Amla is a fruit similar to plum, rich in vitamin C. With an astringent, digestive, aphrodisiac and laxative action, it is useful for the immune system, the kidneys and the pancreas. Let's find out better.
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Description of the fruit
There is a fruit whose numerous and amazing medicinal qualities are indirectly proportional to the palatability of its taste. We speak of the Phyllathus emblica, more generally known as amla .
It is native to the Indian subcontinent, in areas with a subtropical climate, and produces a fruit similar to a very firm plum, with a greenish yellow skin, translucent like that of gooseberry.
Inside there is a leathery and green seed around which the juicy pulp develops, furrowed with vertical veins. It has an extremely bitter, astringent and acid taste, so much so as to give the idea of being completely immature and its endurance requires a little willpower, but the benefits it brings to health are irreplaceable.
Amla, ally of
Immune system, heart, skin, hair, blood, throat, skeleton, pancreas, kidneys.
Calories, nutritional values and properties of the amla
100 g of amla contain 58 kcal, and:
- 18 g of carbohydrates
- 3 g of fiber
- 1 g of protein
- 5 mg of sodium
- 3 mg of potassium
Those who are accustomed to the fresh consumption of some citrus fruits such as lemon and cedar, will have more chances to find bearable the pulp of an amla. But what is the secret of such a bitter taste? We are talking about one of the richest natural sources of ascorbic acid existing in nature: a small berry contains more or less as much as two or three oranges.
It is rich in water and fat-free, extremely rich in calcium and contains almost all the B vitamins, iron and manganese. To this are added various precious acids such as gallic and ellagic, numerous flavonoids and polyphenols (pedunculagina, punigluconina, Punicafolina).
We talk about his pharmacological abilities already in the most ancient texts of oriental medicine: astringent, digestive, aphrodisiac, laxative, tonic, diuretic . Ideal for enriching cosmetic products, to combat coughs and abdominal pains, burns, inflammations, fever, diabetes and bleeding.
More recent studies have shown an ability to fight many cancers, apparently due to a phenol called pyrogallol; furthermore, it has been noted that the consumption of amla prolongs life expectancy in people with cancer. The fruit is also antimutagen, radioprotective and is able to protect the heart and the circulatory system from various diseases, has a strong anti-aging action and helps fight osteoporosis (by inhibiting some genes that induce it), shows strong antimicrobial properties, and is ideal for helping with diabetes and kidney and pancreatic disorders.
Amla powder is used to wash hair: find out how
Contraindications of amla
Eating an amla or even just drinking its juice can be a terrible experience for those who are not at least used to bitter, sour and astringent. It is not uncommon for disgust reactions to occur that can lead to vomiting. Even when taking amla for medical purposes, it is difficult to go beyond the two berries a day.
Curiosity
- Amla plays an important role in many Hindu cults and legends . Many ancient poets have praised it as a symbol of the longevity granted by gods to human beings.
- It is an ideal fruit to interrupt long fasts without risk.
How to eat amla
The degree of maturity of the amla is recognized above all by the color: depending on the variety it can be golden yellow, neon green and furrowed with slightly rosy veins. The fruit is rather firm and appears almost perfectly spherical, therefore any deformation is a symptom of incorrect growth due to some attack on the health of the plant or fruit.
It can be easily consumed with all the peel . On the market it is easy to find concentrated amla juice, and it is important to dilute it in a lot of water to make the experience of its intake bearable. To help yourself, you can add a teaspoon in a lemonade or mint flavored water. In some Asian countries, amla is an ingredient in some chutneys, pickles, sauces and curries.
