Amla, also known as Indian Gooseberry, is an incredibly beneficial medicinal plant that has been used in traditional Ayurvedic practices for centuries. It's packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can boost the immune system, prevent illness, and even treat a variety of health conditions.
In addition to its powerful healing capabilities, Amla is also one of the oldest superfoods with many nutritional benefits. From improving digestion and reducing inflammation to aiding weight loss and promoting healthy skin, this potent plant offers an array of advantages for overall health and well-being. Read on to learn more about the amazing powers of Amla!
Do you know?
- Amla contains more Vitamin C than an orange.
- Amla has many benefits for hair; it can strengthen hair roots, reduce dandruff, and prevent premature graying.
- Amla helps lower cholesterol levels, improve heart health, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Amla can help control blood sugar levels.
Amla Nutritional Composition
|
Component |
Content (per 100 g) |
|
Carbohydrate |
10 g |
|
Protein |
0.80 g |
|
Fat |
0.50 g |
|
Total Calories |
44 Kcal |
|
Fiber |
4.3 g |
|
Magnesium |
10 mg |
|
Calcium |
25 mg |
|
Iron |
0.31 mg |
|
Potassium |
198 mg |
|
Zinc |
0.12 mg |
On top of that, the berries of this amla tree help prepare ayurvedic medications. Some of the historical records state that Amla has been used in ayurveda since 1000 years.
To know more about amla and its benefits scroll down the list below.
Amla is Referred to in different languages
- Hindi: Amla (आंवला)
- Sanskrit: Amalaki (आमलकी)
- Tamil: Nellikai (நெல்லிக்காய்)
- Telugu: Usiri (ఉసిరికాయ)
- Kannada: Nellikayi (ನೆಲ್ಲಿಕಾಯಿ)
- Malayalam: Nellikka (നെല്ലിക്ക)
- Bengali: Amloki (আমলকি)
- Gujarati: Amla (આમળા)
- Marathi: Awla (आवळा)
- Punjabi: Amla (ਅੰਮਲਾ)
- Urdu: Amla (آملہ)
- Odia: Anla (ଆଁଳ)
- Assamese: Amlokhi (আমলখি)
List of Proven Amla Benefits
- Helps in controlling diabetes
- Improves digestion
- It keeps the hair amazing
- Keeps the eyes healthy
- It helps in losing weight
- Keeps the skin healthy
- Boost the immune system
- Improves muscle tone
- Flushes toxins from the body
- Helps to keep the body cool
Amla contains several healing and medicinal properties, including Vitamin C, iron, calcium, carotene, Vitamin B, fiber, phosphorus, etc. Suppose a person is ill and starts taking amla daily then that person will easily recover from illness as it has a high concentration of Vitamin C. Apart from that, amla berries also have some flavonoids chemicals that improve the memory of the individual.
1. Helps in controlling diabetes
There is one soluble fiber in amla berries that easily dissolves in the human body, which as a result, lowers the rate the human body absorbs sugar. This fiber reduces blood sugar spikes and it also offers a positive effect on blood glucose along with lipid counts who are suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich
2. Improves digestion
Amla, a superfood , contains enough soluble dietary fibers, which play a crucial role in regulating bowel movements. This movement helps in relieving irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, as amla has a high concentration of Vitamin C, it also absorbs a good amount of minerals from the body, because of which it is used in different health supplements.
3. It keeps the hair amazing
Being an ayurvedic product, it is used in several shampoos and conditioners due to iron and antioxidants. Apart from that, a high concentration of vitamin C reduces hair fall by strengthening roots. On top of that, it also helps maintain hair color, and its antibacterial properties fight against dandruff.
Photo by Element5 Digital
4. Keeps the eyes healthy
Amla contains vitamin A, a key ingredient in improving an individual's eyes. This ingredient also enhances the vision of the individual by lowering the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, vitamin C in amla helps aid bacteria that protect the eyes from conjunctivitis and various other infections.
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5. It helps in losing weight
One of the biggest reasons why people gain weight is slow metabolism. This is due to irregular eating habits, which lead to fat accumulation in unwanted places. Taking amla products or raw amla daily prevents fat formation in the body and also helps in flushing out all the waste toxins from the body.
Ayurvedic health experts suggest eating raw amla and candies or taking amla powder with lukewarm water is helpful in weight loss.
6. Keeps the skin healthy
Amla also has a high concentration of natural blood purifiers, and if an individual takes amla or its product regularly, the skin will glow. Also, this superfood is also helpful in fighting against different types of skin allergies.
Image by Shahid Shafiq from Pixabay
7. Boost the immune system
If the individual immune system is weak, they will surely suffer from multiple infections and diseases. Amla is rich in anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, because of which; it offers a regenerative effect on the immune system.
