The Indian gooseberry, better known as amla, is a powerhouse of nutrition. The ancient Indian healing system Ayurveda strongly advocates the use of amla for several ailments and preventive measures. Alternative health practitioners use the fruit to make medicine.
Health Benefits of Amla
Health Benefits of Amla
Take a look at why the humble little amla packs a health-infused wallop.
Amla Builds Immunity
Primarily because of its high vitamin C content – way more than oranges -one tiny amla gives you as much vitamin C as 2 whole oranges! – the little fruit does wonders for your immunity. You’ll be able to better fight off those pesky coughs and colds and just in general develop a higher resistant to sickness and disease.
Amla Regulates Blood Sugar
Diabetics in paritcular are advised to take amla on a daily basis as it is known to reduce blood sugar. Some of the most ardent advocates of amla also claim that the fruit can cure diabetes altogether if taken twice a day, every day for a few months.
Amla Improves Liver Function
Your liver is a very important part of the body as it helps to eliminate the toxins that we consume thus ensuring that your entire system is running in top form. Amla makes the liver stronger, thus enhancing all of its detoxing abilities and making you healthier.
Amla Good for Skin and Hair
This one is straight from our grandmothers and our great-grandmothers too. Amla has always been touted as being incredible for hair – imparting shine and strength, promoting growth, and ridding tresses of gunk and dirt. That’s not all. Amla can also help you get rid of dreaded lice! All you have to do is make a paste of the seeds with a little lemon, apply it on your hair for approximately 30 minutes, then wash it off. AND amla also gets rid of dandruff. Forget all those expensive shampoos, just buy a bunch of amlas and your hair-care routine will be set.
Amla is also great for skin, especially reducing pimples and redness. Ayurveda explains that since both these conditions are often caused by too much heat (pitta) in the body, amla – which naturally reduces inflammation – tends to cool the body and thus prevent the reactions from occurring. An application of amla powder mixed with water can also help to dry up pimples.
Amla May Fight Cancer
Preliminary research conducted on the Indian gooseberry has revealed that its high level of antioxidants may help to reduce the risk of cancer.
Amla Reduces Inflammation
In ancient Chinese medicine, amla is commonly prescribed to reduce throat inflammation. In general, amla works well for ailments that stem from inflammation such as arthritis and mouth ulcers. Plus, this benefit of amla can make it quite effective in pain management.
Amla for Gastric Relief
Whether it’s acidity, heartburn, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence or indigestion, amla is known to bring relief from most digestive issues. It also increases your metabolism and regulates bowel movements which can be helpful in weight loss.
Other Health Benefits of Amla
- Amla can make quite a difference in lowering levels of bad cholesterol.
- In fact, amla is overall pretty great for blood. It is known to be a blood purifier. It increases both your red blood count as well as your haemoglobin levels.
- Your skin and hair aren’t the only things that will get better with regular amla intake. You will notice that even your nails and your teeth get stronger.
- Have a kidney stone? Amla can help to break it down so that it becomes easier to pass.
- Ayurveda, once again, recommends amla for infertility issues in both men and women.
- Amla is great for your eyes too, making them stronger and just overall keeping them in good shape.
The simplest way to get the health benefits of amla is to buy the fruit fresh and eat it plain, about 2 or 3 on an empty stomach in the morning. Otherwise, you can buy amla juice (without sugar and preservatives) or any one of the many natural amla concoctions available in the market. Amla candy and amla powder are other ways to include the food in your diet.
In India, amla preparations are easy to find. Elsewhere in the world, you may have to hunt around a bit but will probably find them in Indian food stores or at specialty health shops, especially the ones catering to the raw food or organic segment.
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