Is it Possible to Shrink Your Stomach by Eating Less?

Stomach-by-Karrie-Nodalo

Is it Possible to Shrink Your Stomach by Eating Less?

This question -- whether or not the stomach can be shrank by consuming less food -- made headlines on Yahoo! today.

Aside from the answer provided in the article "Does the Size of Your Stomach Shrink When You Eat Less?" featured on Yahoo! Health, I felt compelled to weigh in with my own "answer" as I am a perfect guinea pig.

To be clear, by "stomach," we're referring to the actual organ, not the waist or mid-section.

Now that that's out of the way, if you haven't already, go ahead and read the article mentioned and then come back here to read my own answer and how I arrived at the conclusion years ago that my stomach organ did in fact seem to shrink.

I arrived at this conclusion by complete accident (and at the expense of my health and youthful years of wild, carefree bliss) thanks to extremely agonizing gut-related issues that left me and every doctor I visited puzzled for most of my teenage and adult life.

It looks as if my extreme misfortune is finally coming in use for something, and I must say it's about time. Perhaps there was a reason for all those years of agony after all. And here I was asking why? Why? Why? Why must I seem the be the only girl forced to spend what's supposed to be the most fun, free, and wild years of the human life wasting away in bed (or more like the bathroom)?

Perhaps this is the reason -- so that a few years down the road I could finally write a blog post to let people know that it's probably true that your stomach can shrink if you don't feed it.

Well, at least I finally have an answer for why my adult life and late teen years cannot really be accounted for. That is, unless you're asking my cats or awesomely supportive boyfriend stayed by side through the last 10 years, including during the years I only half existed.

I've gone into great detail about the entire journey of those health problems, so I won't get too detailed here. I'll just get to the point and answer the question, based on my experience.

As you now know, and as the article I shared at the beginning of this post points out, the stomach can shrink when put through a period of not being filled, but to reach a level of actual shrinkage requires such a small amount of food that it's totally illogical and completely unhealthy to consider this as a weight loss method. Unfortunately, I know this all too well.

You see, for some reason, a combination of digestive problems -- one of them being fatal severe IBS (just kidding. Don't panic. IBS is not actually fatal. It just feels that way for those who suffer with it). Accompanied with the digestive complications came endometriosis that, according to the OB/GYN I reluctantly see, was deeply embedded in... ahem... my bowels (I know, as if having something called "irritable bowel syndrome" wasn't dehumanizing enough, right?).

Apparently, it was a better idea to simply sew me back up without removing any of the problematic endometriosis/adhesions than to attempt removing it from a place such as the bowels.

The point of sharing such humiliating personal details is to lead up to telling you that these health issues also caused me to become extremely ill anytime I ate. As if having something called "irritiable bowel syndrome" and then bowel-endometriosis on top of it isn't dehumanizing, humiliating, and agonizing enough, right? 

My misfortune just had to be taken a step further and ruin my ability to even survive. Not being able to eat more than a couple of bites on any given day -- no joke. A couple of bites would almost always leave me writhing in pain -- started making it a little tough to survive. Forget the other health issues and sicknesses that come along with being malnourished and dehydrated.

Eventually, as you might've already guessed at this point, I was quite literally wasting away. 70-something pounds was my lowest weight.

By the time I had came across my little life-saver aloe vera (too bad I didn't start munching on it before the expensive surgery that did nothing to help), I was certain that death was closing in on me.

I was also certain that my stomach had shrank because when my family would force me to risk pure agony (by forcing me to eat, bless their souls), I would be as full as a dog tick, even from as little as 2-3 saltine crackers. Who knew that was possible?

This went on for several years until my desperate consumption of aloe vera -- I read it could soothe problems associated with IBS and immediately began taking it -- and it was nearly two years before I was able to actually sit down and finish a real, proper meal with proper portions.

So, to say that the stomach cannot shrink would be a complete and total injustice to the fact that I'm pretty sure my stomach shrank to the size of a peanut. Okay, a walnut.

Before I end I want to make it very clear that I am not in any way condoning any type of weight loss nor is this post intended to be taken as advice or suggestions on losing weight. In fact, if anything, I would like to recommend against any attempts to halt your food consumption in order to lose weight. Please treat your body like the precious, beautiful gem that it is (inside and out.) If not for you, do it for me. My heart broke every single time someone would comment on my extremely, sickly small size and then after asking me how I "did it," they would reply that I was so lucky and oh how they wish they would get sick so they could "get skinny."

