India Gooseberry also known as Amla is a very common fruit with various health benefits.It is extensively used as medicine in various Ayurvedic formulations like Triphala. It is also part of Indian cuisine in the form of chutneys,morabbas and pickles. I use amla to treat many ailments including Chronic Inflammation
BENEFITS:
POTENT ANTIOXIDANT:
Gooseberries are high in phytochemicals, plant compounds with antioxidant properties that help fight off harmful free radicals in the body. Free radicals cause oxidative damage to cells and even contribute to the development of chronic disease. It is high in phytochemicals like furosin, gallic acid, corilagin and quercetin which are largely responsible for the health-promoting properties of gooseberries.
ENHANCES LIVER FUNCTION:
Studies have found that gooseberries could help enhance liver function and protect the health of this crucial organ. An animal study in 2013 found that treating diabetic rats with gooseberry extract increased antioxidant levels in the liver. Another review noted that amla, has been shown to protect the liver against toxicity and even cancer in some animal studies.
REDUCES CHOLESTEROL:
Research shows that gooseberry could help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, preventing the buildup of plaque and decreasing the risk of heart disease.
A study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition supplemented men 35–55 years old with Indian gooseberry for 28 days and found that they had significant decreases in cholesterol levels. Interestingly enough, two weeks after stopping supplementation, their cholesterol levels had risen back up to normal.
Another study in 2012 published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology found that treating patients with gooseberry decreased levels of triglycerides and bad LDL cholesterol, increased levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol, and reduced blood pressure.
ANTI-CANCER AGENT:
One of the most impressive benefits of the gooseberry is its effect on cancer cells and ability to potentially prevent cancer. A 2005 animal study conducted at the University of Rajasthan in India showed that treating mice with a concentrated dose of gooseberry extract decreased skin cancer tumor formation by 60 percent.
Another test-tube study from Thailand showed that gooseberry helped inhibit the growth of human lung, liver, breast, ovarian, cervical and colorectal cancer cells.
DECREASES INFLAMMATION:
Research has found that Indian gooseberry can help reduce inflammation. A test-tube study published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that amla extract decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory markers in human cells.
The antioxidants found in amla may also help reduce inflammation by neutralizing free radicals and preventing oxidative damage to cells.
SKIN AND HAIR TONIC:
For centuries, gooseberries have been used to improve the health of skin and hair, and now several recent studies have confirmed these powerful benefits.
One study out of Japan, for instance, found that amla extract helped increased production of collagen the protein that is responsible for providing youthfulness and elasticity to the skin. Another animal study out of the Gill Heart Institute’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kentucky found that Indian gooseberry extract helped speed up wound healing in rats. In terms of hair health, applying amla oil to significantly increased growth of hair. Additionally, gooseberry is high in vitamin E, a nutrient that has been shown to protect the skin and enhance hair growth.
FOR GUT AND DIGESTIVE HEALTH:
Gooseberries contain gastroprotective effects and may help keep your digestive system working efficiently while preventing problems like gastric ulcers.An animal study in Phytomedicine reported that giving rats amla extract blocked the development of stomach lesions, decreased gastric secretions and protected against injury to the lining of the stomach. Another animal study had similar findings and noted that giving rats amla extract helped heal and protect against stomach ulcers.
IMPROVES COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS:
There has been some surprising benefits of amla and brain health.
A 2016 study, for instance, found that treating rats with gooseberry extract increased memory retention and antioxidant levels and also decreased levels of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Another study combined gooseberry with heart-leaved moonseed and found that it improved measures of learning and memory in rats.
CONCLUSION:
All the amazing benefits listed above can be ours, if we consume amla on a regular basis. If fresh amla is not available, even amla powder can be cosumed on regular basis.The best part of it is that is very economical.
Consume on a regular basis.