Benefits of Drinking Amla Juice

The most notable benefits of amla juice include treating cough and cold, lowering cholesterol levels, regulating blood sugar levels, optimizing digestion, and treating respiratory infections. It also minimizes signs of aging, prevents chronic disease, stimulates the immune system and promotes growth and development, among others.

What is Amla Juice?

Amla juice is the juice of the amla berry, often known as Indian gooseberry. Scientifically known as Phyllanthus emblica, this tree bears the amla berries, which are pale green and translucent. The Amla berry has been used in culinary and medicinal applications for thousands of years, but the taste of the berry is quite bitter, which is why its use as a fruit juice may not be readily apparent. However, given the incredible range of nutrients and antioxidants found in amla juice, it is increasing in popularity.
Amla juice possesses high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants which help in promoting hair quality. It can also be used in the form of an oil, tea, powder, capsules, and spice. It is a rich source of other active ingredients including ellagitannins, flavonoids, kaempferol, and gallic acid, all of which can have extensive impacts on human health.

Health Benefits of Amla Juice

Let’s have a look at the most important health benefits of amla juice in detail:

Treats Cold and Cough

Amla juice treats cough, cold, flu, and even mouth ulcers. Mix two teaspoons of amla juice with an equal amount of honey and consume it to get rid of a cough and cold. For mouth ulcers, mix 2 teaspoons with water and gargle twice a day.

Lowers Cholesterol Levels

A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology shows that cholesterol levels can be lowered effectively by the regular consumption of amla juice. In fact, it is now being incorporated into more treatment strategies due to its uniquely high levels of key antioxidants.

Controls Diabetes

In reasonable quantities, amla juice has the ability to regulate blood glucose levels, which can help diabetics control their blood sugar levels and prevent dangerous drops and spikes, while also providing an ideal boost their energy levels. This is confirmed by a study referred to in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.

Improves Respiratory Health

Intake of amla juice has historically been used to improve respiratory health such as asthma. This is because it can soothe inflammation and address underlying infections in your respiratory tracts.

Aids in Digestion

The fiber present in amla juice helps boost your digestive health. While too much will cause constipation, a moderate amount of this juice can cut down on gastric inflammation and stimulate normal bowel movements.

Promotes Liver Function

Amla juice flushes out toxins from the body, which helps promote better liver function.

Prevents Aging

Having more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable, amla juice can help prevent the signs of aging and improve the appearance of the skin. The activity of antioxidants eliminates free radicals and prevents cellular mutation, including those that cause loose skin.

Skin Care

Vitamin C, present in amla juice, is a necessary component of collagen. This contributes to the growth and repair all over the body, including the appearance of the skin.

Improves Heart Health

Numerous studies have been conducted on amla juice and its potential role in lowering blood pressure. The presence of potassium helps this drink reduce tension in the blood vessels and arteries, thus preventing symptoms of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

Boosts Immunity

Amla juice is rich in vitamin C and this can boost your immune system and increase your production of white blood cells, says a study by Dr. D. S. Khurdiya, Division of Post Harvest Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India.

Prevents Cancer

The ellagic acid, gallic acid, and other flavonoids help amla juice prevent and treat certain types of cancer, as per a study published in the Anticancer Research journal. The antioxidant levels in this juice are off the charts, so they can effectively reduce free radical activity throughout the body, which is good if you are trying to lower your cancer risk.

Amla Juice for Hair

Interestingly enough, amla juice is actually useful for hair health in many different ways, and it can be both consumed and topically applied. Drinking it supplies minerals, antioxidants, and nutrients that promote the well-being of hair. However, if you topically apply this juice to your scalp, you can also help soothe inflammation, stimulate the health of hair follicles and prevent dandruff. Finally, many people choose to mix amla juice with their hair products or organic hair washes, as it can help to improve shine and luster, particularly for those with brittle hair or split ends.

Amla Juice for Weight Loss

Amla juice has been used as a weight-loss supplement, primarily because it has very few calories. The antioxidants can help improve the digestive system and speed up the metabolism, which increases passive fat-burning, while also helping to lower LDL or bad cholesterol levels. The vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids present in the juice help increase energy without increasing calorie or fat levels. Many antioxidants found in this juice help to detoxify your body.

How to Make Amla Juice?                