I promise you, getting sick doesn't equal getting skinny in a healthy or fun way. From an outsider's perspective it may seem like the perfect, easy way to losing weight, but it's not. I used to tell the dozens of people who wished they could lose weight by getting sick the way I did that I'd rather be 300 pounds than to feel the pain I would feel from simply eating. We have to eat to survive. Having to endure so much pain that you can't even bring yourself to swallow a bite is not ever going to be worth it to you when you're there.

Okay, now that I've gone on and on to make sure you know that this is not a weight loss idea, I must finish up by also making sure you know that I'm not against healthy weight loss. But please do it the healthy way! Cutting out some of the foods that are extremely bad for you is a great way to do this and so is aiming for healthier portions and more filling meals. Don't forget, you have options that allow you to be a healthy weight without hurting yourself.

I know all about extreme food cravings that won't let you sleep. When I finally became able to eat normally and as much as I wanted without pain, believe me, was it hard to quit! I've come to really love food. But I do keep fairly healthy portions and aim for some healthy foods.

If you are disappointed that you came here and didn't find any information on actually losing weight, then perhaps I can interest you in other posts I've written discussing healthy and very effective ways to go about it. You can find dozens of posts here that will help teach you about plenty of options for losing and maintaining weight. I've even covered ways to knock out those intense cravings for junk food that strike every night. For example, this post will give you information that'll help you kick the habit of emotional eating, over-eating, and midnight cravings.

Before you go, scroll down to the comments and share your own knowledge, ideas, and theories regarding the topics we've covered here in this post.

My Pearl Of The Day : Menstrex natural menstrual relief

Menstrex is for women with higher levels of discomfort during their menstrual cycle. Menstrex is a softgel that contains beneficial essential oils.

Enteric coated softgels, which has a special coating to people who are sensitive to essential oils. The softgel will dissolve in the intestines rather than the stomach, eliminating aftertaste.

Relieves:  menstrual cramps, bloating, nausea, headache.

Menstrex is a great supplement for females who experience discomfort during their menstrual cycle. The reason I love the stuff is because the company Natural Miracles gave people (like me!) a safe, natural remedy to relieve the painful symptoms that come with menstrual cycles. Not only that, but I love that they  use effective and beneficial ingredients from the earth, not chemicals and other ingredients that you see in commercial menstrual-relief products that have devastating effects on our health. These days, I’m always looking for natural remedies to any health issue or problem I encounter because in my experiences (as I’ve shared many times with you guys), natural remedies are what have worked, when dr prescribed medication didn’t come close. 

The box of Menstrex supplements come with 20 softgels, which is great because that’s enough to last most of us through more than just one or two bad menstrual cycles, so having 20 per box means you have quite a bit to keep on-hand for when the ugly menstrual monster strikes.

“Our unique patented formula for women who experience higher levels of discomfort during Their Menstrual Cycle and would prefer to take an Enteric Coated Formula. Menstrex® is Menstrual Magic® Advanced which has been enteric coated.  It takes only a few minutes longer to dissolve because it is released in the intestines rather than the stomach.  We created this enteric coated formula for women who desire a product that can be taken without food, and also for those not accustomed to taking natural herbal supplements.”

As the back of the box says,“If you are one of the 40 million women in America who suffer with menstrual symptoms, Menstrex is for you.”

Other amazing things to take note of :

-          Menstrex is an enteric-coated formula.

-          Is easy to digest and swallow.

-          Provides natural relief that is long-lasting.

-          No aspirin or caffeine.

-          Made in U.S.A.

-          Is free of wheat, gluten, dairy, soybeans, egg, shellfish, peanuts/tree nuts.

Take note of those things above – many people will be happy to know that Menstrex does not contain wheat, gluten, dairy, and the other things listed. I particularly and happy about it being free of gluten and wheat. As for those with dairy allergies/sensitivities, you’ll be happy that it doesn’t contain dairy. Those with peanut/tree nut allergies will be as well. The makers of Menstrex (Natural Miracles) really thought of everyone when they created this product.

