Early Aloe #1 Products Proudly Displayed

WHEN WE TOOK OVER Rodney Stockton’s product line, there was very little room for improvement in the raw Aloe #1 health drink he pioneered, though we did invest in modernized equipment to freeze the product faster and preserve maximum freshness.

But, when it came to the Aloe #1 skin cream, we knew we could make it better. Don’t get me wrong; Rodney Stockton’s Aloe #1 Ointment worked far better than anything the competition had developed, but it also contained the same conventional preservatives the others used. At the time, no one knew any better.

Stockton Aloe cares for you … naturally

At Stockton Aloe 1, we have a standard of excellence. We strive to provide the healthiest and most effective products on the planet. But we don’t arbitrarily develop our opinions; they are based on solid evidence — and we always look for the safest, most natural alternative. A growing body of scientific research indicates that preservatives, like parabens, are not the best choice for your health. Therefore we don’t use them in our products.

Furthermore, we knew we could add synergistic healing ingredients to the original cream, without needing to lessen the amount of genuine barbadensis miller-stockton Aloe. That meant we could amplify the potential healing properties of Rodney Stockton’s products, while avoiding the hazard of preservatives and still keep Aloe percentages stable.

In other words, we discovered how to make the best even better

Youth Derm® Aloe Cream Family

When we announced we would discontinue Rodney’s Aloe #1 Ointment and replace it with our new, more powerful formulation, we knew there would be resistance to the change. That was not surprising.

But we were taken off guard by an unexpected backlash: Customers began ordering and stockpiling our remaining inventory. They were afraid of never again being able to find a comparative healing Aloe cream.

To our relief, the new formula exceeded even our own expectations. In fact, within the first week of release we began receiving emails and phone calls from customers offering glowing testimonials — tales of amazing results. And some of those stories were verging on unbelievable … even for those of us with first-hand experience of the healing potential of Stockton Aloe products.

I’m not saying I didn’t think we would get some outstanding testimonials. It would be difficult to find someone who has tried Stockton Aloe products who doesn’t have an encouraging story to tell. We just didn’t realize the extent of skin conditions that could be helped with our new Aloe cream.

And that got us to thinking … we had heard rumors, for instance, that Aloe could even be effective in the treatment of vitiligo, an affliction causing depigmentation (Michael Jackson is a famous example of someone diagnosed with vitiligo), and we began to wonder just how wide the potential uses for our new cream might range.

Months later, and we still haven’t exhausted the possibilities. Would you help? We are asking customers to document (photographs, eye witness statements, etc.) their experiences with our Aloe creams and then send us your report, so we can add it to our collection of case studies.

With that said,  let’s talk about which Aloe cream formula might be best for you.

Stockton Aloe currently offers two types of Aloe cream. These are comparable to the original Aloe #1 Ointment. Really, they are upgrades and options, rather than new formulations. All contain the same (and, we believe, essential) 70% Aloe barbadensis miller-stockton base. In this company, we always begin with 100% pure, hand-filleted Aloe vera.

Youth-Derm Ultra Healing Aloe Cream

Our Ultra Healing Aloe Cream contains additional synergistic healing ingredients not contained in the basic formula. This premium cream could be considered a spot-treatment formula, especially beneficial in situations where extra healing capabilities are required. For instance, many people find it useful as an  anti-aging night cream for the face and hands. Others use it on minor cuts and burns to augment natural healing.

But, for some people, extra ingredients means allergies.

Youth-Derm Aloe Cream

Our new Youth-Derm Aloe Cream is an all purpose, full body Aloe lotion made of fundamental ingredients. It is still composed of a 70% Aloe barbadensis miller-stockton base, but it does not contain some of the other substances that may contribute to skin sensitivity issues when used by susceptible individuals.

Those who have allergic responses to the special ingredients we added to our premium cream should choose the traditional formula.

Examples of special ingredients in the Ultra Healing Aloe Cream

The Ultra Healing formula contains organic lavender essential oil. Lavender is a synergistic healing ingredient often used as a stand-alone product for eczema and other skin conditions. But some people exhibit an allergenic reaction to lavender, and we don’t want to see those customers have to do without the blessing of Stockton Aloe cream.

Another example of a potential allergen is Manuka Honey. Manuka Honey is a well-known herbal medicinal but, here again, some people have sensitivities to any bee products, and we hate to see them not have a high quality Aloe cream option. Stockton Aloe is a customer-focused company. We are small enough to not have to dance to the tune of investors, but large enough to compete against the grocery store brands of skin care and cosmetic products.

