Amla Benefits - Amazing benefits of Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, has several amazing health benefits. Probably, because of these benefits, Indian gooseberry has a great role in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicine. Amla (gooseberry) has a vibrant green colour and a distinct taste of succulent, sour and bitter. Emblica officinalis is the scientific name for this wonder fruit.

Amla is known in different names in different regions. Amla is a Hindi word. Nellikka in Malayalam, Nellikkai in Tamil, Amalika in Sanskrit, Awla in Marathi, Amloki in Bengali, and Rasi usiri in Telugu.

• Amla helps in healthy hair growth.- Regular use of amla strengthens hair, fortifies roots of hair, prevents premature greying and loss of hair. Amla powder and the hair oil which contains amla can be used for this purpose.
• Amla is useful in improving eyesight.
• Amla safeguards from infection. - By improving the defense mechanism of your body, amla helps in preventing infections.
• In diabetic patients, amla helps in decreasing the blood sugar levels.
• Anti-aging - Because of the rich content in vitamin C. amla reduces the chances of the free radicals from the body.
• Frequent use of amla helps in reducing blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
• Amla nourishes the mind and improves memory power.
• Helps in preventing heart diseases. Amla fortifies heart muscles.
• Very useful in healing respiratory diseases, like chronic bronchitis, asthma etc. Amla is used with raisins and honey for this purpose.
• Useful for weight loss - it helps in increasing the metabolism of food which leads to reduction of food accumulation in the body.
• Helps in increasing Haemoglobin in the blood.

Gooseberry (amla) contains mostly water (80%). Amla is rich min Vitamin C and contains many nutrients such as fibers, potassium, vitamins and minerals. We need Vitamin C in our body to absorb iron and to aid in the formation of collagen, so that we can maintain healthy bones, muscles, cartilage and blood vessels. It has been traditional used for promoting immunity.

Amla is also the power house of antioxidants, and because of this, cancers of gastrointestinal tract, colon etc. can be prevented to some extend. Amla washes out the toxins from the body and thus prevents the unnecessary growth of carcinogenic cells.

Vitamin C - 463 mg/100gm, Moisture - 91.4, mineral 0.7, fiber - 3.4 calories, emergy - 96, protein 0.9, fat 0.1, carbohydrate 6.99, calcium - 34, iron 1.2, vitamin B1 0.02, Vitamin B2 - 0.08.

1. Amla has several curative properties.

2. Amla can be used in several recipes.

3. There are no known side effects for amla, but still it is better to avoid by the nursing and pregnant women.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this hub is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician, or health care provider before taking any home remedies, supplements or starting a new health regime.

References

http://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-gooseberry/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/403868-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-gooseberries/

http://easyayurveda.com/2014/05/12/ginger-amla-raisin-and-honey-home-remedy-for-asthma-and-cough/

http://healthveda.com/amla-possess-many-curative-qualitiesayurvedic-benefits-of-amla-2215

Amla can be used in several recipes. Amla (nellikka) picke (achar), amla wine, amla juice, amla chutney, amla muraba, and amla candy are some of them. The most common among them as a cooking recipe is amla pickle. The main ingredient of the famous ayurvedic lehyam Chavanaprasam, for revitalising the body, is gooseberry. It is also one of the three fruits used for Triphala powder.

Preservation - Another way of preserving amla when they are available aplenty, is to dry them in the sun for few days and store them in containers or polythene bags. They can be used later as powder or soaking them overnight in the water. The water can be consumed and the soaked dry amlas can be used for chutneys or pickles.