I took the Menstrex as directed (2 softgels) to help with cramps, headache and other stomach discomfort. After about 15 minutes, I burbed and was kind of surprised because it tasted like lemons big time! I thought "did I eat anything with lemons?" I didn't, but interesting enough, I actually liked that lemon taste! After about 30 minutes, I burped again, but this time it tasted like lemon and mint. It's pretty tasty, I must admit. These lemony-mint burps keep coming and I also noticed a cool sensation in my esophagus  and stomach for about 30 minutes. It was neat because it was like a relieving sensation and a coolness in my stomach. Note: the cooling sensation I feel from Menstrex is nothing like a burning sensation from being hungry or taking aspirin type products. That's a painful burn. Menstrex just feels like I ate a lemon and peppermint, only a real peppermint that actually has the real peppermint in it, not the fake sugar candies. That was a neat and fun side-effect, but more importantly, my stomach is trucking through this week just fine! Not a single cramp since the day I took the last Menstrex, which was three days ago & strangely and rarely enough, I've not had any problems to have to take more yet. Usually, I'll experience a week long of stomach pain and intense bloating/discomfort. Pains that sometimes have me doubled-over, clasping whatever's nearby me and holding my breath (partly due to endometriosis) and I've managed with no cramps or stomach pain in the slightest since I took the Menstrex! Amazing!

I also have migraines, especially during my week-long menstrual cycle. This is that week and I suffered very badly three days ago. I did notice the pain let up some when I took the Menstrex, but it was a full-blown migraine by the time I took the Menstrex, so I wasn't able to fully get rid of it until I took a nasty ol' BC Powder. It seemed that combined with the Menstrex, that really did the trick. Then, last night and tonight I had a headache come on -- no migraines though, thank God.

Menstrex and other Natural Miracles products come with a paper in the box that gives you a lot of nice info about the product as well as a questionnaire you can fill out with your feedback and send back to them.

Here is some of the important tips that are on the paper:

Menstrual cramps  are caused by a natural substance called prostaglandins that are produced by cells in the uterine lining. These prostaglandins are responsible for the normal contractions that occur at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. For some, prostaglandins are produced in excess. When this happens, normal uterine contractions can become unpleasant cramps. Women with menstrual cramps have significantly higher levels of prostaglandins than other women.

More on the product Menstrex:

Natural Miracles uses  pharmaceutical grade essential oils that are safe and very effective.

Select species of Wild Greek Sage, Spanish Oregano, Peppermint, Fennel and Cumin are hand-picked and processed using centuries-old methods along with state of the art technology to preserve maximum therapeutic properties.

How Menstrex works to bring relief:

Independent laboratory analysis and toxicity testing is performed on eac h species of oil twice for efficacy and safety – once after distillation and once after combining in a softgel. These herbs are rich sources of anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic compounds. They work by helping  lower prostaglandin levels  and relax the smooth muscles of the wall, so your cramps are relieved for hours.

The awesome ingredients in Menstrex:

Greek Sage : Greek Sage has been used to treat a lot of problems. Like most herbs, Greek Sage has more than just a few uses/benefits. One of the popular uses for Greek Sage is as a tea, to treat inflammation of the mouth (sores and sore throats), respiratory infection and headaches. In the 4^th century, Sage was prescribed for gynecological issues.

 In the 1^st Century, sage was used as a diuretic, to inhibit external bleeding and promote menstrual discharge.  Sage was used by Medieval Europeans to promote wisdom and improve memory.  In the middle ages, it was used against cholera, epilepsy and fever. 

Sage has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. 

Spanish Thyme : Spanish Thyme  is a diuretic, tonic, stimulant, etc. It contains forskolin, which has been used to help with respiratory issues, lung disease, glaucoma. Spanish Thyme tea is used for its effectiveness to help with inflammation, its laxative effects and to help with digestive problems. The juice of the leaves are also used to treat asthma, heart/stomach pain, coughs, bronchitis, problems that affect the bladder, kidneys, urinary diseases, to remove poisons from the body, colic, vaginal discharge, menstruation, scurvy, expels gas from stomach and bowels relieves sour stomach.  

 The leaves are also used externally to help with common insect bites, stings and more. 

Peppermint Leaf :  Peppermint Leaf has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Peppermint leaf is resistant to fungus and work to prevent fungal spores. Contains flavonoids and antioxidants. It has been used as a pain reliever. In animals, peppermint has shown to be protect the liver against certain toxins. Peppermint has been used, and said to have good results in helping IBS (I’ve dealt with severe IBS for years, which I’ve only recently gotten under control). Peppermint has a relaxing effect on muscle tissue, so it could also be good for spasms – such as bowel spasms in people with IBS. Some studies make the suggestion that is even has anticarcinogenic effects. Peppermint supports liver function, digestion.