Other synergistic ingredients, not included in the traditional formula, include:

• Tremella mushroom
• Organic Cocoa butter
• Organic Shea butter
• MSM (an organosulfer compound)
• Centipeda cunninghamii (Old man weed)

Which Aloe cream should you choose?

We expect up to 30% of our customers will continue using Youth-Derm Ultra Healing Aloe Cream (with synergistic ingredients) exclusively. It is so good, many will say they can’t do without it. That is the same reaction garnered by Rodney Stockton’s Aloe #1 Ointment. People panicked to think it would go out of production.

We expect perhaps 65% of our customers will order the basic Youth-Derm Aloe Cream AND the Ultra Healing Aloe Cream. Some may have a member of the household who is too sensitive for the premium cream. Others will use the traditional cream for typical use and save the Ultra Healing cream for special applications.

Those who have super-sensitive skin, however, and have experienced reactions to any of the ingredients particular to the Ultra Healing Aloe Cream, should use the basic Youth-Derm Aloe Cream only. We do not expect more than 5% will choose that option.

Both creams include two essential ingredients for skin care — Aloe vera and organic glycerin. Whichever of the Stockton Aloe creams you choose, you can be sure you have secured a product that will serve you well. To prove that, all you have to do is apply our Aloe cream to a troublesome minor wound or skin irritation.

Those who use our creams KNOW  they work. We don’t ask you to take our word for it. Try it and see for yourself.

Remember, please send field reports of your experiences. We are compiling results in the Stockton Aloe Research Library. To get on the mailing list for special offers from Stockton Aloe 1, CLICK HERE.

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Jordan Rubin, Founder: Garden of Life

The doctors and their prescription pads couldn’t help Jordan Rubin. He was down to skin and bones before finally getting the help he needed. And that last-gasp advice, from a rather unorthodox nutritionist, transformed his life.

Jordan gained 29 pounds during 40 days of intense dietary focus, and he regained the health others thought was lost forever. In his own words, “Considering my diseases were considered medically ‘incurable,’ and with what I’d been through for nearly two years, this was an absolute miracle.”

The suffering he endured — and the healing he received — not only made an incredible physical difference in Jordan’s life, but it gave him vision for the future and inspired him to devote himself to helping others experience the same incredible turnaround.

The article that got him started

Dr. Morton Walker, a medical researcher and writer, heard about Jordan and asked for an interview. The result was “One Man’s Journey from Sickness to Health,” an in-depth account of Jordan’s story to that point. After it was published, thousands of people contacted Jordan for advice – desperate to find an answer for themselves or for loved ones.

With a firm conviction that “food is the best medicine,” a credit card borrowed from his father, and the use of a friend’s garage, Jordan began designing whole food supplements that would become the first products offered by his new company, Garden of Life®.

He had the answers to the questions

Working as stock boy at a health food store, Jordan began answering questions for which the sales clerks had no answer. Soon, customers were returning with reports about how a skin condition, internal ailment, or other difficult problem had been solved by following Jordan’s advice. In 2002, his first book was published, and that one work – Patient, Heal Thyself — now has more than a million copies in print.

To date, Jordan Rubin has over 20 books to his credit, he has become a sought-after speaker and television show host, and Garden of Life has blossomed into an internationally known and highly regarded brand of health-promoting products.

Food has become big business

Says Jordan:

Even before our food is mass-produced in some industrial bakery or far-off factory, the ingredients have been sprayed with pesticides, pumped up with additives and preservatives, and stripped of vital nutrients.

Jordan’s initial decision to change his diet and see food differently was born from necessity. Today, however, he knows he has a choice. And you have that same choice. Will you join us on the journey?

This installment ends the introduction to Live Beyond Organic. Next time, our plan is to go on to chapter one and Why “Beyond Organic”?

We hope to see you then.

You can get your FREE copy of Live Beyond Organic, complete with recommended eating plans and over 100 healthy recipes right here: Live Beyond Organic.

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Skin. It’s important

From your first kiss, to pressing your cheek against your newborn babe’s soft hair, many of your most precious experiences would not be possible without skin.

Without skin, you would quickly die.

You skin is the separation between you and the outside world. It serves as a barrier, keeping everything else out, and you safe inside.

• There are hosts of bacteria and viruses that would like nothing better than to invade the nourishing confines of your body. Skin prevents them from gaining an entry.
• Ultra-violet rays from the sun would damage your internal organs, but your skin absorbs those rays—eventually turning dark with age spots as a sort of badge of honor for the work it has done.
• Skin keeps toxic chemicals out, regulates your body temperature via sweat glands and even serves a metabolic function by synthesizing vitamin D, a vital nutrient your body cannot otherwise produce.

