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| Amla or Embelica |
The winter’s kick-start, it is the season of the Indian gooseberry, better known as amla. Botanically, this extremely sour little fruit is known as Emblica Officinalis or Phyllanthus emblica. Though you may not find its taste appealing, don't be quick to dismiss it — it's abundant in nutrients and packed with the power of Vitamin C.
Amla has been known for its health benefits and medicinal properties since ages. Amla has 5 out of 6 tastes identified by Ayurveda. It tastes sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and astringent at the same time. Amla is the richest source of vitamin C available naturally. It also has gallic acid, ellagic acid, kaempferol, and flavonoids. With numerous health benefits, it has been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Amla has been used to cure diseases like osteoporosis, arthritis, and pancreatitis. It also cures inflammation, age-related renal diseases, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Being natural, it can be consumed regularly for prolonged periods of time, without any adverse or side effect. This natural substance has hundreds of benefits for humankind. Because of numerous health benefits, amla becomes ingredient of nearly all the hair care, eye care, and digestive care herbal medicines.
In Sanskrit its name is Amalaki means ‘the sustainer’ or ‘the fruit where the goddess of prosperity presides’.The Vitamin C in the Amalaki fruit is bonded with tannins that protect it from being destroyed by heat or light.
Amla might be small in size, but its usage and health benefits are huge.
Amla juice contains nearly twenty times as much vitamin C as orange juice.
One small Amla is equals to 2 Oranges if compared with Vitamin C.
Ayurved says that regular use of Amla can a help us live more than 100 years, a healthy life.
It tastes sour. Both dried and fresh fruits can be used.
The fresh fruit contains more than 80% water, protein, minerals, carbohydrates and fiber.
It contains many minerals and vitamins like Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Carotene and Vitamin B Complex. Amla is also a powerful antioxidant agent.
In Chinese traditional therapy, Amla fruit is called Yuganzi which is used to cure throat inflammation.
Daily consumption is about 2 to 3 amla's preferably morning time. Amla Candy is the dried form of Amla Fruit in Sugar Syrup.
Nutrition Facts of Amla:
Packed with a multitude of nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, potassium, fiber, minerals and vitamins, the nutrition values per 100 gms of amla are:
- Moisture – 81.8%
- Minerals – 0.5mg
- Fiber – 3.4%
- Calories – 96
- Proteins – 0.5%
- Fat – 0.1%
- Carbohydrates – 13.7 gms
- Calcium – 50 %
- Iron – 1.2 mg
- Carotene – 9 microgram
- Thiamine – 0.03mg
- Riboflavin – 0.01mg
- Nicene – 0.2mg
- Vitamin – 600mg
- Energy – 58 kilo calories
Health Benefits of Amla:
For Digestive system:
§ Improves appetite and helps to digest food.
§ Helps balance nitrogen levels in the blood thus promoting increase in weight.
§ Amla prevents gastric disorders, acidity, indigestion and dysentery.
To get quick relief from acidity, mix about a gram of amla powder and a teaspoon of sugar to either a cup of water or milk and drink it twice a day.
§ Amla has good laxative properties and helps in curing constipation and piles.
To fresh amla juice add a teaspoon of ghee and half a cup of milk and drink after lunch. This helps in curing piles.
For Respiratory System:
§ Helps cure chronic cough, childhood tuberculosis and allergic asthma.
Amla taken with honey twice daily helps in relieving asthma and reduces bronchitis complications.
For Circulatory System:
§ Strengthens heart muscles.
§ Increases red blood cell production and increases the hemoglobin count in the blood.
§ Is known to lower cholesterol levels.
§ Consuming amla powder with honey helps to purify the blood.
For Excretory System:
§ Taking amla juice benefits in regulating bowel movements and is a known cure for constipation and piles.
§ Amla powder mixed with radish helps in dissolving kidney and bladder stones and flushing them out in the urine.
For Reproductive System:
§ Amla helps to regularize menstrual disorders.
To check excessive bleeding during menstruation, take amla juice with a banana thrice daily.
§ Helps male and female reproductive system and helps increase and improve the quality of sperm in men.
Liver Disorders:
§ Amla is an excellent liver tonic and helps in curing most liver disorders, including jaundice.
Diabetes:
§ Amla is known to stimulate cells that secrete insulin and this helps to lower the sugar levels in diabetics.
Amla juice taken with a pinch of honey twice daily before meals helps to reduce diabetes.
Amla as skin tonic:
§ Amla is a known blood purifier and consuming amla juice everyday helps in rejuvenating the skin, making it glow and free from blemishes. Read more skin glow tips
§ Helps in treating pimples and acne.
Mix one tablespoon of amla powder with hot water and scrub your face with this mixture. This effectively cures pimples, removes grime and leaves behind a glowing and bright complexion.
Benefits of Amla for Hair Health:
§ Amla is a well known hair tonic and helps in reducing hair fall, and slows down the process of premature graying of hair.
§ Amla oil strengthens the hair follicles and conditions the hair.
Massage your hair with herbal amla hair oil and leave it overnight allowing the oil to penetrate and nourish your hair. Wash your hair the next morning with a mild shampoo and see your hair shine!
§ Helps to cure dandruff and cures itchy scalps. Also read How to get rid of dandruff naturally?
§ Amla oil is a common ingredient in many shampoos and also in hair care and hair coloring products.
After shampooing your hair, apply amla oil to the hair right from the roots to the tips; cover hair with a shower cap and rinse thoroughly after half an hour with warm water to get beautiful, conditioned and lustrous hair.
“The words of elders are like the gooseberry, bitter at first, then sweet.”