Peppermint contains vitamin A and C, potassium, iron, and fiber.

Fennel Seed :  Fennel Seed is an effective remedy for coughs and bronchitis as it loosens mucus in the chest/lungs.  It relieves abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, it helps with digestion and to turn food into energy rather than fat. It’s very helpful for menstrual problems as well as menopause due to Fennel’s estrogenic properties. It helps balance the female reproductive system and can also help improve mental clarity. 

Cumin Seed :  Cumin Seed has benefits for the digestive system and has the ability to stimulate pancreatic enzymes . It may have anticarcinogenic effects, helps detoxify the liver.  Cumin contains a high amount of iron and manganese, and also contains calcium and magnesium.

Suggested use:

Take two or three softgels, 1-3 times per day. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal with only a small amount of water. Do not exceed 8 softgels per day.

Supplement Facts

Serving size: 2 softgels.

Servings per container : 10.

Calories (per serving) : 5.6

Total carbs : 0.092 grams

Sugars : 0.092 grams.

Proprietary blend of essential oils of : 140 mg.

Greek Sage (leaf) :   + Daily Value not established.

Spanish thyme (leaf) : + Daily Value not established.

Peppermint (leaf ) :  +Daily Value not established.

Fennel (seed) :  +Daily Value not established

Cumin (seed) : +Daily Value not established

Other ingredients:  medium  chain tryglycerides (MCT oil) , extra virgin olive oil, gelatin, lemon oil, glycerin, purified water and enteric coating.

More information from the box of Menstrex:

The back is very informative, which I appreciate because I like to know as much as possible about a supplement I might take. The back gives you a lot of information about the Menstrex, lists what it does, how to use it and even the ingredients! I’ll include everything on the box below:

“Doctor recommended Menstrex is a special blend of essential oils formulated in enteric-coated, easy to swallow softgels that help relieve cramps, bloating, nausea, headache and other symptoms associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle. “

Essential oils in a softgel. 

Natural Miracles, Inc. developed this natural formula based on centuries old Mediterranean tradition. 

Using state of the art technology, we capture essential oils known for their therapeutic properties and combine them to create this natural exclusive formula to help alleviate menstrual symptoms. 

And then there’s the pregnancy disclaimer: “if you are pregnant or nursing, considering pregnancy or have a medical condition, consult your health care practitioner before using. Do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Keep out of reach of children. 

Store Menstrex in a cool, dry place. 

Studies

Also included on the informative paper:  “An independent study revealed that the essential oil blend in Menstrex had a dose dependent positive effect on the inhibition of prostaglandins. The results revealed 77.4++ 1/8% inhibition of PGF2a (prostaglandins). Another independent laboratory study was performed to determine the efficacy and safety of our pharmaceutical grade essential oils.”

Natural Miracles has another softgel that's designed to help with menstrual symptoms. It's very  similar to the Menstrex and is called Menstrual Magic. Menstrual Magic, I find, is about equally as effective as Menstrex. The only difference between the tow is Menstrex contains Fennel and Menstrual Magic does not.

Menstrual Magic sample packet

f

Another product that I feel is going to be just as appreciated as Menstrex and Menstrual Magic is Menopause Magic. I personally can't say a whole lot about how exactly it does help Menopause as I've not gone through it. However, my mom has and she was impressed. She said she had better sleep when she took it and felt more comfortable -- night sweats can be real uncomfortable when you're trying to sleep! I can attest to that just due to having the flu once.

"Menopause Magic^® is a natural essential oil blend combined with other natural herbal ingredients to help relieve a woman’s menopause symptoms.  If you suffer with hot flashes, night sweats, headache, backache, joint discomfort, low libido, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and other symptoms associated with menopause including reduced bone density, then Menopause Magic^® is for you!  Just two softgels per day will support menopausal change."

Menopause Magic is similar to both Menstual Magic and Menstrex -- there is a difference in ingredients though, and after looking at them, I got the feeling that Menopause Magic would also benefit menstrual symptoms too! So if you happen to be out of the Menstrex or Menstrual Magic, I do think Menopause Magic would be useful. Let's take a look at the ingredients and supplement facts, though since they do vary more than a bit from the other two products...