If you’ve never thought of taking a moment to be thankful for your skin … why not do that right now?

We’ll wait.

Question: How can I prevent aging and keep my skin as soft and supple forever?

Answer: You can’t. Nothing in this world is immune to the laws of nature. As you age, your body changes—and it begins to show the wear and tear of life; that is just the way it is.

But, while there is no true Fountain of Youth, there are things you can do that will give your skin the best chance of health and beauty.

A popular, but erroneous, belief about skin is that every cell is replaced every seven years. If that were so, those age spots and scars would not remain. Only the outer of the four main skin layers sluffs off constantly.

We tend to forget there is more to our skin than the part we see, and it is at the deeper levels that new cells are birthed. You must keep each layer nourished, not only the surface area.

How do you keep skin properly nourished and moisturized?

Find a skincare product that actually does what it claims it will do, and you will almost certainly see one of three primary ingredients listed: Glycerin, Lanolin, or Aloe vera.

Glycerin

Glycerin was discovered by the Swedish chemist, Karl Scheele, in the late 18^th century. Posterity tagged the intrepid scientist “Hard Luck Scheele,” since he made several important discoveries (oxygen being one of them), but never received proper credit. Few people have ever heard his name.

Glycerin is a byproduct of soap making – Scheele called it “The sweet principle of fat.” His penchant for tasting everything he was working on may have contributed to his early death. Scheele lived but 44 years, yet proved himself to be one of the most capable experimental chemists of all time.

Glycerin is good for the skin because it is a humectant—a substance that attracts water. And water is the world’s best moisturizer. Moreover, because glycerin appears to soften skin beyond the effects of drawing hydration, many researchers believe glycerin may naturally contain other, yet unidentified, beneficial properties.

Bottom line: If you are reading the ingredients on a skincare product and do not see glycerin as a primary ingredient, you are probably looking at a cheap product with a great name, or an expensive product with great marketing. Either way, no glycerin most likely means “no good.”

The best skincare products always contain glycerin. And the very best source their glycerin from vegetables, not animals.

Lanolin

Lanolin is secreted by wool-bearing animals and serves to waterproof the coat. It is squeezed from the fleece of sheep as it is being processed for wool yarn or other goods. Unfortunately, many people are allergic to lanolin. Furthermore, there have been many concerns over the presence of pesticides in the finished product—sheep live outdoors and are often exposed to sprays meant for crops.

Lanolin works, not by drawing moisture, but by trapping moisture. It is an emollient substance and serves to protect skin from drying out. Once popular as a nipple treatment for nursing mothers, the threat of pesticide residue and the possibility of lanolin poisoning or allergic reactions has rendered that practice inadvisable.

Top quality skincare products are not likely to contain lanolin today.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera – the “all-purpose medicine”

Aloe has been used as an herbal treatment for thousands of years. Christian scriptures cite it as one of the herbs used to anoint the body of the Christ for burial. Ancient cultures used it extensively to treat everything from burns and skin irritations to itchy scalp and ulcers.

Whether used externally as a cream ointment, or taken internally by drinking the raw gel, stories of Aloe “miracles” abound. It is one of the most popular herbals ever.

Aloe, though, resists the scrutiny of the scientists.

Some say Aloe works because it is exceptionally good at reducing inflammation. Others counter that Aloe’s secret sauce is the rich blend of super-nutrition found in the raw gel.

More recent research says Aloe serves as a binding agent—pulling several healing factors together and making them work synergistically.

However you understand Aloe vera, it is an excellent choice for treating almost any condition of the skin—whether inside or out—and will be found in any top-of-the-line skincare solution you find.

Where to find the two things your skin needs most

The best of both worlds, of course, is to choose skincare formulations containing both glycerin and Aloe vera. That isn’t easy to find, but it can be done.

We are persuaded, of course, that our Aloe cream is the finest one can get. If we thought differently, we would improve the formula.

At Stockton Aloe, we don’t let cost decide which ingredients should be used. Our products are made to work better than others, not to be the cheapest available. 

Here’s one of our favorites: Youth-Derm Aloe Cream

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Doctors gave him no hope

Jordan Rubin was down to 116 pounds—mostly skin and bone—and the numerous physicians he consulted were exasperated by his condition. Despite a desperate attempt to survive, Jordan was slowly dying of malnutrition.

In a last-ditch attempt to save his life, Jordan heeded the advice of a nutritionist, one with some unique ideas about food. In the end, it wasn’t drugstore medicine Jordan needed at all—it was the medicinal value of whole, natural foods.

