See the gallery of 5 photos

Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is the fruit that is best known as a slimming supplement. However, amla has other healing properties. Alma has long been used as a means to improve digestion, cleanse the body of toxins, and strengthen the heart. Amla is also used in cosmetics - amla oil increases hair growth, improves its condition and prevents graying of the hair. What else does amla (Indian gooseberry) have? How to dose it? Where to buy it and what is the price?

Contents:

  1. Amla (Indian gooseberry) for slimming
  2. Amla (Indian gooseberry) lowers blood sugar
  3. Amla (Indian gooseberry) - where to buy? What's the price?
  4. Amla (Indian gooseberry) lowers cholesterol
  5. Amla (Indian gooseberry) - contraindications
  6. Amla (Indian gooseberry) protects the liver
  7. Amla (Indian gooseberry) is a treasury of vitamin C
  8. Amla (Indian gooseberry) for hair
  9. Amla (Indian gooseberry) - use in the kitchen

Amla( Indian gooseberry , tannin leaf flower, Latin Emblica officinalis) is a fruit which, thanks to its healing properties, has been used for years in Indian medicine, where it comes from. In Ayurveda, all parts of the plant, not just the fruit, are used for rejuvenating purposes.

In this part of the world, amla is considered a measure for longevity. In addition, amla is used to improve digestion, cleanse the body of toxins, reduce coughing, relieve asthma, strengthen the heart and eyes, and for constipation and fever. Amla is also used in cosmetics -amla oilstimulates hair growth and improves its condition.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) for slimming

Is amla (Indian gooseberry) a good way to lose weight? Manufacturers of amla-based supplements are outdoing each other in the number of kilograms that can allegedly be lost while taking them. They convince that it is a very effective fat burner, thanks to which you can lose 10 kg in 30 days. What is it really like?

Although amla is not a "fat burner" and does not allow you to lose weight quickly, it is worth including it in your slimming diet.

Amla fruit extract is known to normalize sugar levelsin the blood, which is very important in the weight loss process. When the blood sugar level rises sharply, the sudden bursts of insulin immediately remove it from the bloodstream (this happens when we eat, for example, sweets). Consequently, it is not found in the brain tissue for which it is "fuel".

When the brain is deprived of an energy source, it gives a signal that it needs sugar, triggering ravenous hunger. Consequently, we take in more calories from food than the body needs, leading to overweight and obesity. Consuming amla lowers blood sugar levels, and thus prevents hunger pangs, and thus - overweight and obesity.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) lowers blood sugar

These conclusions were reached by Pakistani scientists from the University of Sargodha. People with type 2 diabetes who took part in the experiment were divided into 2 groups.

The first received a drug used to treat diabetes (glibenclamide), the second - amla powder (1, 2 or 3 g dissolved in 30 ml of water, every morning and evening). The results of the study show a significant decrease in blood glucose after a meal on an empty stomach and in the 2 hours after a meal in both people taking amla and the drug.4

Worth knowing

Amla (Indian gooseberry) - where to buy? What's the price?

In Poland, amla fruits are available in the form of powder, juice or oil. For 50 g of powder you have to pay about PLN 35. In turn, the juice (650 ml) costs about PLN 50 and is more difficult to obtain (most often it has to be imported from abroad). For hair care, use amla oil (price for 200 ml is about PLN 20).

Amla (Indian gooseberry) lowers cholesterol and blood pressure

Thanks to the high content of vitamin C, amla fruits have many he alth properties - they strengthen the immune system, bones and joints, and also support the cardiovascular system. Vitamin C seals and strengthens blood vessels, which prevents the easy formation of bruises, bleeding or bleeding gums. They also lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Researchers from the University of Delhi (India) ³ examined the level of total serum cholesterol and its lipoprotein fractions as a result of consuming raw Indian gooseberries. Men aged 35-55 participated in the 28-day experiment.

Some of him had normal cholesterol, some had hypercholesterolemia (increased plasma cholesterol levels). Cholesterol levels were lowered in both normal and hypercholesterolaemic patients.

Two weeks after the withdrawal of Indian gooseberries from the diet, total serum cholesterol in people with hypercholesterolaemia significantlyhas risen to its original levels.

Other names for amla are Indian gooseberry, tannic leaf flower, amalaka, amlabaum, dhatri.

This is confirmed by other Indian scientists from Baroda Medical College, who conducted a study in 60 people aged 35-65 years with type II hypercholesterolaemia to compare the effectiveness of amla fruit with statins - drugs that help to normalize blood cholesterol levels.

Of 60 patients, 40 were treated with a capsule containing amla fruit extract (500 mg daily for 42 days) and 20 patients were treated with simvastatin (a statin drug) in a capsule (20 mg daily for 42 days) .