Menopause Magic's Ingredients

Evening Primrose Oil  (140 mg)
Black Cohosh Standardized Extract (35 mg)
Calcium (25 mg)
Proprietary blend (87.5 mg)

Essential oils of:
Greek Sage (leaf)
Spanish Thyme (leaf)
Peppermint (leaf)
Fennel (seed)
Cumin (seed)
Anise (seed)

Supplement Facts:
 Calories : 3.00 (amount per serving)
 Total Fat : 0.20 g
 Total Carbs : 0.6 g
 Protein : 0.12

Serving size is 1 softgel.


 Notice that the Menopause Magic contains Evening Primrose Oil, which has an amazing reputation for being a very helpful herb for menstrual problems as well as menopause and even more. Menopause Magic also contains calcium, Anise and Black Cohosh Standardized Extract. I'll go into detail about their benefits. If you're interested in the others, just look above as they've been mentioned in this post.

 I don't have menopause, but my grandmother tried the Menopause Magic, and my mom too & my grandmother said it worked significantly well to improve symptoms of menopause. I asked if it helped with all the symptoms and she said yes, absolutely. As for my mom, she'd only taken it a couple times & said she slept better and noticed improvement, but didn't elaborate. So, for those who are curious about the Menopause Magic, I can say two of my family members have had great benefits.

Evening Primrose Oil: Benefits include pain relief since EPO contains a compound called phenylalanine that's known to relieve pain. It's used to relieve headaches and menstrual/menopausal and endometriosis symptoms and pains. It's even known to help with mood problems. It's an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and more.

The fatty acid in EPO is the reason for its healing properties. It's helps with joint pain, memory deficiencies and even nourishes nails and hair!

Black Cohosh Standardized Extract: Helps balance the reproductive hormones. Helpful for hot-flashes, night sweats, PMS pains. BCSE is a muscle relaxer, so it can also aid in muscle spasms.


Anise: Treats gastrointestinal problems like indigestion and heartburn, nausea and flatulence, hormonal imbalance and even respiratory problems. It's also helpful for insomnia and parasitic infections, reduces PMS symptoms and more.

Aloe Vera in A Capsule -- The Beginning of Curing My IBS

  Hello all of my beautiful loves. I started taking aloe vera capsules less than a month ago. I started out only taking one capsule a day just to be safe. I've still only been taking one a day, but just now upped it to 2. I am totally shocked by these things. I've already mentioned the health problems I've had (endometriosis since I was a teen that was accompanied by IBS.) Y'all have probably seen me talking about the recent things I've been trying to finally rid myself of this crap. I've had little success, but always felt like it was getting somewhat better in the beginning only to end up even sicker.

  I decided to give the aloe a try and after reading all the info on Nature's Factory products, I was 100% sure this was exactly what I needed. So, I decided I wasn't just going to be ok anymore, I wanted to be great. I just couldn't setttle anymore for the attacks I was having to be lessened or reduced or not as often. I told myself whatever it takes. Then, I prayed and prayed and prayed and listened to Creflo Dollar as usual. For those of you who aren't aware, he's a preacher. I watch him every morning and it just so happened that the very first morning I started the aloe, he was on preaching about recieving your healing. He went on to talk about how Jesus died on the cross to not only save us from our sins and from hell, but he said that through that, we were given healing too. Most don't know that. He said "you just have to learn how to take your healing, recieve it!" That is exactly what I did that morning when I took the aloe.

  I don't have the IBS anymore. I won't have it again and I won't have those nasty symptoms again! I am done 100%. I've only been taking the aloe vera capsules for a little over 3 weeks and I've felt like a totally new person. I noticed huge changes and still have been seeing more changes. I was truly shocked when it came time for my usual attacks this month & had none at all. I expected this to be a longer process, but it's gone! I couldn't believe how it was just gone. I don't have to worry anymore. I actually know what it's like to be normal now & it's really different from what I'm used to! I have never had such enormous changes like this. I could just cry! I can't be more grateful for the aloe. I don't have to live that little life anymore. I can be normal now! It's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. I really can't believe how fast it happened.

  If you don't know about aloe vera pills, you can read more about them and the benefits from Nature's Factory. I don't do well with explaining the complicated stuff, but I'll do what I can. I've actually heard people say that aloe vera has "cured" their diseases, shrunk their tumors, cured their colitis, IBS, etc. It is truly a miracle. It can help prevent any disease and will certainly make an enormous difference in any disease. I'd say even the healthiest person in the world could benefit in some way from them.

