The health benefits of the humble fruit Amla is widely known and hence has garnered much interest among the scientific community during recent times.
Research projects are undertaken to unravel the secrets hidden within the simple fruit responsible for its numerous benefits such as improving digestion, boosting immunity, building a strong metabolism and even slowing the ageing process.
You May Also Like:
- Spiced Buttermilk With Amla – Your Goto Refresher Drink
- Oil Pulling – The Ayurveda Practice That Offers Incredible Benefits
- Vyadhi Kshamatwam – Ayurveda Perspective Of Immunity
One such research work was focused on studying Emblica Officinalis Gatertn’s (Botanical name of Amla) health benefits and safety in healthy human beings. Based on the findings, a research paper was published in Volume 17 of Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications in March 2020.
A Brief Insight Into The Clinical Trial
The randomised, double-blind, crossover placebo-controlled study was conducted using 15 healthy adults. The test subjects were in the age group of 36 to 67 years. During the 18 weeks, the participants followed a controlled diet. They did not smoke, consume alcohol, or caffeinated beverages. Also, they avoided any strenuous activity to ensure the accuracy of the study results. The group received 500mg of Amla or the placebo as applicable.
Before the start of the trial, the participants provided their physical measurements, fasting blood and urine samples to establish baseline values, and successively, the process was repeated at the end of Week 4, 6, 9, beginning of Week 10 for the crossover and then again at the end of Week 13, 15 and 18.
Several other parameters, such as body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, vascular function, blood fluidity, haematological parameters, and biochemical parameters, were also measured.
Based on the values obtained from the test subjects, any changes in the relevant parameters were noted and tabulated. The findings highlighted Amla’s benefits in terms of its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
Health Benefits Of Amla
The research indicated that regular consumption of Amla could potentially,
- Lower blood glucose levels
- Improve cholesterol profile
- Prevent age-related kidney disease
- Prevent arterial thrombosis
And, most importantly, no significant adverse effects were observed from the start to the end of the clinical trial period. Thus the researchers were able to conclude that,
“The results from this human clinical study conclusively established that Amla has an acceptable sensory and safety profile while providing enormous potential for the management of a healthy lifestyle.”
So, What Does This Mean?
- Amla, taken in smaller quantities regularly can help maintain your health in the long term. It helps us stay fit and healthy, not just while we are young, but as we age as well.
- Amla cannot be your magic pill to achieve good health. However, incorporating it as a part of your diet combined with other healthy lifestyle choices such as balanced diet, exercise, and proper sleep can prove to be very helpful in leading disease-free life.
- Also, it is essential to note that Amla is highly potent. Do not consume more than 1 or 2 fruits per day to avoid experiencing any adverse effects. Also, it is best to check with your doctor before embarking on consuming Amla daily, especially if you are entirely new to it, for the same reason.
To read the research paper, click here to access it from ScienceDirect official website where it is published.
