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Amla Numerous Benefits (So Good For Your Hair!)
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Amla, also known as Indian Gooseberry, has a myriad of health benefits that can be mostly attributed to its high vitamin C content. The fruit is considered sacred in India, where it grows in the wet forest areas and ripens in autumn. High in vitamin C and many other minerals, yet the fruit is sour even when fully ripe.
Its many health benefits have made it a staple in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is used in both powder and oil forms. Amla powder can be made by letting the fruit dry and then grating it or putting it in a food processor to create a dry powder. Amla oil is made by extracting the juice of the fruit, again by grating or pressing the fruit, and combining the juice with another carrier oil, such as coconut oil, for example. Amla oil can also be made with the dried fruit by combining it with coconut oil on a pan over heat.
Health Benefits of Amla
Amla has varied health benefits due to the many minerals and vitamins contained within its fruit. Whether the fruit is ingested in juice form, as a powder or used raw, Indian Gooseberry is useful for many ailments of the body.
Amla can be used to aid in eye care, by drinking a juice made of the gooseberry and sweetened with honey. The berry has a very high content of carotene, and studies have shown that amla can even improve near-sightedness and cataracts. It’s also good for vision problems that arise from free radical activity since the fruit also has Vitamin C.
Besides improving vision, amla can also help your body to process calcium better. Calcium is essential for our bodies. It is present in our bones, teeth, hair, and nails, but your body has certain processes that absorb the calcium and if those are not working at 100%, the calcium is wasted. Vitamin D is known to be a great help in the body absorbing calcium, but Vitamin C can also be very helpful in the process – a vitamin that amla has plenty of.
Indian gooseberry is also beneficial to metabolic activity, as it has a decent amount of protein which helps the body since it is an essential part of the metabolic process. Another process that it aids the body in is menstruation. Many women have a particularly painful time during their cycles due to excessive cramps. The minerals and vitamins in amla can be helpful in treating those cramps, but only if amla is ingested on a regular basis not as a one-time treatment like traditional pharmaceuticals.
The high levels of chromium in Indian Gooseberry also make it a great medicinal aid for those with diabetes. The fruit helps to stimulate cells that produce insulin which means that there will be more insulin to remove excess sugar from the bloodstream and helping to keep the body balanced. High levels of chromium can also benefit the heart because chromium reduces the levels of cholesterol and strengthens the heart muscles and circulatory vessels.
High fiber content in the fruit also helps to aid in digestion and the high water content means that it can be a somewhat efficient diuretic, by stimulating the process of urination. This stimulation also means that amla can be helpful for diarrhea and dysentery, because it helps to flush out the toxins and bacteria that are causing problems and lets the healing begin in the body.
Not only does amla help the gut heal, but it is also beneficial for the overall immune system. The high content of Vitamin C that was mentioned earlier means that the immune system also benefits from the Vitamin C. Vitamin C also has potent antioxidant properties and helps to keep the immune system in top shape because of them. Antioxidants also combat the effects of free radicals which then means that amla is also quite beneficial to anti-aging.
All of these pale in comparison to the benefit that amla has for your hair health. Amla is actually used in many hair treatments, tonics, and lotions because of the numerous benefits it has for hair. The rich complexity of minerals and vitamins contained within the Indian gooseberry means that not only does amla benefit the growth of your hair but also the color and volume. Eating the fruit or applying it to your hair as a paste are equally beneficial. Amla oil can also be utilized for its benefits against baldness and hair loss. It works by using the carotene and iron content, as well as its antioxidant properties, to help ward against damage at the hair follicles.
If you’re looking to help promote hair growth and to stimulate your hair to be more vibrant, full and thick, consider trying the recipe below which will help improve the overall health and vibrancy of your hair.
Vibrant Hair Recipe with Amla Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Amla Oil
- 3-4 drops Peppermint Oil
- 3-4 drops Rosemary Oil
Mix all ingredients and apply to hair massaging it in. Leave on overnight or for at least 2-3 hours.
Conclusion
Amla might be a homely and unassuming fruit, but it packs a punch in the mineral and vitamin category. With benefits for eyes, metabolic activity, calcium absorption, digestion, immunity, diabetes and hair health, Indian gooseberry is a great fruit to add to your everyday use. The fruit can usually be found at specialty grocers or in the international aisle of larger chains and amla oil or powder can be purchased easily online. Using amla has no side effects for most people and it is a healthier alternative to taking traditional pharmaceuticals, when possible. Although it may be one of the sweetest fruits to eat, the many benefits that it provides makes it worth it to overlook the taste of the Indian gooseberry.