After making a dramatic change in diet, he gained almost 30 pounds during 40 days of intensive dietary therapy.

In a sense, Jordan Rubin was reborn.

A Biblical perspective on diet

Bud Keith, the man who helped Jordan get on the path to health, put Jordan on “a health plan based on the Bible, one that’s been proven through history and confirmed by science.”

The primary tenants of the Keith diet are:

1. Eat the food God created to be used as food
2. Eat those foods in a form that promotes health.

Jordan began seeking out organic, living foods—kefir, raw juices, raw milk, grass-fed beef, and the like. He stopped eating for pleasure and began eating for health … and his physical being turned completely around.

Will you join us as we study Jordan Rubin’s book?

After a change in diet

We have begun our study of “Live Beyond Organic,” a story that chronicles the experience of Jordan Rubin, proponent of the “Maker’s Diet,” and founder of Garden of Life, Inc., an internationally known nutritional products company.

This installment brings us up to page 16, and we hope many of you are following along in this virtual reading circle. If you’ve yet to begin, though, it’s definitely not too late. We will take our time—especially here at the beginning—to allow late-comers and stragglers to catch up.

Moreover, all of the discussions will be posted here, on the Stockton Aloe 1 website, so anyone can access the information and get in the circle at any time.

You can get your FREE copy of Live Beyond Organic, complete with recommended eating plans and over 100 healthy recipes right here: Live Beyond Organic.

You are welcome to share the link with your friends, and invite them to accompany you on the journey.

Are you suffering?

We can’t promise results, but we do know that many, many people have received incredible healings from following Jordan Rubin’s recommendations. Our own company president, Dr. Michael Haley, says Rubin’s work was instrumental in changing his own perspective about eating.

So download the book, pull up a chair, and let’s talk about eating for health God’s way.

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Even though these ingredient names sound scientifically complex – they ARE naturally derived.  We at Stockton Aloe 1 have taken the time to explain and fully disclose all of our ingredients so our consumers can make properly educated decisions. For those with allergies, these ingredients do NOT contain gluten even though some contain the word wheat.

Ingredients included in Youth-Derm® Aloe Cream and also Youth-Derm® Ultra Healing Aloe Cream formulations:

Caprylyl/Capryl Wheat Bran/Straw Glycosides – is the product obtained by the glycosylation of a blend of caprylyl and capryl alcohols with the monosaccharides derived from hydrolyzed wheat bran and hydrolyzed wheat straw.

Fusel Wheat Bran/Straw Glycosides-  is the product obtained by the glycosylation of the alcohols derived from fusel oil with the monosaccharides derived from hydrolyzed wheat bran and hydrolyzed wheat straw.  Fusel alcohols, also sometimes called fusel oils, or potato oil in Europe, are a mixture of several alcohols (chiefly amyl alcohol) produced as a by-product of alcoholic fermentation. (1)

Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate-is an ester of oleic acid and a glycerin polymer containing an average of 5 glycerin units. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid found naturally in many plant sources, mainly olives. It is an omega-9 fatty acid.

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate-  is a sodium salt of the Cocoyl Glutamic Acid. It is a dispersant or surfactant that is made from coconut or palm oil and glucose.

_______________________________________________________________________

These ingredients are used in the Youth-Derm ® Aloe Cream only:

Glyceryl Rosinate – is a monoester of glycerin and mixed long chain acids derived from Rosin.  Plant derived.

Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables – is a fraction of olive oil which is not saponified in the refining recovery of olive oil fatty acids. Saponified is a verb that means -to turn (fat or oil) into soap by reaction with an alkali.

(1) – http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fusel%2Boil

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“Up to date, anticancer, antioxidant, drug carrier, detoxifier, skin hydrating, and emollient activities of these substances have been reported both in animal models and in vitro environments. According to promising results from recent studies, squalene and squalane are considered important substances in practical and clinical uses with a huge potential in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.” (1)

Squalane was and still can be acquired and produced from the livers of deep sea sharks. We have chosen at Stockton Aloe1 – NOT to use this shark squalane, but to source a beautiful, silky 100% olive derived squalane guaranteed by C13/C12 quantification.

Squalane (with an “A”) is a saturated derivative of Squalene (with an “E”) that is more suitable for use in cosmetic products. Squalene can oxidize very easily – so the stable form of Squalane is used. It has been touted to permeate the skin at a rate of 2 mm/second.

Human sebum also contains 13% squalene as one of its major constituents (1), but as we age it’s production slows down and more is required for skin replenishment. It helps to soften wrinkles which aids the flawless application and appearance of make-up.

