Amla (Indian Gooseberry) - Overview, History, Uses, Benefits, Precaution, Dosage.

Amla is a superfood from India. Worldwide, it is known as Indian Gooseberry or Gooseberry. It is a flowering plant that produces tiny yellowish-green-colored fruits. It is the best fruit tree from Ayurveda time. It has been used for medicinal purposes and hunger. It is a stock with a height of about 1 m, and it fits well. The amla plant has very strong cold resistance, but it is a little weak against heat. The fruits are sour in taste and rich in nutritional values. 

Amla is known for its high concentration of Vitamin C content. It contains almost the same vitamin as 3 oranges and 16 bananas. In addition, amla also has powerful antioxidants that provide several benefits to health. It is revered as a sacred tree in India. The fruit is very nutritious. Dried and fresh fruits can be consumed for health benefits. It provides remedies for many diseases and is therefore widely used in Ayurvedic treatment. Gooseberry is very rich in vitamin C, and it contains many minerals and vitamins such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, and vitamin B complex. Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is a potent antioxidant as well.

• Latin Name- The Latin name of Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is Phyllanthus Emblica. 
• Family Member- Amla belongs to the Phyllanthaceae family. It's a blooming plant family.
• Common Name- The common name of Indian Gooseberry is amla. It is traditionally known as amla in the Hindi language. It's called Amalaki in Sanskrit.
• Habitat- In India, amla is a common plant. It is favourable to the semi–arid regions and plain. It has strong cold resistance and weak heat resistance.
• Season- Mid/late June into July is the favourable season for the Amla (Indian Gooseberry).
• Place of Origin- Europe, American, India, etc.

History Of Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

The ancient supper berry - Indian Gooseberry emerges for India. Yes, it is native to India, that is why its first name is Indian. Well, there are many histories linked to the amla (Indian Gooseberry). It is part of Indian culture. According to one mythology, When Brahma was immersed in Vishnu's meditation, tears began to fall from Vishnu's eyes. It is believed that the amla tree grew when Vishnu's tears dropped to the earth.

According to the second mythology, there is a fight between the gods and demons after the ksheera sagar manthan. Amrit started to fall to the ground. Thus, it is believed that these drops of Amrit are turned into Amla.

Hence, we can say. Amla is not new. It is from ancient times when god was on earth. It is produced from a tree that has small and green leaves. It is edible fruit for all. Trees can produce fruit for 65 to 70 years. Its has been used in many ways :-

• Fresh Amla or Indian Gooseberry
• Indian Gooseberry Juice or Amla juice
• Amla Candy

Except oral consumption, amla is also used in many lotion, cream, hair & skin products.

Benefits Of Amla (Indian Gooseberry Benefits)

There are many amla benefits linked. Let's check out.

Hair Care

Amla is linked with hair growth and hair pigmentation. It has been used since ancient times. It strengthens the hair root, maintains colour and provides shininess. Eating amla, amla powder or drinking Amla juice is famous in India. Due to the presence of carotene content in the amla, in addition to its iron content and the general antioxidant capacity, which reduce hair loss, premature hair loss, etc. Enjoy amla juice benefits. Well, using amla powder for hair is common.

Eye Care

Regular use of Amla is good to improve eyesight. According to one study, it is shown that amla improves myopia and cataracts while reducing intraocular pressure. The carotene content provides a powerful effect on vision-related conditions. Where VItamin A also reduces macular degeneration, night blindness, etc.

Improve Calcium Absorption

As we know, calcium is an essential component of our bones, teeth and nails as well as ensuring lustrous hair. It is a very rare benefit of amla that it helps the body to absorb calcium in a positive way. So, regular use of amla (Indian Gooseberry) enhances the calcium level.

Menstrual Cramps

Some vitamins and minerals in Amla are useful for menstrual cramps to lower the pain and discomfort. Because the body takes time to manufacture the necessary materials, it is better to ingest Amla on a daily basis so that it is always in the system and women's menstrual cramps can be avoided every month.

Diabetes

The chromium from the Amla is very effective for diabetic patients. The use of amla in regular life helps to stimulate the cells that secrete the insulin and is hence effective to lower the blood sugar level. It normalises the sugar level as well as keeps the body balanced and healthy.

