Aloe Vera and Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are not a pretty sight and even though they are harmless physically, the psychological scars should not be underestimated. All people, irrespective of race, gender and age can be affected and there are literally thousands of creams, lotions and oils as well as surgical procedures that claim to eliminate these ugly marks. The truth is, once a person has developed stretch marks, all they can do is to make them less visible but it is almost impossible to get rid of them completely. Imagine blowing up a blue balloon. When the ballon is new, the color appears dark and its really hard to fill it with air as the rubber is tight and elastic. As you blow up the balloon you find that the color appears lighter as the size of the balloon increases and that the rubber also becomes thinner the more the balloon is inflated. If you allow the balloon to deflate at this stage you see that it returns to it's original shape but it has been stretched and lost part of its elasticity. However, if you continue to stretch the balloon it will burst. The same occurs to the fibres of your skin. 

So what exactly are stretch marks?

Stretch marks (striae) occur when the skin is suddenly stretched and the dermis (the middle layer of the skin) ruptures in places so that the deeper layers show through. Once the dermis, which is made up of collagen fibres, is ruptured, the surrounding fibres are weakened and tear. The tear will continue up or down the skin in the direction of the fibres, just like tearing a piece of fabric. At first the lines will look red or purple because the blood vessels become visible where the skin has torn. With time however, these darker stripes will fade and appear more silvery-white in color when the stretch marks have shrunk. 

Collagen are proteins that are mostly made up of amino acids. They are the main component of connected tissue and account for approximately 25 to 35 % of the entire body protein content. Collagen is found in the skin and the body's connective tissue as well as in nails and hair. Collagen can be compared to the 'glue' that keeps everything together. It helps the skin to stay firm, supple and plays an important role in the constant renewal of skin cells. 

If the body has insufficient collagen (for example as a person gets older, through hormonal changes like puberty and pregnancy, wrong diet, smoking, etc.) the collagen production slows down and the skin will lose firmness and elasticity.  

When do stretch marks occur?

The most frequent reasons are:

Pregnancy - About 80% of pregnant women will get stretch marks in the latter stages of their pregnancy as the skin needs to be stretched tremendously to accommodate the growing child. One reason for this is that the pregnancy produces hormonal changes in the body that soften the ligaments to make the body more flexible for the birth, but these hormones also soften the fibres in the skin and therefore makes it more susceptible to stretch marks. Whether or not a woman gets stretch marks during her pregnancy also depends on how quickly weight is gained and whether 'it runs in the family'.

Rapid Weight Gain - When the body gains weight rapidly the skin also has to stretch to accommodate the extra fat or muscle tissue. As with the balloon explained above, the skin loses elasticity and tears if the weight was put on too quickly. 

Puberty - As with rapid weight gain, skin fibres will be stretched too fast and can tear if the body grows too fast. The hormonal changes that occur during puberty also have an impact on the body's collagen production. 

Genetics - The skin is made up of collagen (a structural protein of the connective tissue) that keeps the fibres in the skin subtle and elastic. Some people have a lower collagen production than others, which means that the skin is loser and not as elastic as other people's skin. 

Underlying Health Conditions - Some rare health conditions like Marfan or Cushing's syndrome can also lead to the development of stretch marks. People with Cushing's syndrome produce excess amounts of cortisol that decreases the amount of collagen in the skin whilst those suffering from Marfan syndrome suffer from a faulty gene that affects the skin and connective tissue, which weakens the tissues and makes the skin less elastic.

Corticosteroids  - Also a rare phenomenon are stretch marks due to prolonged or inappropriate use of corticosteroid medicines like creams or lotions to treat various conditions of the skin like eczema. The medication has a similar effect to those suffering from Cushing's syndrome, whereby the cortisone reduces the amount of collagen in the skin, which in turn can make it more susceptible to stretch marks.

How can I avoid stretch marks?

There is no guaranteed formula that prevents a person from getting stretch marks, however, there are a few things that can be done to prevent or reduce these ugly marks: 

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.... the skin needs to maintain its elasticity. Instead of using water based creams, use natural organic Aloe Vera Gel, which contains natural collagen as well as vital nutrients in addition to its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe Vera also has the advantage of quickly and deeply penetrating all layers of the skin (Aloe Vera is proven to penetrate up to 7 times deeper into the skin than other substances) so that the nutrients are absorbed at the deepest level of the skin where the damage has occurred. 

Massage enhances blood circulation and helps the tissue to heal faster. Massaging the affected parts enhances the blood circulation in the connective tissues, which in turn promotes healing and by using creams or gel that contain natural collagen, the cells are able to regenerate faster and the skin regains some elasticity and firmness. Using Aloe Vera Gel for massage instead of oils ensures that the nutrients can penetrate deeply into the skin tissue to promote healing and add extra collagen to strengthen the skin tissues. 

Healthy diet. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables that contain Vitamin E and C, as well as nuts and oily fish (or fish oil supplements) and lean protein like lean meat, eggs, tofu or chicken. Zinc and silica are also important to maintain a healthy collagen production. You can also take supplements although a natural diet will beat supplements any time. 