Treatment with amla fruit extract capsules significantly reduced levels of TC - total cholesterol - "bad" LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and significantly increased levels of good HDL cholesterol.

Simvastatin treatment produced the same results. Both treatments also led to a significant reduction in blood pressure, but this beneficial effect was more pronounced in patients receiving amla fruit extract.

In light of the above results, it is suggested that amla has a significant hypolipidemic (cholesterol and triglyceride lowering) effect and also lowers blood pressure.

Researchers believe that adding amla fruit to current hypolipidemic therapy would provide significant protection against atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. The dose of synthetic drugs could also be lowered, thereby reducing the side effects of hypolipidemic agents.

Important

Amla (Indian gooseberry) - contraindications

  • pregnant and breastfeeding women - due to the lack of sufficient research conducted with the participation of this group of people
  • blood clotting disorders - Indian gooseberry may increase the risk of bleeding in some people
  • patients before surgery - Indian gooseberries may increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. You should stop consuming Indian Gooseberries at least 2 weeks before your scheduled surgery

Amla (Indian gooseberry) protects the liver

Chinese and Taiwanese scientists from National Chung Hsing University and Taipei Medical University5have shown that amla fruit is protective for the liver and may be helpful in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It's a disease caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver.

Over time, too much of it can lead to inflammation, damage, and eventually tissue fibrosis or scarring.Cirrhosis of the liver can be a consequence.

In the experiment, an aqueous extract of amla fruit was used, the effects of which were tested on the livers of rats on a high-fat diet.

Studies have shown that the extract can significantly reduce body weight (reduces the amount of visceral fat), increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes and improve the condition of a fatty liver.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) is a treasury of vitamin C

The he alth-promoting effect of amla fruit is associated with the high content of vitamin C, but different sources provide different data on this topic.

Scientists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences¹ decided to investigate the content of ascorbic acid in Indian gooseberries. It turns out that 100 g of fresh fruit contain 600 mg of this precious vitamin.

The fruits resemble gooseberries - they are small, firm and green. Some sources say that amla balances five tastes - sour, sweet, spicy, bitter and tart.

So amla fruits contain over 10 times more vitamin C than the famous citrus fruits - oranges, lemons or pomelos.

At the same time, amla fruits are at the forefront of products richer in ascorbic acid - right after acerola (from 1000 to 4500 mg / 100 g) and camu camu (1230 mg - 2061 mg / 100 g according to various sources). From our native fruits, only wild rose (250-800 mg / 100 g) can match it.

However, you cannot buy fresh amla fruits in Poland - they are too delicate to survive transport. In our country, you can get amla in the form of juice or powder. According to the manufacturers on the packaging, 15 ml of amla juice contains 190 mg of ascorbic acid.

This means that a glass of juice, i.e. 250 ml, provides 3,166 mg of vitamin C, and thus covers more than 300%. the daily requirement for it. In turn, 1/2 teaspoon (2.38 g) of amla powder covers 26 percent. daily requirement for vitamin C.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) for hair

Amla fruit in the form of a powder, macerate or infusion is widely used by women in India as a conditioning and strengthening agent for hair and skin.

Its fruit adds shine and thickness to the hair, softens it, deepens it and revives the natural color, while delaying premature graying of the hair.

When massaged into the scalp, it strengthens the hair roots, accelerates growth, and has anti-dandruff and anti-inflammatory properties. Thanks to the high content of tannins, it also reduces greasy hair.7

Amla (Indian gooseberry) - use in the kitchen

Amla fruits are an ingredient of chyawanprash. It is a mixture of over 40 herbs and clear butter,sesame oil, cane sugar and honey in the form of jam, prepared according to the Ayuwedian recipe. Chyawanprash has a beneficial effect that maintains youth, vigor and vitality.

Maharashtra (one of the states in India) is one of the largest producers and suppliers of Indian gooseberries. In this region, the fruit is often marinated with s alt, oil and spices.

In another state of India - Andhra Pradesh - lentil dal is prepared with the addition of amla and a dish called amle ka murabbah - fruit soaked in sugar syrup that is left until candied.

Bibliography:

1. Vitamin C Rich Fruits Can Prevent Heart Disease, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689326/

2. www.usda.gov

3. Amla (Emblica officinalisGaertn.) Prevents dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress in the aging process

4. Effect of Amla fruit (Emblica of fi cinalis Gaertn.) On blood glucose and lipid pro fi le of normal subjects and type 2 diabetic patients, "nternational Jour nal of Food Sciences and Nutrition" 2011,

5. Effect of the Indian gooseberry (amla) on serum cholesterol levels in men aged 35-55 years, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3250870

6. The hepatoprotective effect of Phyllanthus emblica L. fruit on high fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in SD rats, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28128372

7. A. Natural cosmetics. Astrum, Wrocław 1994

Category:

Alternative medicine