Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
Phyllanthus
emblica is a deciduous tree in the Phyllanthaceae family, also known as emblic,
emblic myrobalan, myrobalan, Indian gooseberry, Malacca tree, or Amla from
Sanskrit amalaki. It bears the same-named edible fruit.
The tree is
small to medium in scale, growing to a height of 1–8 m (3 ft 3 in–26 ft 3 in).
The branch lets are not glabrous or finely pubescent, have a length of 10–20 cm
(3.9–7.9 in), and are typically deciduous; the leaves are simple, subsessile,
and closely set along branch lets, light green, and resemble pinnate leaves. Flowers
are in greenish-yellow in colour. The fruit is nearly spherical in shape, light
greenish-yellow in colour, smooth and rough to the touch, and features six
vertical stripes or furrows.
After ascending
to the upper branches bearing the fruits, the berries ripen in the autumn and
are picked by hand. Indian emblic (Amala) has a sour, bitter, and astringent
flavour and is very fibrous.
Health Benefits of Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
Amla has earned
a reputation as a "superfruit" all over the world. It's no surprise
that a 100-gram serving of fresh amla berries contains 20 oranges' worth of
vitamin C. Amla berries contain antioxidants and vitamins that have a variety
of health benefits. Amla's high vitamin C content aids the body's recovery from
illness. Amla berries also contain flavonols, which have been linked to health
benefits such as enhanced memory.
Here are some Health benefits of Amla (Gooseberry) :
Controlling Diabetes
The soluble fiber
in Amla berries dissolves quickly in the body, slowing the rate at which sugar
is absorbed. This can aid in the reduction of blood sugar spikes. In people
with type 2 diabetes, Amla berries have a beneficial effect on blood glucose
and lipid levels.
Improved Digestion
Amla berries
contain fibre that helps the body control bowel movements and can alleviate
symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Amla berries' high vitamin C content aids
in the absorption of other nutrients, so they may be beneficial if you take
iron or other mineral supplements.
Eyes that are healthier
Vitamin A is
abundant in amla berries, which is essential for eye health. Vitamin A not only
enhances vision, but it can also reduce the risk of macular degeneration with
age. Vitamin C in Amla helps to protect the eyes by combating bacteria, which
can help to prevent conjunctivitis (pink eye) and other infections.
Immunity Boost
Amla berries
contain 300mg of vitamin C per 100g serving (roughly a half cup), which is more
than twice the daily recommended value for adults. Polyphenols, alkaloids, and
flavonoids are all present in significant quantities. Antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory properties are found in Amla.
Memory and Brain Boost
Amla's
phytonutrients and antioxidants can help memory by combating free radicals,
which can invade and harm brain cells. Amla's high Vitamin C content aids in
the production of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that has been shown to
increase brain function in dementia patients.
Amla Nutrients
A half-cup
serving of Amla (Indian Gooseberries) contains the following nutrients:
33 calories
Less than 1
gram of protein
Less than 1
gram of fat
8 grams of
carbohydrates
3 grams of fiber
0 game sugar
Amla berries
are high in antioxidants, which help to prevent chronic diseases such as heart
disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Amla berries
are also high in the following nutrients:
Vitamin C is a
strong antioxidant.
Vitamin E is a
strong antioxidant.
Vitamin A is a
fat-soluble retinoids.
Culinary Uses
The Amla fruit
can be eaten raw or cooked into a variety of dishes, including dal (a lentil
dish) and Amla ka Murabbah, a sweet dish made by soaking the berries in sugar
syrup until they are candied. It's usually eaten after a meal.
The inner bark is used to add an astringent, bitter taste to the broth of a popular fish soup known as holat in the Batak region of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Traditional Medicine
The dried and
fresh fruits of the plant are used in Indian traditional medicine. All parts of
the plant, including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark, and flowers, are used
in Ayurvedic medicine herbal preparations. Amla fruit has a sour (amla) and
astringent (kashaya) taste (rasa), with secondary tastes of sweet (madhura),
salty (tikta), and pungent (katu), according to Ayurveda (anurasas). It has
light (laghu) and dry (ruksha) qualities, a sweet (madhura) postdigestive
effect (vipaka), and a cooling energy (virya) (shita). Indian gooseberry is a
popular ingredient in Ayurvedic polyherbal formulations, and it is most notably
the main ingredient in an ancient Ayurvedic formula.
Some other uses of Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
The high tannin
content of Indian gooseberry fruit acts as a mordant for fixing dyes in fabrics
and is commonly used in inks, shampoos, and hair oils.
 Health Benefits and Nutrients){kind=link}
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