Water Make sure you drink plenty of water to flush out any toxins, especially after massage. Our body consists of about 90% water and its vital to drink water every day. A plant that is not watered will shrivel up and die.... The same happens to your body, it will become dehydrated. 

Exercise promotes blood circulation and the formation of new cellular tissues. It also helps to reduce fat, which in turn is beneficial to improve circulation and healing.

Surgery. There are various options to surgically reduce stretch marks, such as laser treatment, surgical removal (like tummy tucks), microdermabrasion or Endermologie. If you are considering beauty treatments or surgery, do your homework and get several opinions from medical professionals and consider the impact on your health, side effects of the treatment and cost! 

   

Aloe Vera and Weight Loss

Trying to find the perfect natural weight loss supplement is like searching for the Holy Grail... There are literally thousands of products on the market, which claim to help you shed pounds quickly and easily and even though these supplements will assist to lose weight faster… that is providing you also change your life style, always remember that there is no miracle cure!

The only effective and safe way to lose weight is to change your life style by eating a healthy diet and exercise... All supplements can do, regardless of whether they are natural, organic or chemical, is give you an additional boost in combination with a healthy diet and exercising. 

There are various weight loss products on the market, including FDA approved pills like Yacon, Phen375, Capsiplex, Meratol, UniqueHoodia, Pure Acaiberry, Adiphene, and Teatoneplus, fat binders like Proactol, or weight loss patches, as well as various organic teas and extracts such as Koutea, green coffee, raspberry ketones with green coffee bean extract, and so on. 

The fact that the benefits of Aloe Vera have secondary effects on losing weight is no secret. There are numerous scientific claims on the efficacy of Aloe Vera, for example, Aloe Vera juice (also available as organic capsules, like Organic Aloe Vera) is said to ‘reduce and stabilize the body mass index by stimulating the metabolic rate in our liver cells’ and a daily dose is like ‘doing multiple workouts throughout the week’ according to the American Chronicle website. It speeds up the metabolism in two ways, first by containing a protein that requires a significant amount of energy to break down and secondly by detoxifying the body with its amino acids (methionine, serine, theronine and molybdenum).

According to scientific research it also helps to lower and regulate blood glucose levels and because Aloe Vera is rich in collagen, which is required to repair and build muscle tissue, it assists in converting fats into muscle when exercising and expends calories from fatty tissue and supplies the energy to the muscle tissue.

Aloe Vera also enhances blood circulation by maintaining a healthy function of arteries and veins by reducing and excreting fat deposits in the capillaries and therefore assists in regulating a person’s BMI to normal levels.

Given that Aloe Vera juice is also a mild laxative, it cleans the intestines and helps to keep bowel movements regular and smooth. Please note that unregulated or excessive consumption of Aloe Vera juice can lead to diarrhea. If in any doubt, please consult your physician.

SUMMARY:

Weight Loss – Vitamin B assists in regulating the metabolism and acts as an appetite suppressant as well as reducing fatty deposits. The amount of calories the body has to burn in order to digest the plant it is said that it’s equivalent of several weekly workouts.

Weight Control – Aloe Vera reduces blood sugar levels and helps sugar to enter cells slowly without being stored as fat. Because it also regulates the body’s blood sugar levels, it gives the impression that you feel ‘full’ for longer.

Energy & Detox – Aloe Vera’s detox properties clean the body and as toxins are eliminated from the body, you will feel more energetic. The proteins and collagens in Aloe Vera force the body to work harder in order to burn calories from fats and carbohydrates and help to develop muscle tissue, which is why Aloe Vera is the perfect pre-workout supplement to help to get you going!

Vitamins – Aloe Vera is a ‘powerhouse’ of vitamins. It includes vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, niacin and folic acid, which are vital for your well-being or you take some vitamin supplements. Most people on a diet do not receive the daily vitamins they require in order to maintain a fit and healthy body. 

Please note!

If you have any health problems or are unsure, please consult with your physician before taking Aloe Vera. Even though there are minimal contra indications it is always advisable if in doubt to ask for a medical opinion.

Begin your weight loss schedule with an Aloe Vera colon cleanse and detox program, for example Aloe D-Tox. By eliminating toxins your energy will rise and you will maximize the results of your weight loss plan. If you don’t like Aloe Vera juice, you can also take Aloe Vera capsules like

Stick to a low-fat, low-sugar and low-calorie diet to get rid off the extra pounds. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you can kick-start it with a proven medical diet used by hospitals and doctors like the easy cabbage soup diet before moving on to a normal diet. By choosing organic foods you will also limit the buildup of toxins in your body.

Chose a combination of cardio and weight training exercises to shed the pounds. Make sure you chose activities that are fun. Hire a personal trainer so you stick with it because if you have to pay a personal trainer you will not want to waste your money by ‘skipping’ workouts so there’s an extra reason and added incentive to keep going and see your body get sculpted and lose those pounds!

You can also achieve better results if you get together with like-minded people who understand what you are going through and who can offer support, encouragement and guidance. Join a program tailored to your needs, such as Weight Watchers, Slimming World or Fitium. Most groups are also online if you don't fancy or can't go to the meetings in person.