Forever Living Products: How is Forever Living Products Aloe Gel Stabilized

When choosing the best Aloe Vera product you have to look for the following basic aspects of preparation:

Is Aloe Vera product stabilized, boiled or pasteurized?
What parts of Aloe Vera were used in preparation process?
The amount of Aloe Vera used in Aloe Vera product, problems with dilution, adulteration pesticides use.

1. Aloe Vera product stabilized, boiled or pasteurized. What the difference?

In order to keep Aloe Vera fresh a special methods and preservatives are used in a process.

The method that keeps all active ingredients intact is called stabilization.

Stabilized Aloe Vera product has all original ingredients of the plant while boiled or pasteurized products DO NOT.

Enzymes that responsible for detoxification of our body are perished at 53C degrees. Boiling or pasteurization completely destroys the enzyme’s functionality.

2. What parts of Aloe Vera are used?

When leaves of Aloe Vera cut they demonstrate two important substances.

The one that located closer to the leaf skin is the yellow-brown colored sap mainly exuded wherever the green surface of the leaf is cut.

This yellow, latex-like slightly bitter liquid contains anthraquinones .

Aloin, also known as Barbaloin, is an example of anthraquinone.

It is an irritant and has been used for many years as a laxative ingredient.

The other substance situated in the interior of the leaf the transparent fibrous liquid Aloe Gel – the most efficient component of the plant.

Aloe Gel recently became very popular for its special therapeutic properties.

Aloin that has been used for centuries as a laxative is NOT longer generally recognized as a safe and effective by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (beginning May 2002).

Aloe Gel has gained respect as a product used for nutritional drinks, as moisturizer and as a healing agent in cosmetic and natural medicine industry.

Chemical analysis has discovered that this clear Aloe Gel contains active ingredients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, proteins, polysaccharides and biological stimulators.

There are many articles with studies of Aloe Vera benefits but it is not always mentioned what parts of the plant or what Aloe product were used for the study and how the Aloe product was prepared..!!

For successful and objective conclusion of the study it is important to specify what part of the plant was employed in study of the plant’s medical properties.

Any studies that fail to declare it will likely to confuse the outcome of the study rather than clarify it.

Any company that DOESN'T make clear what part of the plant was used in a product may contain mixture of both parts and eventually compromise the usefulness of the product for the most purposes where Aloe Vera is usually used.

3. The amount of Aloe Vera used in Aloe Vera products, problems with dilution and adulteration

Government regulations state that the ingredients must be listed in order, starting with the highest volume component.

Due to Increased popularity of Aloe Vera and growing demand for Aloe Vera products market got flooded with poorer quality Aloe Vera products.

Those products have fewer amounts of Aloe Vera by using dilution with water or adulteration with cheaper non-Aloe solids without clear label declaration.

This tendency plays negative role in Aloe Vera reputation industry and lower the known Aloe Vera benefits value.

For the purpose of setting standards for the purity of Aloe Vera the industry created non-profit trade organization The International Aloe Science Council (IASC). The IASC bases in Texas and provide the certification of purity and genuineness of Aloe Vera products.

Forever Living Products International is one of the first companies to meet and exceed the IASC high standards because of which it is authorized to display the seal of IASC approval on its products.

IASC Members List provides list of all registered companies and organizations.

But, Forever Living Products, first "Network Marketing Company" who have achieved "INVESTOR IN PEOPLE" award in record time; NEVER does compromise with the quality of any Forever Living's Products and that is why company has been awarded with Kosher (K) Ratings to meet very rigid standards of purity and quality all over the world. Also, company has been awarded a certificate from Islamic Society of California for maintaining high standards and reflects the attention to cleanliness and purity in all stages of manufacturing and packaging.

As we see in question 2 that companies generally DON'T mentioned what parts of the plant or what Aloe product were used for the study and how the Aloe product was prepared and it is important to specify what part of the plant was employed in study of the plant’s medical properties. Forever Living Products do mention that what parts of the plant or what Aloe product they use and how Forever Living Products are prepared.

As we see in question 1 that Stabilized Aloe Vera product has all original ingredients of the plant while boiled or pasteurized products DO NOT. So, in short Aloe Vera products that are stabilized are by far best and we are proud to say that FOREVER LIVING PRODUCTS stabilized its Aloe Vera Gel.

And, that is why New York's Food and Drug Testing Laboratories stated that Forever Living Products stabilizing Aloe Vera Gel and the gel from a raw, mature Aloe Barbadensis leaf, are "essentially identical". In other words, what you get in the bottles is the same as what you would have if you filleted your own leaf (without the mess!).

Now, let's see how is Forever Living Products Aloe Gel is stabilized.

Stabilization Processing Methods:

Forever living Products processes its Aloe Vera leaves within hours of harvesting.

Aloe Vera gel, in spite of its miraculous effects, has a major disadvantage: it is very sensitive to oxidation (it oxidizes very quickly). If it is not processed immediately, within 2 hours it loses its therapeutic properties and it is destroyed by oxygen and microorganisms. So, this gift of nature could be used only by those who had access to the fresh plants. And, as I mentioned above Forever Living Products processes its Aloe Vera leaves within hours of harvesting.

The leaves are cut manually are washed and rinsed twice before being carefully filleted. Minutes after filleting, the raw gel is stabilized by a proven, "patented" (Click on this word to see patented information) process which preserves essentially all of the 200 different nutritional compounds naturally occurring in the plant. From the time of harvesting, through the entire stabilization process, the gel is handled is a sanitary professional manner. The machinery and buildings are clean and sanitary, thus assuring the quality of the product.

Only the pure Aloe Vera gel is used. The leaf is removed and is used for fertilizing the sole. The gel is extracted mechanically and in the same time the yellow milky liquid - which is found immediately under the rind, the aloin - is separated.