According to research, amla berries extract is very helpful in illness-causing bacteria like cholera and Staphylococcus. On top of that, amla is also useful in combating helicobacter pylori bacteria which is a root cause of gastric ulcers.
Furthermore, as it is rich in various antioxidants and vitamin C it also strengthens the immune system of the human being.
8. Improves muscle tone
The berries of amla help enhance protein synthesis because it is good to strengthen muscles and build lean muscle mass. Amla also helps professional athletes and bodybuilders tone muscles and build lean mass.
9. Flushes toxins from the body
Most of the young generation these days are fond of eating junk food because of which preservatives and additives get accumulated in the liver. If the individual consumes amla berry regularly in proper quantity, it supports the liver in flushing out chemicals along with additives.
10. Helps to keep the body cool
Amla berry or Indian Gooseberry is best to take in all seasons and doshas, but it especially offers a coolant effect to cool pitta dosha.
Precautions to Take While Eating Amla Products
Amla is no doubt very beneficial for health. But it is not recommended for individuals having allergies. The reason behind it is, that amla or its products can increase the chances of risk of bleeding. Apart from that, if the person has diabetes, it must be taken with due care as its intake can drop the blood sugar level suddenly.
Moreover, if you think of drinking amla juice on a regular basis, the excess dosage can lead to dry skin. It is also avoided during coughing and not recommended during and after surgery as it increases the chances of bleeding.
Dosage of Amla products or Amla capsules benefits
Ayurvedic experts suggest an intake of amla products with due care, and their dosage varies according to their variants. They are: -
|
Product |
Preparation |
Dosage/ Day |
|
Powder |
Take ½ teaspoon of Amla powder with lukewarm water. |
Two times |
|
Capsule |
Take 1 – 2 Amla capsules with excess water after meals. |
Two times |
|
Tablet |
Take 1 – 2 Amla capsules with excess water after meals. |
Two times |
|
Candy |
Take 1 – 3 Amla candies after meals. |
– |
|
Juice |
Take 3-4 teaspoons of Amla Juice before taking food. |
Two times |
Amla in Ayurvedic Medications & Supplements
In the ancient text, amla is considered as a divine medicine, which is also known as Rasayana. It means a top herbal product offered by nature that features longevity and holistic and rejuvenating properties that keep the balance of both body and mind. If you talk about Ayurvedic medicine, this fruit is the foremost ingredient in all the famous formulations. No doubt all the amla supplements cannot be readily available everywhere, but they are affordable options to keep yourself healthy.
1. Triphala
Triphala is one of the leading ayurvedic formulations that offer numerous health benefits to the individual. It is made with three fruits: amla, bibhitaki, and haritaki. All three fruits are dried to make the powder and mixed in the right proportion to make Triphala churan.
Taking a Triphala churna on an empty stomach will clean the digestive system, flush toxins, boost immunity, treat dental issues, and many more.
2. Ashokarishta
It is another ayurvedic tonic that is given to women to balance their hormones. This tonic is also known as a natural friend of women as it helps increase fertility. However, it is made by mixing amla with various other herbs like jaggery, mango seeds, jeera, musta, a decoction made from the Ashoka tree, etc.
Made for women, it offers amazing effects in treating inflammatory diseases, easing menstrual cramps, and causing depletion of minerals from the bones, and the list is limitless.
3. Chyawanprash
It is the ancient jam recipe that helps in restoring health and vitality and also acts as an aphrodisiac. Chyawanprash is made with a blend of various herbs like Indian gooseberry, honey, and sesame oil that helps revitalize and regenerate the body cells.
Apart from that, the intake of chyawanprash regularly helps boost immunity, aids in respiratory health, deals with fertility issues, etc.
4. Kanchanar guggulu
This is another formulation that helps treat hypothyroidism, joint pains, and PCOS. It comes in tablets made with amla, ginger, black pepper, long pepper, haritaki, cardamom, cinnamon, etc., in equal quantities.
Which is the Best time to take Amla?
Amla as a herb helps the body in many ways, but you cannot take it any time of the day. That means for best results, you must consume Amla early in the morning, especially in winter when the temperature is low.
The bottom line
Finally, you are now aware of all the benefits of Amla or Indian Gooseberry. Amla is used in various ayurvedic medications to treat various illnesses and can be taken raw to attain maximum health benefits.Other than this, it can also cure multiple skin and hair issues. But most importantly, it is very useful in treating numerous health disorders to the user.
No matter what type of health problem you are dealing with, Amla helps you to get rid of them as soon as possible with the right intake. So, start using Amla products today and see the magical results.
