Amla, also known as Indian Gooseberry, is one of the most common foods mentioned and prescribed in Ayurvedic texts. In fact, if you open any Ayurvedic medicine or tonic, you will surely find Amla as a key ingredient.

Amla is a high-nutritional-value fruit that grows in the Middle East, some southeastern countries and is becoming increasingly popular in India. Amla has been a popular Ayurvedic fruit due to its high antioxidant content. Typically, it is used to provide a variety of health benefits to us, primarily to treat colds and coughs, as well as to improve hair growth and digestion.

Amla, one of the most important medicinal plants in traditional Indian medicine, is high in vitamin C, with one whole Amla containing more vitamin C than four oranges. As such, it is a powerful immunity booster that aids in the overall health and well-being of our minds and body.

It is used to treat various ailments, either alone or in combination with other plants. In this article, we will look at some of the benefits that this little nutritional treasure trove can have on the overall quality of our lives.

1. Improves Immunity

Any source of vitamin C naturally acts as an effective immune booster. Because Amla is one of the richest sources of vitamin C, it is widely used in Ayurveda as an effective immunity booster. Apart from boosting immunity, Amla also improves the body’s metabolism, making it more resistant to infection and disease.

2. Enhances digestion

Aside from being an excellent source of vitamin C, Amla is also high in fibre. Fibre adds bulk to your stool, assisting your digestive system in maintaining regular bowel movements. We recommend taking Amla before each meal. This stimulates gastric juices, allowing your body to absorb more nutrients and improve digestion.

3. Encourages healthy hair

Alopecia is the most common hair loss problem that many of us are facing today. But unfortunately, many people are unaware that a severe deficiency of vitamin C in our bodies is a significant cause of alopecia in the first place.

A sufficient amount of Vitamin C has been clinically proven to be an effective treatment for alopecia and other hair-related problems. Apart from vitamin C, Amla, as an antioxidant, aids the body in fighting cell ageing and degeneration, resulting in less greying and better hair quality.

4. Lowers cholesterol and improves cardiovascular health

According to a study published in the Natural Medicine Journal, Amla can have significant cholesterol-lowering effects when consumed regularly. Further research has shown that it has the potential to treat atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

Amla’s high vitamin C content makes it an excellent remedy for heart health. It aids in the thickening and strengthening of the arteries in the heart. This is more beneficial for people who have high cholesterol levels. Furthermore, Amla can improve blood vessel elasticity, lower triglycerides, and reduce plaque buildup within blood vessels for a healthy functioning heart.

5. Potential against diabetes

There have been numerous promising studies that show the beneficial effect Amla can have on controlling blood sugar levels in our bodies. In fact, a 2011 study conducted to determine the effects of Amla on diabetic patients concluded that diabetic participants had lower levels of blood sugar and cholesterol.

6. Improve your eye health

Amla’s vitamin C content can be a powerful tool in protecting the eyes from infection and severe conditions such as conjunctivitis. We recommend consuming Amla daily to improve your vision and strengthen your eye muscles. When your eyes are tired or stressed, Amla can help to relax them.

7. Cancer-fighting potential

Although it is too early to testify to Amla’s effectiveness against cancer, preliminary research has shown promising results. Amla contains a high concentration of antioxidant compounds such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, pyrogallol, terpenoids, and others, all of which are beneficial in the fight against cancer. The antioxidant properties of Amla allow it to combat oxidative stress in our bodies and eliminate harmful free radicals.

How to Eat Amla to Get the Most Out of It?

There are several ways to incorporate Amla into your daily diet, and we recommend making it a regular food in your diet to reap all of its nutritional benefits. You can have it as a juice for a quick breakfast every morning. You can also dry it and store it as dry fruit by combining it with spices and drying it in the sun. This, however, has the potential to reduce its nutritional content significantly.

The best way to consume Amla on a daily basis is in its raw, natural form. That is how it was intended to be consumed. This will allow you to enjoy the fruit while retaining all of its nutritional value. Amla is also available in topical oil form on the market. Applying Amla oil to your hair and skin can help improve the quality of your skin and scalp, giving you a more youthful appearance.