Digestion

Amla or gooseberry digestion is very high in fibre. Hence it is a good fruit for better and healthy digestion. Fibre adds bulk to your stool and helps food move through your intestines and keeps your bowel movements regular. You can also overcome constipation problems. It aids in the digestion of undigested meals.

Heart Health

Amla is effective to reduce excessive cholesterol, widening the blood vessels, effective for build-up plaque buildup in vessels and arteries, reducing the chance of strokes and many more. In addition, the iron content promotes the creation of new red blood cells, increased circulation and oxygenation of organ's cells.

Improve Infections

Amla protects the body from illness and boosts the immune system thanks to its antibacterial and astringent properties. They're also high in vitamin C, which is known for its powerful antioxidant properties and ability to boost the immune system. It boosts the body's white blood cell count, which is the immune system's first line of defence, attacking and removing poisons and foreign substances in the bloodstream and throughout the body.

Anti-ageing

Antioxidant properties of amla help to prevent health-related hyperlipidemia by lowering the number of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are linked to ageing symptoms such as wrinkles and age spots.

Diuretic Activity

Indian Gooseberry(Amla) is mildly diuretic in nature, in addition to being a fruit that contains a lot of water. Urination frequency and volume rise as a result of this. Urination aids in the elimination of undesired substances as well as excess water, salts, and uric acid in our bodies. Furthermore, because up to 4% of pee is made up of fat, it can aid in weight loss. As a result, a diuretic is always required to keep our kidneys healthy, as well as to prevent urinary and uterine infections.

 

How To Make Indian Gooseberry Juice (Amla)

Required Ingredient- 5-10 amla, water, lemon, honey, pepper and salt

Step To Follow: Wash the Indian Gooseberry (Amla). Remove the sepal part of Indian Gooseberry (Amla). Chop the amla in small parts and remove the seeds(it can be harmful), Blend the chopped Indian Gooseberry (Amla) with water. Stir it and take out all the pulp on the side. This pulp is totally tasteless and it is a waste now. Stirred water is pure and natural Indian Gooseberry Juice. For better taste, you can add a pinch of pepper powder, salt and honey. Your Indian Gooseberry (Amla) Juice is ready to drink or serve. If it seems hectic, you can buy amla juice from the market. Nowadays, the ready-made juice is also pure and natural. 

How To Grow Gooseberries or Amla

The amla or Indian gooseberry plant is very common in India to find. Ama is very favourable to the Indian environment. 

• Prepare Seed: To prepare a seed from the amla or Indian gooseberry, spread the amla in the direct sunlight. After some days, it gets dry. Now, you need to remove the pulp part and collect the hexagonal seeds from inside. This is a seed that you needed. Remove this small seed and keep it dry.
• Soak: Before soaking seeds in the soil. You need to check the quality of the amla seed, whether it is ready to plant or not. Put all the amla seeds in a container full of water. You need to discard the amla seeds that do not sink in the water. You need to wait about 12 hours. After 12 hours, collect all the amla seeds that are floating above the water.
• Plant: Cover the seeding areas with teg sand, compost and garden loam. Plant the seed under the soil about 5 inches in the soil. Moisture the seeds from above the soil.
• Watering: Give plenty of water when the topsoil is dry. Watering in the summer can easily cause stuffiness, so do it early in the morning or in the evening. Ground-planted gooseberries do not require special watering after they have taken root.
• Fertilizer: Organic fertilizers and humus are squeezed in from February to March before flowering and from September to October after harvest.
• Pests: insects may occur if the sun is not well ventilated. When scale insects are attached, the sap is sucked, the strain weakens, the growth deteriorates, and it declines and withers. Use high-grade pests on the soil.

Amla Precautions

Precaution is necessary to avoid the adverse effect of any medicine or natural herb. Do not underestimate the natural fruit or herb. The use of natural herbs in unfavourable conditions or overdose causes many side effects to the body. Let's check some special precaution points that you need to consider while using Amla or Amla juice.

