Thursday, April 22, 2010

Amla - The power-packed berry

Amla (Emblica officinalis) also known as Amalaki or Dhatriphala in Sanskrit is the richest natural source of vitamin C . Indigenous to India, amla commonly known as the Indian gooseberry, has been in use for almost 1,500 years and known for its anti-aging and immune building properties. 100 grams of Amla contains about 700 mg. of vitamin C, which is 20 to 30 times the amount found in oranges. In addition to vitamin C, amla also contains calcium, iron, protein, gallic and tannic acids, phosphorus, and carbohydrates. Charaka the celebrated ayurvedic physician of ancient India has singled out amla as a great rasayana (vital elixir) that helps build immunity against diseases and prevent the signs of premature ageing.
Amla is an established antioxidant that works as a potent free-radical scavenger in the body. Free-radicals are by-products of chemical reactions in the body that can harm the normal cells of the body. Amla with its antioxidant properties helps reduce the harmful effects of these free-radicals. Amla also helps expel toxins and importantly enhances the natural immune defense mechanism of the body. It is known to fight all kinds of viruses including hepatitis, and influenza. Amla is also an excellent digestive because of its rich fibre content.
Amla juice taken as a regular tonic, offers a range of health benefits:
Potent antioxidant that prevents the signs of premature ageing
 Enhances natural immunity against recurrent respiratory infections
Helps improve digestive system by reducing hyperacidity and heartburn
Beneficial as an adjuvant in chronic diseases like hypertension

1 comment:

  1. This is interesting!! We've always been told to eat our apples and our oranges, but nobody told us that eating amla is a far better idea...

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