Dry, cracked skin can benefit from the use of our Youth-Derm® Aloe Cream. Squalane has been shown to help condition and prevent cracks that could lead to pain and greater germ penetration. It has also been shown to provide antimicrobial activity when properly concentrated in the skin.

Squalane is one of the main components in our Youth-Derm® Aloe Cream to aid  it’s impeccable health benefits for the skin.

(1 )- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22361190

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Youth Derm Aloe Cream

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our customers spoke and we listened. Youth-Derm® Ultra Healing Cream is certainly a favorite among many. However, plenty of our customers requested a product that would be “all purpose” and ideal even for the most sensitive skin.

To accomplish this, we chose to remove many of the “niceties” found in our Ultra Healing product. That is, we took out things like:

• Essential Oil Lavender
• Tremella Mushroom
• Centipeda Cunninghamii
• Manuka Honey with Venum and Propolis
• Cocoa Butter

Details of our Youth-Derm® Ultra Healing Cream can be found HERE.

We continued to use 70% Barbadensis Miller Stockton specie with a coconut oil base, squalane, and vitamin E. The new Youth-Derm ® Aloe Cream is free of any mineral oils, parabens, formaldehyde, polysorbates, gluten and fragrance.  Furthermore, we pressed on with gentle natural preservatives. We have selected all natural ingredients with your health in mind. It is even gentle enough for a new born baby’s behind.

Our new Stockton Aloe 1 Youth-Derm® Aloe Cream is intended to help those with:

• Minor Burns
• Sunburn
• Windburn
• Cuts
• Wounds
• Bruising
• Mosquito Bites
• Insect Bites
• Non-Poisonous Man-o-War Stings
• Jelly Fish Stings
• Sea Lice
• Diaper Rash
• Hemorrhoids
• Radiation Burns
• Skin Irritations
• Chapped Skin
• Dermatitis
• Razor Burn
• Boils
• Acne
• Chafing
• Psoriasis
• Scar Tissuie/Prevention
• Chapped Lips
• Dry Skin
• Cracked hands or feet
• Keratosis
• Ulcerations
• Heat Rash

It is available in a 4 ounce tube.  A complete list of ingredients can be found HERE.

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Of, relating to, or being an organism whose genome has been altered by the transfer of a gene or genes from another species or breed:transgenic mice; transgenic plants. (answers.com)

Have you ever eaten transgenic food?

Genetically Modified Blackberries

You’re not sure, but it’s doubtful you’ve ever even seen transgenic foods … right? The sad truth of the matter is, that if you have purchased groceries in the United States during in the past 20 years, it is almost certain you have not only seen them, but you’ve eaten your share of transgenic crops.

Often called “genetically modified” (GM) foods—a term that covers any genetic manipulation, even cross-breeding—a more accurate descriptor for the high-tech manipulation of our food supply today is “transgenosis,” and the food produced in this way is “transgenic.”

Instead of imagining George Washington Carver happily admiring the plants in his garden, think of a molecular biologist in a research laboratory. The work is at the chromosomal level, where genes are transferred from one species to another—species that may normally not even consider producing offspring.

And we’re not just talking about crossing one type of soy bean with another—transgenic technology is a free-for-all, incorporating genetic material from plants, animals, and bacteria all spun together into a previously unheard of offspring.

Monsanto and Genetic Modification

No wonder consumers are beginning to get concerned—there are, essentially, no regulations governing transgenic foods—therefore, no need for the agro-giants to prove their Frankensteinish crops are safe for long-term consumption.

It all began in 1994 with the introduction of the Flavr Savr tomato (a.k.a. CGN-89564-2) by Calgene, Inc. They went broke within a few years (the industry spin is that Calgene was inexperienced and ill-prepared, but others say tasteless, high-priced tomatoes may have had something to do with their troubles).

One thing is for sure, though, the company who bought them out—Monsanto—took the transgenic ball and scored a touchdown. Consequently, the majority of corn and soybeans produced in the USA today is transgenic. You may not have known that, though, since there is no requirement for transgenic crops to be labeled as such. On the typical grocery store shelf today, in the USA, up to 70% of the food items include a transgenic component.

Should you be concerned about the potential effects of GM foods?

Consider the case of StarLink corn. Through the miracles of biotechnology, Aventis CropScience found they could dispense with the necessity of spraying corn for bugs by genetically modifying corn to produce its own pesticide.

