Well, have you heard of another such superfood, Amla also known as Indian gooseberry has been one of the most popular superfoods among health enthusiasts.Amla has been one of the most widely consumed Indian berry, but did you know Amla is not just an immunity booster and there’s a lot more to this little fruit, which can work wonders for your body, skin and hair in so many ways.

What is amla?

Amla is a green colored translucent fruit which derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Amlaki’ which means “nectar of life”. Biologically known as Phyllanthus emblica, Indian gooseberry has been used for its medicinal properties in making Ancient medicines like Unnani, Ayurveda and Siddha. Right from being a natural blood purifier to boosting immunity due to the presence of vitamin C to being a good source of fiber, Amla has been used for preventing as well as curing several ailments.Amla is famous in India for its many health benefits and its quality to treat countless ailments be it the common cold, cancer, or infertility. Ayurveda doctors claim that amla can help balance the three doshas (Kapha/vista/pitta) in the body and eliminate the underlying cause of many diseases.

Types of Gooseberries:

There are different varieties of Amla grown in different parts of the world and it also varies in its levels of nutrition. Understanding the health benefits of gooseberries is equally important as looking at the different types of gooseberries grown worldwide. Here is a list of different types of gooseberries.

1. Fredonia Gooseberry:

This is a larger variety of gooseberries that appear to be dark red and is cultivated and grown in the United States though it is a native fruit from England. This fruit is available from July to August.

2. Achilles Gooseberry:

This type of gooseberry appears to be small and hairy which is red in colour and is usually consumed in the United Kingdom. This is usually sold in the markets after the second week of July.

3. Whinham’s Gooseberry:

This type of gooseberry is a native of England and appears to be lengthy and when it ripens, this fruit it turns to be purple-red in colour and the taste and smell of the fruit is said to be fabulous.

4. Poorman Gooseberry:

This variety of gooseberry is said to be the best in the United States. It appears to be extremely large because of its red colour and also has an excellent taste and texture. It is usually sold in the month of July in America.

5. Whitesmith Gooseberry:

This type of gooseberry is also called as English Whiter. When this fruit ripens, the fruit turns green or yellow. This is one of the best varieties for consumption purposes and does not have to be processed in order to be consumed. This variety is usually found in The United Kingdom from the beginning of July.

Benefits of Amla

There are many benefits of eating amla daily and one of them is that it is excellent for your hair and skin.So, here are a few interesting uses of Amla that will make you fall for this miraculous fruit.

1. Improves Immunity:

Amla contains eight times more Vitamin C than an orange, it has twice the antioxidant power as of acai berry and 17 times that of a pomegranate. No wonder Amla is called a superfood!

The Vitamin C content of Amla makes it an excellent source of building your immunity and metabolism. It is known to fight both viral and bacterial ailments efficiently and reducing the impact of various health problems such and cancer and heart-related ailments.

Fights Infections and Prevents Cold, Chest Congestion:

Since Amla is a wonderful source for improving your immunity, amla powder benefits the body during viral and bacterial infections as well as while fighting from the common cold.

 

Amla Powder mixed with two teaspoons of honey provides relief from cough and cold when consumed around three to four times a day. Amla also aids in the removal of sputum from the respiratory tract and can soothe the inflamed airways. Therefore, Amla is used to provide relief from bronchitis, cough, and other respiratory illnesses.

Improves eyesight

Studies have shown that the carotene in amla improves vision. Daily consumption has also been linked to improvement in overall eye health as amla can reduce cataract problem, intraocular tension (the pressure you feel) as well as prevent reddening, itching, and watering of eyes.

Beautifies hair

Gooseberries can do good for your hair by making it seem smooth and silky. This has been used as a herbal treatment for preventing dandruff and dry hair for over centuries in India. Here are some hair benefits that gooseberry can offer.

Natural Hair Straightener:

Does your heart crave for straight hair? Well, you must be trying some hair straightening machines or creams in the past that have more chances of damaging your hair. Did you know that gooseberry paste was a natural hair straightener? Yes, gooseberry paste or juice have the tendency to repair your hair follicles and boosts hair growth. All you need to do is to add some amla juice over your scalp and leave it to dry for 30 minutes. Once it dries you can rinse it off with some lukewarm water. This will leave you stronger and will give it an extra layer of shine.

 Prevents Premature Greying:

One of the first signs of ageing fast is premature greying of hair. This can become a nightmare for those who are young, but you need to understand that this is something very serious. So, how do you prevent your hair from greying? It’s simple, all you need to do is to add some gooseberries juice to your hair and leave it dry for 30 minutes. Amla juice is filled with vitamin C and antioxidants that can prevent hair fall and premature greying.

Prevents Dandruff:

Dandruff can be a very serious situation to handle, especially, this is said to pull down your confidence in public. There are many anti-dandruff shampoos and creams out there in the market, but why not try something natural and put a complete stop to dandruff. Try amla juice and this will repair broken strands of hair and give it an extra layer of shine.

Natural Hair Conditioner:

Amla juice acts as a great conditioner for your hair and gives a smooth and shiny finish. All you need to do is to mix some amla juice with some henna and gently apply it on your scalp. This will make your hair look healthy and once this is dried, you can wash it away with some lukewarm water to give you that extra smoothness and shine.

Prevents Hair Problems

You may encounter loads of hair related problems during your teenage and as you enter in adulthood, the worst hair problem you would begin to face is greying. However, if you are facing any hair problems such as dandruff, premature greying, dryness of hair etc, then you definitely need to try amla juice. Applying it is the best way that you can fight any of the above-listed hair problems.

