All-rounder of the berry universe, our DESi superfood of the day is Amla or the Indian Gooseberry. An active contributor of the ‘Triphala’, Amla is known to balance all the three doshas in the body (vatta, pitta, kapha).
Headache? Amla. Cold? Amla. Constipated? Amla. Dull hair? Amla. Stressed? You know the answer! We can go on and on about this superfood. Almost any health concern can be cured by Amla. And we don’t write it here just like that. The fruit speaks for itself!
Here’s presenting some amazing benefits of this small but humble fruit. (We bet you would be pleasantly surprised on reading the 6th one!)
1. Forget what is cough & cold!
Say bye-bye to cough syrups and medicines for cold. Amla has got your back - all thanks to the enormous amount of Vitamin C present in it (approximately 20x more than any other citrus fruit!). Just take equal amounts of amla juice and honey, mix it up well and slurp it (it tastes good, trust us!). This is even beneficial to treat long-term dry cough.
2. Reverses your age!
Want healthy, glowing, blemish-free, picture-perfect skin without the need to use filters? Amlaaaaaa. It reduces skin irritation, prevents pigmentation, evens skin tone AND heals pimples. Eat it whole, drink its juice, or put it in soups - just include amla in your diet, and notice the difference in your skin. Mirror, mirror on the wall! Here we come.
3. Provides your daily dose of Antioxidants!
Amla has the highest amount of antioxidants among all superfoods. It flushes out the harmful toxins from your body, protects the liver and purifies your blood. Having foods rich in antioxidants improves cellular longevity. In simple terms, it means - eat amla and you live longer!
4. Cancer loses. Amla wins!
Because of its high ‘Oxidative Radiance Absorbance Capacity’ (a fancy word for measuring antioxidant capacities in food), Amla prevents the growth of tumour cells in the body and even prevents cancer (yep! Amla is that powerful!). It is rightly called the ‘nectar of life.
5. Makes your immunity stronger!
Due to its antibacterial and antiviral qualities, Amla fights against infections in your body and boosts your immunity. Enriched with essential micronutrients and Vitamin C, Amla is amazing for detoxification and revitalizing your entire system. It puts up a tough fight and wins, you’d definitely want it to be on your team.
6. Shoo away the shit with Amla!
Cheesy heading, we know! But, it is true. Amla, according to Ayurveda, has laxative properties and keeps the gastrointestinal tract clear - helps with constipation. So, eat amla and keep the shit going on.
7. No stomach troubles!
If your gut is good, your body is good. And Amla knows this! It activates the digestive enzymes, improves the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food and inhibits the production of excess gastric acid. In short, it keeps your digestive system healthy. And you healthier. Need we say more?
Too good to be true? We know!
That being said, anything in excess is bad. Take this superfood in moderation and Amla would work wonders for your health. So, go on, stay calm and eat Am(la).
Not going shopping yet? No problemo! We got you covered. Here’s our very own 'Amla Bites’. And we vouch for its taste. It’s aweesommmeee!
--Written by Simran Doshi