Humans don’t like to eat pesticides, though, so StarLink corn was used for animal feed only (which doesn’t make much sense either, but hardly any of this does). A couple of years down the road, StarLink was found in corn tortillas, then in other foods on the grocery store shelf. Aventis voluntarily stopped production of StarLink seed (to their credit), but the company was promptly gobbled up by international giant, Bayer AG (who, it turns out, makes a whole lot more than aspirin).

What can you do about genetically modified crops?

Insects ate the non-GM leaves and flourished (top), but died trying to eat the GM “protected” leaves (bottom).

Either blissfully eat whatever you find at the grocery store or get active.

• Urge the government to enact legislation that would require stringent testing for the safety of transgenic (GM) crops and the labeling of all foods containing them.
• Vote at the grocery store. Let the retailers know about your concern and ask them to find and offer non-GM foods.
• Buy locally-produced crops from farmers who don’t use GM seeds or methods. Be especially careful about the foods you juice.
• Grow your own—but be careful about the seeds you use. Look for “Heirloom” varieties. Anything you lose in crop size or volume will be more than made up for in taste.

The agri-giants want you to believe the choice is between high-tech farming methods or starvation, but that is not the case. When it comes down to choosing between their profit and your health—choose health.

By the way … Stockton Aloe 1 products are made of 100% pure, hand-filleted Aloe vera. We take our raw material only from the precious barbadenis miller-stockton variety of Aloe, and it absolutely NOT genetically modified (GM).

At Stockton Aloe 1, we care about you … naturally.

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Aloe vera has a broad history of medicinal use—but is the gel or juice of Aloe vera safe to drink?

Given the vast array of information available online, you can easily find arguments to support either side of any topic. My search on “eggs are good for you,” for instance, returns 246,000 results in praise of eggs. A search on “eggs are bad for you,” returns 84,100 entries vilifying them. Which is true?

Likewise, some reports say Aloe vera does not provide the extensive health benefits claimed by many, but may even be dangerous to consume. This is troubling. Reports of Aloe juice and Aloe gel as effective in the treatment of internal problems—from GERD  and prediabetes (metabolic syndrome) to immune system disorders—have made Aloe vera a popular product. Jugs of Aloe are on the shelves of supermarkets everywhere.

Should consumers be concerned about drinking Aloe vera?

We sometimes receive questions about Aloe from people who have come across an adverse report—like this one from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They want to know if Aloe is safe to drink. And we don’t blame them for wondering. After all, the NIH is one of the most trusted medical research centers in the world.

And to top it off, Aloe vera has been safely used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years. Stories abound of its. The legendary healing properties of the gel are well documented.

How, then, could the NIH say Aloe may be bad for you?

Researchers sometimes look for additional medicinal properties in parts of the plant that are normally not used. In the case of Aloe vera, that part is the outer leaf. Reputable providers of Aloe vera gel dispose of the outer leaf, keeping only the inner flesh. The researchers disposed of the inner gel and tested the outer skin instead.

Take a look at the NIH report, and you will see references to “Aloe latex” and “Aloe leaf extract.” These do not refer to the inner part of the leaf, which is commonly ingested, but rather to the outer portions.

Which part of an orange do you eat?

Many plant foods contain an outer layer of anti-nutrients for protection. You can distill the outermost portion of an orange peel to obtain d-Limonene, a phytochemical that acts as a natural pesticide. It protects the orange from insects.

The same can be said about the outside portion of an Aloe leaf. It contains a yellowish brown, bitter substance called “Aloe latex” (also known as “aloin” or “barbaloin”). Aloin is an anthraquinone glycoside, and is known to be a digestive irritant and laxative.

When you eat an orange, do you bite into it as is, or do you peel it first? How about watermelon? Nature did not intend for the rind of some plants to be eaten. Used properly, Aloe vera is a nutrient-dense superfood.

Like the orange, the outer layer of Aloe is sometimes ingested in small quantities. Many use Aloe peel as a natural laxative to relieve constipation.

The NIH researchers used a preparation of outer leaf anti-nutrients. They did not focus on the nutritious inner leaf; therefore no information concerning the use of Aloe vera inner leaf gel, as either a food or nutritional supplement, is obtainable from the NIH study.

In fact, the samples used by the NIH were created by grinding whole Aloe vera leaves, then removing the pulp (the good part) and keeping the outer leaf. The tests were conducted using the parts of the Aloe plant we discard.

In the initial 13-week study, it was demonstrated that whole-leaf Aloe vera extract produced goblet cell hyperplasia of the large intestines in rats. This makes perfect sense. The mucous producing cells would most certainly attempt to increase their ability to protect the body from a digestive irritant, like the preparation used in the tests.