Acts as a Natural Blood Purifier:

One of the many benefits of Indian gooseberry is that its Vitamin C content makes the blood vessels stronger and thicker. Amla acts as an antioxidant agent and efficiently detoxifies the body.

It improves skin health

Amla not only gives glowing skin but it also keeps the skin hydrated and healthy. Amla is also used as a superfood for its anti-aging properties.Drinking amla juice with honey every morning can give you blemish-free, healthy and glowing skin.

some health benefits of gooseberry for  skin.

1. Anti-Ageing Properties:

Consuming gooseberry juice can help your skin age slowly. As you begin to age, you would always want to look younger and that is one particular phase of growing older. However, who does not want to look young? So, simply just make some amla juice and add some honey to it and drink it. This drink has loads of antioxidants in it that can make your skin look better and beat ageing cells. Vitamin C is found in amla and this aids in glowing skin. Regularly drinking amla juice will prevent premature ageing, fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles.

2. Treats Acne:

You can also make amla paste and apply it over the affected area of your face and leave it to dry for not more than 15 minutes. This will fight pimples, fine lines and reduce scarring done by acne. It is a natural blood purifier that keeps pimples and the after-effects of acne away. Thus, amla juice gives you flawless skin.

3. Good Skin Tone:

High amounts of collagen contents in your skin help in skin firmness and make your skin appear soft. Regular consumption of amla juice boosts vitamin C levels and helps increase the production of collagen level in your skin. This will make your skin look soft and youthful.

4. Treats Skin Pigmentation:

Applying or drinking amla juice is said to cleanse your skin and reduced skin pigmentation. All you need to do is to apply some amla juice onto your face and once this dries, make sure that you use a small piece of cotton and wipe it away. Also, keep your eye closed when you are doing this. Doing this on a regular basis will lighten skin marks and reduce skin pigmentation.

5. Removes Dead Skin Cells:

Amla juice is said to rejuvenate your skin and add an extra layer of skin brightness that will make your skin outshine itself. How more confident can you get with your skin appearing all bright and vibrant. This adds to some extra boost of your self-confidence. Also, amla juice is an excellent cleanser whether it is applied directly or consumed. This will help remove dead cells and make promote anti-ageing.

Helps Manage Chronic Conditions:

Diabetes, high cholesterol, heart diseases, asthma, and cancer have become common conditions that impact a large number of people in today’s times. The good thing is there are many medicinal uses of Amla and all these chronic health conditions can be managed by consuming this superfood.

The amino acids and antioxidants aid in the overall functioning of the heart. Chromium in Amla helps the body to be more responsive to insulin and also regulates the blood sugar level, making it excellent for diabetics.

It relieves pain

Be it arthritis-related joint aches or painful mouth ulcers, amla can provide relief owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. For ulcers, you simply need to dilute amla juice in half a cup of water and gargle with it.

Aids in weight loss management

Yes, gooseberry is said to aid in weight loss and this fruit must be added to your everyday diet. Gooseberry also speeds up your metabolism and flushes out the bad toxins from your body. It also aids in goods digestion which means that the faster your food gets digested, the more hungry you may feel. Thus, this also curbs your appetite by making you feel full.

Thus, gooseberry is a wonderful sour fruit that needs to be added to your everyday diet as this can help you lose weight and offers loads of health benefits for your hair and skin. So, all you need to do is to prepare some amla juice and apply it directly over your hair and skin and this will do good for you and your health. Stay Fit, Live Healthy.

 

How to use Amla in our daily diet?

Amla Juice

Drinking the juice of fresh amla is the best way to reap the benefits of this fruit. Amla is easily available from December through April. However, if you can’t handle the sour shot, try these tasty options:

Dried:

Deseed and chop amla into small pieces. Mix with a little salt and leave to dry in sunlight for a few days. Once it is completely dehydrated, store in a dry jar for an ideal on-the-go snack.

Pickled:

Make a spicy amla achaar or a sweet murabba by soaking amla in sugary water.

AMLA OIL AS A HAIR TONIC

Amla can be used in combination with coconut oil or almond oil as a hair tonic. To use it with coconut oil, simply boil some dried pieces of amla in coconut oil till the liquid turns brown. Use this tonic on your scalp and hair.

Potential downsides

Amla can make constipation worse - Yes, it is supposed to heal constipation but if not consumed in controlled quantity, it can make matters worse. And it gets even worse, if your water intake goes down.

Induce hyperacidity - We all know Amla is a rich source of Vitamin C, which makes the fruit acidic in nature. Amla is often prescribed to be consumed on empty stomach to detoxify but this can trigger acidity. So if you are sensitive to such foods, avoid eating this.

Diabetics should use with caution - Amla is considered to be a good antidote for diabetes. But it could intervene with your diabetes medication, so it’s always better to consult your doctor. It can bring down the sugar level in the blood leading to hypoglycemia when combined with anti-diabetes medicines.

Consult your doctor if you have heart ailments - Amla is considered to be a strong cardiovascular stimulant. While it may not have any serious implications, it is always advisable to consult your doctor before consuming this fruit for good health.

Can aggravate cold – Amla is known as a natural coolant and so it can make your symptoms of cold worse. It is believed to lower body temperature to a great extent. It can be used in the form of Triphala by diluting it in warm water with honey. It will help keep respiratory side effects of Amla powder at bay.

Take Away

In the current times or this pandemic time when almost everyone require a boosting immunity power & has hair problems because of poor lifestyle, diet, and environmental pollution, Amla is a wonder Ayurvedic fruit that helps in restoring hair health. Including it in the diet as well in our regular hair care routine is the best way to get those healthy, lustrous hair we all desire.