Being from Indian subcontinent, I have been consuming the Indian Gooseberry from very early day's of my childhood. It is a part of Indian diet in the form of pickles, tonics, oils, etc. This article would discuss Indian gooseberry's medicinal benefits.
History :
The tree is considered sacred by Hindus as the Vishnu is believed to dwell here. The tree is worshipped on Amalaka Ekadashi.
In other Hindu myths, Amla is said to have originated from the drops of Amrit which spilled on earth accidentally, due to the fight of Gods and Demons after ksheera sagar manthan. And hence also this religious belief makes claims that it almost cures every disease and is also good in extending the longevity of life.
Nutrition :
Indian gooseberry stands out as it is the richest source of the antioxidant vitamin C. Every 100 gm of fresh Indian gooseberry provides nearly 700 mg of this vitamin which is 20 times higher than what is found in an orange. Indian gooseberry when tested recently for its chemical composition was seen to contain 470 - 680 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams fresh fruit. The vitamin value increased further when juiced. The dry and dehydrated berry was seen to contain 2428-3470 mg of vitamin C per 100 g
Potential Health Benefits :
- High cholesterol. Early research suggests that taking Indian gooseberry for 4 weeks decreases lower density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol in people with high cholesterol.
- Cancer.
- Indigestion.
- Eye problems.
- Joint pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Obesity.
- Diabetes.
- Other conditions.