• There is not enough data regarding the use of amla by pregnant or breastfeeding women. So, it is good to avoid the use of amla in that situation or consult a healthcare professional.
• There is a chance that amla or Indian gooseberry might increase the risk of bleeding. So, if you have a bleeding disorder, then you should avoid using it without consultation.
• As we know, amla or Indian gooseberry is used to normalise the blood sugar level. If you are on diabetic medication then do not consume amla without consultation.
• In principle, combining Indian gooseberry with ginger, Tinospora cordifolia, and Indian frankincense could exacerbate liver illness in persons who already have it. However, it is unknown whether ingesting Indian gooseberries alone can produce these results.
• The use of Indian gooseberry during and after surgery may raise the risk of bleeding. At least two weeks before a scheduled surgery, stop taking Indian gooseberries.

Amla Dosage

A correct dose of Amla or Indian Gooseberry is a key to health benefits to the body. The overdose of any natural herb is not ideal for the body.

As per the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), the recommended and right dose in a day is

• Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Now known as Phyllanthus emblica L.)

Fruit - 20-30 g (as fresh)

3-6 g (as powder)

5-10 ml (as juice)

Extract 1-3 g

Well, we suggest consulting the healthcare professional for better information about the dose. The appropriate dose for an individual depends on many factors like individual age, health, and many other conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Amla

What is amla in English?

Amla is known as Indian Gooseberry in English.

What is Indian gooseberry nutrition?

There are much nutrition in the Indian gooseberry like 

• Calories: 33.
• Protein: Less than 1 gram.
• Fat: Less than 1 gram.
• Carbohydrates: 8 grams.
• Fibre: 3 grams.
• Sugar: 0 grams.

What is the purpose of amla?

There are many benefits to using amla in regular life. It has a lot of phytonutrients and antioxidants that help the body fight the free radicals and oxidative stress and improve overall health. 

What happens if we consume amla on a daily basis?

The regular intake of amla is good. It is effective for skin health, brain health, hair health, improves eyesight, and regulates blood sugar levels. fight the diseases and many more. Amla or Indian gooseberry has a number of benefits for the human body if used daily.

Is amla dangerous to one's health?

Amla is not dangerous to one's health if one considers all conditions before using it. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have bleeding disorders or any medication, etc, then you should consider healthcare professional advice.

Is amla harmful to the liver?

No, amla is not harmful to the liver. Instead, it is beneficial for the liver to remove the toxic substance and clean the liver. The regular use of amla or Indian gooseberry keeps the liver healthy.

Is amla bad for the kidneys?

No, amla is not bad for the kidney. Like it keeps the liver healthy, it is also good for the kidney if used in the right ways. Instead, you can improve the functionality of the kidney.

Is amla beneficial to diabetics?

Yes, amla is beneficial for diabetics. Amla has the power to normalise the blood sugar level and regulate the insulin hormones. A diabetic patient should add amla to their diet to keep a healthy blood sugar level in the body.

How much amla should be consumed per day?

The use of amla is good for the body. You can consume 20-30 g of fresh amla in a day. More than that, it might cause adverse effects on your health. Make sure about the limit while using amla or any other natural herb.

Which acid is present in amla?

Amla or Indian Gooseberry is rich in Vitamin C, that is also known as ascorbic acid.

Is it true that amla can cause kidney stones?

No, there is no link between amla use and kidney stones. Instead using amla or Indian gooseberry improves the function of the kidney and supports kidney health.

How to make amla juice?

It is very easy to prepare amla juice at home. Wash and cut amla fruit in small parts. Use the mixer to blend it with water. Stir it. For a greater flavour, season with salt and pepper. Enjoy the drink as you like.

How many amla to eat in a day?

As per FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), you can consume 20-30 g of fresh amla or Indian gooseberry. But due to the sour taste, it is not possible to eat 20-30 g. You can eat as per your need. Just be careful not to overdo it.

How to use amla powder for hair?

Amla powder is very beneficial for hair health. Mix some amla powder in aloe vera gel and apply it to your hair and scalp as a mask. Rinse it with cool water after half an hour. It provides long, strong and shiny hair.

Amla contains which vitamin?

Amla contains Vitamin C in a rich amount. A high concentration of vitamin C in the amla makes it antioxidant and beneficial for the human body.