloe Vera Drink. This lily can also be found in alcoholic beverages. Sometimes it can even be found in fruit smoothies.

As it grows in popularity, more companies are incorporating aloe vera into their products. Aloe can obviously be found in medication. The plant can also be found in chocolate, vanilla, shampoos, lotions, sunscreens, moisturizers, soaps and cosmetics. In 2006, it was found that aloe helps preserve the freshness of fresh fruits and legumes. It helped preserve grapes up to 35 days opposed to the untreated grapes of seven days. Cosmetic companies find this as a sign of defense against old age. Aloe also has a high content of collagen, which is a component in preventing aging of the skin.

With its wide flexibility, aloe will make it big. The growing interest in nutrition and aloe's endless health benefits make up a classic formula for success. Is your restaurant ready to get creative with aloe?

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