What is Amla Powder?
Indian gooseberry plant
What is Amla?
“Indian gooseberry” (also known as amla) is a tree native to India and the Middle East. The berries of the tree contain an amazing level of antioxidants with many health benefits.
Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine have been using Indian gooseberry (powdered, pickled, dried, fresh) for thousands of years to treat many different conditions. See this helpful summary of its traditional uses as well as pharmacological applications that have been tested and studied.
An antioxidant powerhouse
In a recent test of 3,000 different foods, amla emerged as the number-one antioxidant-rich food -- ahead of goji berries, raisins, acai berries, and anything else you can think of that might be at the top of the rankings. Check out this video for the details.
Health benefits of amla powder
Amla powder benefits are numerous. Amla is anti-inflammatory, and, in one study, it reduced and reversed cancer cell growth in vitro. Another study demonstrated amla’s ability to help normalize blood sugar levels in diabetes patients.
A study from 2019 pitted amla extract against a placebo for cholesterol. After 12 weeks, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower in the amla group as compared to placebo group. The researchers remarked that “A single agent to reduce cholesterol as well as TG [triglycerides] is rare.”
Many people have heard that using amla powder on the hair can decrease gray hairs and/or condition the hair and scalp. Amla is often combined with other ingredients like coconut oil and spread on the hair, and numerous commercial products are available. Academic scientific research has not yet proven alma’s effectiveness for the hair.
How to take amla
Amla is sold in the form of powder, extract, capsules with powder, caplets with extract, and also as dried fruit. The most cost-effective way to get your amla is powder. A teaspoon of powder a day gives you a huge boost of antioxidants. A 12-ounce bag of amla powder costs about $13 on Amazon and lasts a long time. Most sellers offer only organic amla powder.
Amla has a slightly bitter taste that takes some getting used to. Here are some ideas for getting amla powder down.
Mix (or shake) a teaspoon into warm or hot water (this is how I take my amla)
Mix a teaspoon into fruit juices (pomegranate, orange, cranberry, etc.)
Add a teaspoon to your smoothie
Stir a teaspoon into a cup of tea (especially green tea or herbal tea)
You can experiment with including amla powder in soups, stews, curries, or salad dressings, but this may not give you a regular dose like practicing a daily habit of one teaspoon in water, juice, a smoothie, or tea.