Aloin is a member of substances called anthraquinones, which are found in the sap of Aloe Vera. It is one of twelve anthraquinones but it is the most well-known one. These substances on their own are powerful laxatives. Previously they were sold as a compound called bitter aloes and because of their strong smell and bitter taste they were used to paint on children's nails to stop them biting them.

Despite what is often written about them there is no real evidence to support the fact that they may be harmful in pregnancy (causing abortion) or that they are carcinogenic when ingested over a long period of time.

In our drinking gels there is only an extremely tiny amount (less than 50 ppm) and it is not at all harmful and in fact some authorities believe that at this level aloin is beneficial.

The quality is rigorously controlled during each stage of processing immediately after being extracted, the pulp of the raw gel is instantly stabilized in order to preserve intact all the natural nutritive components existent in the plant. This pulp is very beneficial factor in the effectiveness of the products.

Even though FLP products are sold as food and cosmetics, they are manufactured under a pharmaceutical license. This means that the facilities, machinery, test equipment, etc. are subject to stringent government regulations. Each batch of every product manufactured is tested a number of times before, during and after final formulation before release by quality control from quarantine. The consumable products are sealed to protect against contamination, and to increase shelf-life.

The bottles containing our Aloe Vera Gel, Berry Nectar, Forever Freedom and Bit's and Pitches are made with a unique three-layer plastic which further protect the product from oxidation and keeps it fresh. Virtually all materials used in food packaging are approved by the FDA for direct food contact. In the case of materials used for our Aloe Vera drink bottles, there are no harmful components or compounds that can leach into the actual product.

We use this multi-layer bottle because our Aloe Vera needs an oxygen barrier layer in order to provide maximum product integrity and shelf life. Additionally, the added antioxidant (oxygen) layer does NOT contain BPA (bisphenol A), but rather a type of vinyl material. The only material in our bottles that comes in contact with the Aloe drinks is FDA-approved food-grade Polyproplylene – not Polycarbonate, which contains BPA.

Since Forever Living Products stabilizes and formulates its own, the products are made on a timely basis. They don't order a big bath once or twice a year, and let it sit around getting old. You can be assured of getting fresh product, made only a matter of weeks before arriving at their warehouses.

A unique technology of Stabilization Aloe Vera Gel allows preserving all natural property of it and has patent ((Click on this word to see patented information).

In order to preserve the nutritional potency of raw Aloe Vera gel, it must be stabilized, and this process inevitably involved the addition of small quantities of other ingredients.

In response to many questions received about these, here is some further information:

Ascorbic Acid

(otherwise known as vitamin C)

This is a water-soluble vitamin naturally found in many plant materials, especially citrus fruit. Ascorbic acid is also known as Vitamin C. It is essential for the formation of intercellular collagen as well as the maintenance of tooth structures, matrix of bones and capillary walls. It is also necessary for wound healing, facilitates the absorption of iron and is widely used to help prevent colds. Sorbitol is the raw material for the production of Ascorbic Acid.

Citric Acid

It is produced from sugar solutions and citrus fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges. It is widely used in the food industry and can be used as a PH adjuster and antioxidant. It can also retard metallic reactions. It is also involved in the Krebs energy cycle which occurs in all cells of the body. It has been used to dissolve urinary bladder calculi and it acts as a mild astringent.

Potassium Sorbate

The potassium salt of Sorbic Acid (found naturally in fresh berries of Mountain Ash) is a natural buffering and flavoring agent which helps protect the freshness of the Aloe.

Sodium Benzoate

Naturally occurring flavoring derived from fruits such as blackberries and other mountain berries. It helps stabilize and prevent bacterial growth during product usage. In the gel, it is used in quantities of less than 0.1% to prevent spoilage after the bottle has been opened.

Sorbitol

Sorbitol is added to the gels as part of the stabilization process. We have 1/10 of 1% of Sorbitol in our Gels to give this product a 5 year shelf life. This is excellent conditioning agent who aids in the absorption of vitamins and minerals. It is naturally occurring in several fruits and has slight sweetening properties, which can help improve taste. Sorbitol is often used as a sweetener in diabetic products. There are two forms of sorbitol used: sorbitol crystals which are in solid form and contain no water and

aqueous sorbitol which in a liquid form and is derived from specially processed maize. It is acceptable to people with celiac disease (gluten sensitive).

Tocopherol

(Vitamin E)

An essential vitamin for man, it is well known for its health related properties. It is a natural antioxidant, derived from wheat germ oil, rice kernel and other vegetable oils.

Xanthan Gum

It is derived from plants such as kelp, it is natural stabilizing and emulsifying agent.

Question from Customers:

Customers are concerned that citric acid or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and Sodium Benzoate together will cause problems when they drink the juice - is this correct?

Answer: Sodium Benzoate is a naturally occurring flavouring, derived from fruits such as blackberries and other mountain berries. It helps stabilize and prevent bacterial growth during product usage. In the gel, it is used in quantities of less than 0.1% to prevent spoilage after the bottle has been opened. The question regarding Sodium Benzoate and Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) producing Benzene has been asked quite frequently so the company recently had their drink products tested for Benzene and the results were:

We are pleased to report that NO Benzene was detected in Forever Living Products drinks products, when tested to the standard for safe drinking water. From this information, it is clear that these substances would NOT be harmful used in the quantities needed for the purposes described above.

Proven Result

The Food and Drug Testing Laboratories of New York conducted an independent test comparing Forever Living Products stabilized gel with the gel from a raw, mature Aloe Barbadensis leaf. The two were found by them to be “essentially identical”.

In other words, what you get in the bottles is the same as what you would have if you filleted your own leaf (without the mess!).