Amla is the round-shaped, vertical-striped fibrous fruit of the deciduous tree "Euphorbiaceae". It is greenish-yellow in colour and has a distinctive sour flavour, which nevertheless lends itself well to many culinary uses.
1. Amla, due its sour taste, is mostly used in the preparation of variations of pickles along with other ingredients, the most common ones being the spicy pickle and Amla Murabba, a dish of candied amla.
2. It is considered to be healthy due to the numerous health benefits it has. Because of this it is advised to be consumed in the form of freshly-prepared amla juice, with a dash of honey to make the bitterness palatable.
3. Dried and powdered amla powder can be sprinkled over fruits or also can be used in the preparation of health drinks.
For complete uses of Amla read this article.
How to store amla, Indian gooseberry
• Place the fresh fruit in a Ziploc bag or other sealed bag, and store it in the refrigerator.
Nutritive Information for Amla (Indian Gooseberry):
1 amla is about 35 grams
RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.
Energy - 17 calories
Protein – 0.2 g
Carbohydrate – 4.1 g
Fat – 0.03 g
Fiber – 1 g
Vitamins:180 mg of
Vitamin C = 450% of RDA (about 40 mg)
Minerals:15 mg of
Calcium = 2.5% of RDA (about 600 mg)
0.4 mg of
Iron = 2% of RDA (about 20 mg)
6 mg of
Magnesium = 1.7% of RDA (about 340 mg)
67.5 mg of
Potassium = 1.4 % of RDA (about 4700 g)
Health benefits of amla, Indian gooseberry
• Amla is rich in natural vitamin C. The high content of
vitamin C helps to boost the functioning of the immune system of the body and thereby helps in preventing a wide range of diseases. It is said that a single amla is capable of fulfilling a day’s vitamin C requirement.
• Amla is therefore included in several Ayurvedic tonics as a general ingredient. Interestingly, it is also the main ingredient in Chyavanprash.
• Apart from vitamin C, the fresh fruit contains more than 80 per cent of water besides
protein, carbohydrates,
fibre, vitamins and minerals, such as
calcium,
phosphorus,
iron, carotene and
vitamin B-complex. These minerals help ensure proper metabolism.
• It has cooling, diuretic and laxative properties, and helps in detoxification.
• It also aids in cleansing the mouth, and strengthens teeth and bones.
• Amla has antibacterial properties and helps in preventing infections and healing ulcers.
• Its cell rejuvenating properties help in maintaining healthy skin and hair. Apart from keeping the hair shiny and fresh, it also prevents dandruff. As expected, it is widely used in the preparation of hair shampoos.
• Amla also helps to prevent respiratory disorders such as common cold, bronchitis, and other respiratory tract infections.
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Health benefits of Amla.