Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
Winter season is here and the market is flooded with Amla. Amla is also known as Amalaki, Indian gooseberry, and amla berry is considered to be one of the most important medicinal plants in Ayurvedic medicine.
It is a potent super-food known to be brimming with Vitamin C and beta-carotene which help protect cells from damage and increase immunity.
The fruit has been recommended for universal everyday consumption for thousands of years as a rejuvenator or tonic for boosting immunity and fortifying the immune system.
In fact, it turns out amla actually works with everything from digestive health, blood pressure and blood sugar levels to skin radiance and hair growth, and much, much more.
In this blog, we will break down some of the amla’s incredible health benefits. Read on.
Boosts immunity
Amla is loaded with the highest concentration of antioxidants on earth, surpassing acai, blueberries, turmeric, goji berries, and a slew of other antioxidant powerhouses.
Antioxidants (vitamin C, beta carotene, gallic acid, and even vitamin B) are important for your health because they:
- Protect you against oxidative stress
- Help to increase your immunity
- Battle the indicators of visual ageing like skin damage and hair loss
- Protect you from diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke
- Help you live longer
A powerful source of Vitamin C
Amla is also a fantastic source of vitamin C, outperforming typical sources such as oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits by a factor of ten!
In fact, the Barbados cherry is the only fruit that has more vitamin C than amla.
Vitamin C offers a number of unique advantages like:
- Production of white blood cells
- Boosting your immune system by promoting antibody production
- Preventing and even treating illnesses like arthritis
Nourishes skin health
Amla’s effects on the skin are multifaceted. Its antioxidant activity helps to purify the blood and achieve blemish-free, nourished skin.
Amla’s key vitamins also help your skin maintain its strength and elasticity, thereby preventing signs of ageing like wrinkles.
In addition, several studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of amla on acne vulgaris (the most common form of acne), which can help reduce the severity of blemishes.
Promotes weight loss
Adding to the list of incredible benefits that amla can offer, it also aids in getting rid of those unwanted, extra fat around your waist.
Not only does amla juice help you lose weight directly by making you feel filled for longer periods of time, but it can also help lose weight indirectly by boosting detoxification.
Boosts digestion
Amla is a rich source of fibre, which means it regulates bowel movements and helps in relieving symptoms of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome.
Aside from its laxative abilities, amla is also great for regulating intestinal flora. Studies have shown that amla has a lot of positive impacts on the bacteria in our stomach.
Furthermore, the alkaline nature of amla stimulates gastric juices which help in accelerating digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food.
It thus prevents acidity and helps reduce how often heartburn occurs and how severe it is.
Lowers blood sugar levels
Another fantastic advantage of amla fruit is that it is a rich source of chromium, which can aid in the reduction of blood sugar levels. This is especially crucial if you’re pre-diabetic or have Type II diabetes.
Studies suggest that amla juice can lower fasting blood glucose levels in both healthy people and people with diabetes!
This is why amla is a popular choice among diabetics; however, it can’t be taken as a substitute for diabetes medication.
Improves cholesterol levels
Various clinical studies show that consuming one or two amla fruits daily can significantly decrease cholesterol levels.
Because we know that uncontrolled or high levels of cholesterol can contribute to heart disease and stroke, amla’s capacity to manage this factor can help improve several aspects of overall cardiovascular health.
Amla has significant potential in reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol. Amla has also been demonstrated to reduce blood pressure or hypertension (a side effect of all-around improved cardiovascular health).
Final thoughts
Amla can safely be called the powerhouse of goodness, essential nutrients and minerals. The “king of winters” is arguably the most important medicinal plant for maintaining optimum health.
This is why it is suggested to include amla in your winter diet in any form, be it raw, in pickled form, as a dried powder, or as juice or homemade amla murabba (marmalade).
Besides, adding amla to your winter diet, you must also opt for preventive diagnostic tests to identify complications (if any) and take measures to protect your overall well-being.