            ALOE VERA CAPSULES ARE AMAZING FOR:

 1. IBS (True. Mine is gone!)
 2. Rhuemetoid arthritis - my cousins little boy suffers from this and it's been a true miserable disaster for them. His doctors have him on so many meds & have said not to expect him to live a very long life. I was ecstatic when I read that aloe will help this. She is going to work the aloe into his daily life & I really believe most of his suffering will be reduced. I just can't wait until he starts taking them & sees results!
3. Colitis as well as ANY digestive disorders or diseases.
4. Cancer - I've read so many good things from cancer survivors taking aloe!
5. Urinary Tract infections - my twin was just in the hospital with bad UTI's. She's had awful kidney problems our entire life. She's just starting on aloe & already feeling much better!
6. Yeast infections.
7. Vaginosis
8. Acne/anti-aging
9. Clears up your skin like a miracle! I had 2 people tell me I looked 16 lately! Lol. Maybe from the aloe? Either way, I'm 21 so to hear that I look 16 sounds great! Looking 16 when I'm 21 could be very beneficial for when I'm 60. Maybe then, I'll look 55! Lol
10. Heart burn, acid reflux, etc.
This is only a tiny list of the things aloe can help. There are thousands more. Needless to say, no matter what a person's health is, they can certainly benefit enormously by taking aloe.

  I am now a serious, hard core aloe girl! I've been talking about it everywhere I go. I'm hoping to be able to continue taking them for the rest of my life. They're too good. Also, remember a few days ago when I posted about my horrifying hair removal burns and bruises? Well, thank God for aloe. I'd been taking it for a few weeks when the severe burns happened and it's been less than 5 days ago and my scabs are totally gone and it looks like there will be no scarring! That's a real miracle! I'm so glad I started taking them when I did. If I hadn't been, I highly doubt my burns would be anywhere close to healed right now.

  I can't say enough good things about aloe vera. I wish I could go on and on! Also, I got some Miracle Aid from Nature's Factory which is amazing for sun burns, chapped, dry skin, bug bites, burns, etc. My entire family had burns this week. My parents were sun burned from vacation and I'd burned my crotch during hair removal & the youngest had a nasty splinter she got at school today & it was looking very inflamed & I was pretty sure it was getting infected. I had to break the skin to dig it out & immediately put the aloe gel on it & now the skin's already healing where it was broke & it doesn't hurt and the redness is gone!

  To me, aloe vera is the best thing in the world! If I had to choose between food for a week or aloe capsules, I'd easily pick the aloe! I can't imagine how different I'll feel after another few months of taking them.

 IMPORTANT NOTE: Be very careful when purchasing aloe vera as 90% of the companies actually are so watered down and diluted that it's can hardly even be considered aloe vera. Do not waste your money unless you have all the facts and information about the company's aloe vera. Nature's Factory provided me with a thick supply of their information, stats, and everything. I fully trust that company and love that they are honest & can provide you with their real, honest info. I've never tried aloe from any other company so I cannot say the others are as good or are even legit. I prefer sticking with Nature's Factory since I already know they are. I don't want to risk wasting so much money on a company  who could very possibly be lying. Just always, always, always make sure that it's the real deal. Ask the company to provide you with info. Don't ever just fork over your money for something like this. Also, I read that one person had been taking aloe for months & gave it up because of no results except for gaining 6 pounds. Apparently, he'd been purchasing a rip-off aloe & it contained so much crap that he gained weight! Nature's Factory's aloe vera will NOT cause weight gain or any side effects at all.

  I can't say a single bad thing about Nature's Factory and their aloe products. I love the capsules more than anything and I have the 90 capsule bottle and have only been taking one a day for a little over 3 weeks & I've already been saving to purchase a bottle. I definitely do not want to give it up. It's truly the best thing I've ever came across. Nothing measures up & I've used just about every natural and non-natural type of cures & stuff to help my problems & never experienced any help and actually even got very sick after taking a certain type of wheatgrass which was sure to be a "cure." The only con about aloe products is the price. Whew! The capsules are a whopping $38.00 (or around that, but discounted when you buy in bulk) that's the only thing I'm not liking about aloe. That's not to say that they aren't well worth every penny and then some, but I am not sure that I will have an extra $38 every month. I'm going to definitely do my best to keep taking them and am hoping and praying I'm able to spend that each month. Yes, it's that good! I actually told the BF today that I would happily spend $100 a bottle if I had to & if I was able to. I'd pay every penny I make for the rest of my life & it would be worth it even just for the 3 weeks worth of benefits I've already gotten. To get rid of all that suffering I was doing is very worth the money.