Aloin, the phytochemical abundant in the outer green portion of the Aloe vera leaf, is known to cause diarrhea (as mentioned earlier, it is often used as a laxative). It is this usage of Aloe the report questions concerning safety. It has nothing to do with the inner filet of the Aloe leaf—which is the only part used in all Stockton Aloe 1 products.

Stockton Aloe 1 Aloe vera gel has been demonstrated by an independent laboratory to contain between 1 and 5 ppm aloin. In order to consume the referenced 1 gram of aloin per day, you would need to drink about 276 gallons of Stockton Aloe 1 raw Aloe vera gel every 24 hours. Even Aloe pioneer, Rodney Stockton (who was in excellent health into his nineties) only drank a glass or two of Aloe gel each day.

That said, consumers should know that many Aloe drinks are “whole leaf” and may indeed cause stomach upset. The highest grade of Aloe products are taken from the inner leaf only. Moreover, because of modern filtration and processing techniques, even whole leaf Aloe drinks are likely to have very low aloin concentrations, compared to the preparation given to the rats in the government study.

Is Aloe vera safe to drink?

Most certainly—if it is prepared correctly from the plant’s inner leaf gel.

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To Dr. Michael Haley and Stockton Aloe:

DOC, I HAVE ONE BIG QUESTION ABOUT ALOE: Why does Aloe vera gel taste so bad, yet work so well?

Aloe reminds me of my mother’s bottle of cod liver oil. Just the thought of having to swallow a spoonful of her “natural medicine” kept me well enough to go to school every day. I guess that is the way I need to look at it when drinking Aloe vera juice … it’s my medicine.

I had high hopes when I ordered your Aloe #1 Health Drink Gel, Doc, but I almost sent it back after I opened the jug. You should warn people about what they are getting into. Aloe vera juice is for folks who are serious about their health. It’s not for sissies.

Here’s what Aloe did for my friend

A friend told me he kept seeing Aloe vera gel testimonials on the health forums. After being disappointed by the big name commercial Aloe products, he did some research and found out yours is the pure raw gel, full of phytonutrients. He said it’s also important that Stockton Aloe uses the inner parts of Aloe only, not the whole plant. That minimizes the aloin count, to prevent digestive disturbances, and maximizes the acemannan count to increase healing properties. (I’m pretty well quoting from your site).

I had questions about the terminology, so after we talked he emailed me your Stockton Aloe Selection Guide. The points made there convinced me I should give Aloe a try. Especially since my friend reported that, after only a few days of drinking Aloe #1, he was able to stop depending on antacids for his frequent stomach upsets—the internal burning went away.

He forgot to tell me about the taste, though, and neither did you talk about it in the Guide. People should know what to expect when they first start drinking Aloe vera juice, Dr. Mike. It is important. I hope this letter encourages you to start making sure anyone who is thinking about using Aloe #1 as a means of flushing out toxins and restoring internal health knows what he or she is getting in to. Why set people up to fail?

My Aloe Story

I have suffered from GERD for about ten years now, and it has been getting increasingly worse. I took a prescription drug (omeprazole) for a while—and it did help at first—but the GERD came back with a vengeance. Not only that, but I began to read reports that the medicine I was taking can cause stomach cancer! That really got me confused, since I had also heard that GERD can cause cancer of the esophagus. It felt like I was in a proverbial “between a rock and a hard place” situation. Which is worse, the disease or the cure?

I questioned the price of Aloe #1, compared to the stuff at the grocery store, but my friend told me he had tried the cheap Aloe, and it didn’t work for him. (The Stockton Aloe Selection Guide helped me understand why.) He had shopped around quite a bit, before finding your miller-stockton variety of Aloe vera and finally getting the health results he was looking for.

So I went to your website and placed my first order (with great anticipation, I might add).

I live at over 5000’ elevation, near the Teton Mountains and Yellowstone National Park, so we get a little bit of snow here. A few days after placing my order, I pulled into the driveway after work and saw a box sitting on the porch. I wish I would have taken a picture. The “100% Pure Fresh Frozen Aloe Gel” banner was barely visible through the snow and ice. It was a perfect scene—you could have used it for a commercial.

To say I was excited would be an understatement. I brushed off the snow, carried the box inside the house, and opened it up: two jugs of Stockton Aloe #1 (one with light colored gel and one pinkish … what’s up with that?) and a tube of Ultra Healing Aloe Cream. I was extremely impressed with how well it was packed—and I began to think that my days of being terrorized by GERD were over.

Until I tasted it, that is.

I opened up the first jug and poured a little into a cup. One whiff, though, and I knew I didn’t want to drink it. I got another cup, opened up the second jug, and tried again. Same darned thing. “Oh, no,” I figured, “they must have sent me a bad batch.” Man, was I disappointed.

