How to Add Amla to Your Diet for Skin, Hair, and Health Benefits

Amla, or Indian gooseberry, is a very nutritious fruit. It is round and bright yellow to green in color. It has a sour citrusy taste. It can be consumed raw, as fruit or juice, or made into certain preparations like pickles, chutneys, and candies or added to other dishes. The best benefits of amla are reaped when it is consumed raw.

Amla has numerous health benefits which have led to its popularity as a superfruit. It is good for the skin, hair, and overall health of an individual. It was found that a 100-gram fresh amla serving contains the same amount of Vitamin C as 20 oranges. This property of amla is great for boosting immunity. It is also low in calories and has high vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, manganese, and potassium content.

Amla is a seasonal fruit and is harvested during the winter season. If incorporated into the diet during winter, it helps combat colds and flu.

How Does Amla Benefits the Skin

Amla has several skin benefits. Eating raw amla, drinking its juice or applying it to the skin can be very beneficial. Here are some skin benefits of amla:

1. Anti-Ageing Properties: Drinking fresh amla juice rejuvenates the skin and prevents premature ageing. It reduces fine lines and dark circles. The vitamin C and E content of amla helps the skin become tighter, look younger and more refreshed.
   
2. Anti-Acne Properties: Amla paste, applied on the problematic areas of the face for about 15 minutes, helps reduce acne and acne scars. Amla is a natural blood purifier; it clears the blood and reduces pimples resulting in glowing skin.
   
3. Even Skin Tone: The vitamin C in amla, helps in collagen formation in the skin. Collagen increases skin firmness and softness.
   
4. Pigmentation Reduction: Regular application of amla juice on the face can help lighten pigmentations and marks on the face.
   
5. Brighter Skin: Drinking amla juice or applying it on the face renews the skin by removing dead cells. This makes the skin brighter, making it glow.

Benefits of Amla for the Hair Growth

Amla has been used as an herbal treatment for hair conditions, sincetraditional times. Amla helps prevent dandruff and hair dryness amongst other benefits. Let us look at some benefits of amla for hair:

1. Smoother and Straighter hair: Hair smoothening and straightening are very common hair styling procedures these days. The products used for these treatments are harmful and damage the hair in the long run. Amla paste or juice when applied on the scalp for 30 minutes, heals hair follicles and stimulates hair growth. This naturally adds shine to the hair and makes them stronger. Amla when mixed with henna, also acts as a natural hair conditioner.
   
   
2. Hair Loss Prevention and Prevention of Premature Greying: Amla paste when applied to the hair for 30 minutes, prevents hair loss and premature greying. This is owed to the high Vitamin C and antioxidant concentration of amla.
   
3. Prevents Dandruff: Amla hair oil is an all-natural solution to dandruff problems. It also adds shine and repairs broken hair strands.

Benefits of Amla for Systemic Health

Amla is a natural healer, it boosts immunity and improves digestion and liver health. Here are some systemic benefits of consuming amla:

1. Increased Immunity: The high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C improves immune cell activity and protects cells from oxidative damage.
   
2. Gastrointestinal Health: Medically prescribed amla tablets has been shown to be beneficial in the reduction of the severity and frequency of heartburn and regurgitation.
   
   
3. Improved Liver Health: The high antioxidant levels and the anti-inflammatory effects of amla juice,are good for liver function.
   
4. Controls Cholesterol: Amla extracts lower cholesterol and triglycerides.

Boosts Metabolism: Amla when included in the diet, aids in digestion, and also reduces diet. This helps in weight loss.

Amla has many benefits for systemic health; however, its intake must be regulated. Amla has antiplatelet characteristics, which may cause clotting issues in people, especially those suffering from blood diseases or on blood thinners. Increased intake of amla in diabetics, may lead to lower blood sugar levels as well.

8 Ways to Include Amla in Your Diet

With the numerous benefits of amla, it is recommended to include it in your diet, in regulated quantities. Some ways in which amla can be incorporated into the diet are listed below:

1. Amla Candy: Amla chunks are sundried and sweetened with sugar to make a sweet and sour candy. These can be consumed during the winter months to stay healthy and active during the cold weather.
   
2. Amla Juice: Amla juice is great for boosting immunity and metabolism. It can be consumed with some water and honey.
   
3. Amla Murabba: Amla murabba, jam or jelly are great ways of incorporating amla in your diet. Murabba is a sweet and spicy thick chutney that can be enjoyed with chapatis, paranthas or bread.
   
4. Amla Pickle: Amla pickle is an easy way to incorporate amla in your daily diet. One to two spoons of amla pickle daily can be consumed without any risk. Amla pickle is easily available in the market. Surya Masale also offers amla pickles on their website. You can order online on the website.
   
5. Amla Powder: 1 tablespoon of amla powder, when consumed before each meal, can help improve digestion.
   
6. Amla Chutney: A thick consistency chutney, made with amla, and a tempering of oil, garlic, coriander seeds, green chilies and curry leaves is a delicious and tangy way of adding amla in your diet.
   
7. Amla Curry: Amla powder can be added to curries and dals. Amla can also be made into a dry vegetable preparation and consumed.
   
8. Amla Tea: Freshly grated can be added to boiling water with some jaggery and consumed hot for a relaxing and healthy drink.

Our Takeaway

Amla is a very healthy fruit. It can do wonders for our bodies when consumed in the right quantities. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for a long time. It is a true “superfood” and should be a part of our daily diet.

You can find delicious Amla pickle on the Surya Masale website. It is an excellent choice for adding amla to your daily food. Shop now for a healthier tomorrow.