Amla Fruit

Overall Health Benefits of Amla Fruit

• Improves symptoms of diabetes [1-3]
• Lowers blood pressure [4]
• Boosts sexual vitality and improves sexual health [5]
• Speeds up wound healing [6-10]
• Prevents and treats nerve damage [11-12]
• Lowers the risk of stroke [13-15]
• Improves kidney function [16-20]
• Lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease [21-25]
• Prevents Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and boosts cognitive health [26-31]
• Prevents cancer [32-39]
• Wards off depression and improves mood [40-41]
• Improves skin health [42-43]

What is Amla Fruit?

Amla fruit, also known as Indian Gooseberry, is a super fruit that is cultivated in all parts of India. It is jam-packed with various nutrients such as vitamin C (20 times more than an orange), proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, calcium, and potassium. It also has an uncommon balance of sweet, sour, bitter, and pungent flavors. Amla can be consumed raw and it’s available in the form of juice and powder.

How Amla Fruit Works

The phytonutrients and antioxidants in amla fruit help fight damaging free radicals in the body, which in turn reduces cellular damage. Since it contains high concentrations of vitamin C, it can help speed up the regeneration of wounds and damaged nerves.

Chemical Structure of Amla Fruit

Research on Amla Fruit

A. Improves Symptoms of Diabetes

Evidence suggests that amla fruit exerts potent anti-diabetic effects:

1. In diabetic volunteers, amla powder significantly improved high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. [1]
2. A study found that amla fruit extract inhibited the production of enzymes responsible for increasing blood sugar levels. [2]
3. A study reported that amla fruit has phytochemicals that can act as a hypolipidemic agent (reduces blood lipid levels) that could reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in diabetics [3]

B. Lowers Blood Pressure

There’s also evidence that shows that the hypolipidemic effect of amla fruit can be beneficial to blood pressure:

1. A study found that amla produced a notable hypolipidemic effect along with a reduction in blood pressure. [4]

C. Boosts Sexual Vitality and Improves Sexual Health

In animal models, amla fruit has been found to influence sexual behavior:

1. A study of Drosophila (fruit flies) found that amla fruit may improve sexual behavior. [5]

D. Speeds Up Wound Healing

Numerous studies also support the regenerative properties of amla fruit:

1. In a mouse model of arsenic-induced injury, amla fruit reversed injuries associated with toxicity and inflammation. [6]
2. A study found that amla fruit increased cellular proliferation and collagen migration at the wound site. [7]
3. A study found that amla tonic can increase the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, suggesting that it can also boost blood circulation at the site of injury. [8]
4. In human primary dental pulp fibroblasts, amla improved the regeneration of dental tissues. [9]
5. A study found that amla exerts its regenerative effects through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer properties. [10]

E. Prevents and Treats Nerve Damage

There’s increasing evidence supporting the beneficial effects of amla on pain and nerve dysfunction associated with different nerve problems:

1. A study found that amla has potent analgesic effects in both postoperative and neuropathic pain models. [11]
2. In an animal model of diabetic neuropathy, amla fruit supplementation improved nerve function by reducing the levels of oxidative stress. [12]

F. Lowers the Risk of Stroke

There’s also a great deal of evidence suggesting that amla fruit consumption can improve cognitive function in stroke:

1. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, amla fruit supplementation decreased the degeneration of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain.[13]
2. In rats, amla fruit supplementation improved cognitive performance by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the brain. [14]
3. A study found that amla fruit can lower the risk of stroke by reducing lipid levels. [15]

G. Improves Kidney Function

Studies found that amla fruit can help improve kidney function and reduce the risk of kidney disease:

1. A study reported that amla can help prevent age-related kidney disease through its antioxidant properties. [16]
2. In an animal model of kidney disease, amla reduced the levels of harmful free radicals in the kidneys.[17]
3. In hypothyroid female Wistar rats, treatment with amla fruit extract reduced reactive oxygen species, which cause inflammation and organ damage. [18-20]

H. Lowers the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Amla has been found to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving different health parameters:

1. In obese adults, amla fruit reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing platelet aggregation. [21]
2. A study also found that amla extract can prevent heart disease by reducing the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides. [22]
3. In rats fed with a high-fat diet, supplementation with ethanolic amla extract improved cardiac autonomic functions. [23]
4. In healthy human subjects, the consumption of amla fruit increased the levels of high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) and decreased the levels of low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) – both mechanisms can help lower the risk of heart disease. [24]
5. A rat study found that oral administration of amla fruit extract (50 mg/kg body weight) significantly decreased the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-a, and IL-6 in serum – both of which are linked to cardiovascular disease. [25]

I. Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Boosts Cognitive Health

An overwhelming body of clinical evidence suggests that amla fruit can help reduce AD and age-related cognitive dysfunction:

1. In rats, amla protected against aluminum chloride-induced Alzheimer’s disease. [26]
2. A rat study found that amla can protect against AD and other neurodegenerative diseases by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the brain. [27]
3. In rats, amla supplementation reversed aluminum-induced neurotoxicity. [28]
4. In human subjects, amla supplementation enhanced memory and vitality performance without any adverse effects. [29]
5. A study reported that amla possesses memory-enhancing effects possibly through its antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities. [30]
6. In rats with diet-induced cognitive impairment, amla fruit supplementation alleviated cognitive dysfunction. [31]

J. Prevents Cancer

This super fruit also has potent anti-cancer properties which can be beneficial in killing various types of malignant cells in the body:

1. A study found that the antioxidant properties of amla account for its anticancer activities. [32]
2. A cell study found that amla fruit can kill cancer cells by inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis). [33]
3. A cell study showed that amla extract inhibited ovarian cancer cell growth. [34]
4. A study found that amla exerts its chemotherapy-like effects through its free radical scavenging properties, [35]
5. A study reported that amla fruit can be an alternative medicine for cancer prevention and treatment. [36]
6. A cell study found that amla extract can inhibit the growth and multiplication of resistant ovarian cancer cells. [37]
7. A study found that amla extract can help reduce the risk of cancer by preventing cell instability. [38]
8. In tumor-bearing animals, amla fruit extract consumption decreased the progression of oral cancer. [39]

K. Wards off Depression and Improves Mood

Consumption of amla fruit has also been associated with improvement in mood and reduction of depressive symptoms:

1. A study found that amla showed antidepressant-like activity probably by inhibiting MAO-A and GABA and due to its antioxidant activities. [40]
2. A study also reported that amla fruit exerts its antidepressant effects through its neuroprotective properties. [41]

L. Improves Skin Health

Amla fruit can help protect the skin from damaging free radicals and can positively affect the structures of the skin, according to studies:

1. A study found that amla fruit protected against ultraviolet radiation-induced inflammation and programmed cell death (apoptosis). [42]
2. In human skin cells, amla fruit extract promoted the production of procollagen, a protein necessary for the maintenance of skin structures. [43]

Associated Side Effects of Amla Fruit

Amla fruit side effects are very uncommon. There have been some side effects associated with its use wherein the patient had one of the issues listed below at some point while being on amla fruit. However, these side effects weren’t confirmed to be associated with the treatment and could have been a coincidence and not related to the use of amla fruit. Despite this, it was listed as a side effect associated with amla fruit even though these associated side effects are very uncommon.

Side effects associated with amla fruit may include the following:

• Hair fall, itchiness, and other hair-related issues
• Dehydration

References

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