Now what?

I called my friend and told him. Then, I listened to him laugh. “No,” he chuckled, “that’s the way it’s supposed to smell. And believe it or not, it tastes worse than it smells.”

I didn’t see anything funny at all about that.

“Listen,” he said, “you need to mix it up with some cranberry or orange juice—about half and half. Look at it like your drinking medicine, not sipping on a smoothie from the juice bar. Do you want to get well or don’t you?”

I gotta tell you, Doc. I almost sent the order right back to Florida. But I followed my friend’s suggestion, fixed myself a cranberry-Aloe cocktail, and chugged it down. I drank one more glass just before bed, this time stirring a packet of vitamin C powder in with the Aloe gel … and I hoped for the best.

That first night I still woke up about two in the morning, feeling my supper churning inside. The GERD effect didn’t push it up into my throat, though. That was a relief. I sat up for a while and then fell back asleep. The next day, I drank the raw Aloe gel twice more—some before supper and some before bed—and I slept through the night without any discomfort.

It was about two weeks later, when I had almost finished the first jug, that I was finally able to truly accept what had happened as a direct result of my Aloe #1 Health Drink regimen: I had not suffered from GERD one single time. Not one night had I woke up with a start and sat up in misery, chewing on antacids and trying every drugstore cure I could find.

Aloe #1 is absolutely amazing. It is a rare product, Doc; it actually does what people say it will do. (I don’t guess you are allowed to make any health claims for Aloe … but my friend and I sure can … and we do.)

Here’s the bad news.

I still hate the smell, and even though I’m mixing it with cranberry juice and vitamin C powder, it sometimes feels like a chore “taking my medicine.”

So Doc, please tell me, why does Aloe taste so horrible, and how can I make it more drinkable? Your advice would be very much appreciated.

Sorry this was so long. If you want to reprint any of this, you are welcome to do so. Nothing would please me more than to help get the word out about the wonders of Aloe vera, but please don’t use my name. My friends already think I’m a “health nut.”

And that reminds me about one more thing: In conjunction with drinking Aloe gel and juice, I made other dietary changes. I am all but off of soda pop and I try to graze through the day, avoiding huge meals as much as I can. Most people I talk to don’t want to make any changes in their habits. They rely on their ridiculously priced prescription drugs and keep going back to the doctor for more.

I refuse to live like that. I might not be a kid anymore, but I’m not ready for the grave either. I’ve not only stopped the GERD pills, but I’m off the cholesterol and blood pressure medications too. I can’t recommend that for everyone (and I’m sure it makes you want to call up a lawyer to see if I can say that without getting you in trouble) … but that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Your newest loyal customer,

(signature withheld by request)

Doctor Haley’s response:

Thank you for your detailed letter; I am glad to address your concerns.

It is interesting that not everyone has the same experience. For instance, when we pour samples at trade shows to introduce people to Aloe, two people side-by-side will receive a sample from the same bottle. Often, one of them makes his face scrunch up like he just sucked down spoiled milk, while the other replies, “Oh this is good.” That never ceases to amaze me.

The most astounding observation I have realized from these instances may be the hardest pill to swallow; that is, the people who need Aloe the most are those who tend to like it the least.

Another factor relating to whether someone likes or dislikes the taste and texture of Aloe vera gel is geography. People from the islands tend to like Aloe. They are more likely to have grown up eating real foods. But people from the States are normally used to eating processed and packaged foods. Not only does that lead to a less satisfactory taste experience with Aloe, but it is indicative of a greater need for Superfoods like Aloe.

When someone orders Stockton Aloe #1 and has that awful first taste experience, we have seen two responses. Some stop right there and never give it a try. But most do as you did and choose to swallow the “medicine. We love to hear from those who press on, because they are filled with thanks and praises for having their lives changed for the good. Also, the taste and texture those customers once loathed eventually turns around, and they begin to enjoy real foods and real health.

A quick tip on improving your early experience with Aloe is: Be creative. A little liquid Purium Cherry Concentrate, for example, goes a long way in improving the taste and texture. It also adds the benefit of more antioxidants. Or a small pinch of stevia in a glass of Aloe will knock out any perception of bitterness. Lemon contrasts stevia quite well and can make your Aloe like taste like lemonade. Add it to your frozen smoothie to actually improve the texture and taste of your drink. The possibilities are endless. Be creative and be healthy. And … thank you for choosing Stockton Aloe as your trusted source of the potent Aloe barbadensis miller-stockton variety of Aloe vera.

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