With the aloe vera plant, to make it into a smoothie, do we cut off the outside of the plant & just add the gel? or can i just use it as a whole?

Advise gel because:: Aloe has many healing phytonutrients which are primarily in the core (the gel). The main thing that the skin of the plant has that is not in the core are powerful laxatives, so I would advise not eating the skin unless you need a powerful laxative! See http://www.naturalnews.com/021858_aloe_vera_gel.html for more about the many benefits of aloe.