It’s easy to make fresh amla juice at home. You can extract 70% of juice from the fruit. Hence, to make a quart of juice, you will need around 3 pounds of amla (45-50 fruits).
Method:

• Step 1: Wash the amla fruits under running water to remove any contaminants. Discard any amla which is soft to touch or has bruises and dark spots.
• Step 2: Cut amla into half and remove the large seeds.
• Step 3: Put the amla pieces into a blender and pulse until you get a smooth texture.
• Step 4: Strain amla juice through a cheesecloth or a fine strainer to extract as much juice as possible.
• Step 5: Enjoy a glass of juice with sugar, rock salt, or honey as per your taste!

Amla juice can be consumed in its pure form. However, it is more palatable when mixed with other fruit juices or diluted with water. While drinking fresh amla juice daily is considered the healthiest option, it may be too bitter to taste. The juice is best when mixed with other sour or tart juices such as lemon and honey, jamun (Indian blackberry), bitter gourd, or aloe vera. These can help mask the bitterness of the fruit. You could also use amla fruit or its pulp to prepare jams, spreads, murabba, chutneys, and pickles.

Amla Juice on an Empty Stomach

Drinking amla juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning ensures the absorption of all nutrients, without them being lost along with other waste products in the midst of a larger meal. It can work as an excellent energy boost at the start of the day or as a soothing beverage that will help your body digest and repair more efficiently while you sleep.

Side Effects of Amla Juice

As with any extremely powerful health food, there can also be some severe side effects if you drink too much amla juice, including constipation, hypoglycemia, dry skin, hypotension, acid reflux, and allergic reactions.

• Constipation: Even though amla juice helps to strengthen the digestive system, excess intake can cause constipation.
• Dry Skin: The diuretic nature of amla juice is excellent for detoxifying the body, but it can lead to dehydration, which will show itself on your skin. Be sure to drink enough water in conjunction with amla juice.
• Acidity: There is a huge amount of vitamin C in this juice, which is highly acidic in nature. This can build up in the body and the gut if not balanced by alkaline substances, particularly if you drink an excessive amount of this juice.
• Blood Pressure: Amla juice’s ability to lower blood pressure can be dangerous when combined with blood pressure medication, so speak with a doctor before adding this juice to your diet.
• Blood Sugar: Similarly, this juice is praised for regulating blood sugar but this suppression could lead to hypoglycemia, which is dangerous for normal people and diabetics alike.
• Allergic Reactions: Some people are allergic to this fruit and may experience stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting, or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat. Discontinue its use immediately if these symptoms appear.
  

Inhibition of Cancer Cell Proliferation and Suppression of TNF-induced Activation of NFκB by Edible Berry Juice

1. DOMINIQUE BOIVIN¹,
2. MÉLANIE BLANCHETTE¹,
3. STÉPHANE BARRETTE²,
4. ALBERT MOGHRABI² and
5. RICHARD BÉLIVEAU¹,²

+ Author Affiliations

1. ¹Laboratoire de Médecine Moléculaire, Hôpital Ste-Justine-UQAM, Centre de Cancérologie Charles-Bruneau, Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Sainte-Justine, 3175, Chemin Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
2. ²Service d'Hématologie-Oncologie, Hôpital Ste-Justine-UQAM, Centre de Cancérologie Charles-Bruneau, Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Sainte-Justine, 3175, Chemin Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada

1. Correspondence to: Richard Béliveau, Laboratoire de Médecine Moléculaire Sainte-Justine-UQAM, Centre de Cancérologie Charles-Bruneau, 3175, Chemin Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1C5. Tel: +1 514 345 2366, Fax: +1 514 345 2359, e-mail: molmed@recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca

Abstract

Background: Berries contain several phytochemicals, such as phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and other flavonoids. There has been growing interest in a variety of potential chemopreventive activities of edible berries. The potential chemopreventive activity of a variety of small berries cultivated or collected in the province of Québec, Canada were evaluated here.

Materials and Methods: Strawberry, raspberry, black currant, red currant, white currant, gooseberry, high-bush blueberry, low-bush blueberry, velvet leaf blueberry, serviceberry, blackberry, black chokeberry, sea buckthorn and cranberry were evaluated for antioxidant capacity, anti-proliferative activity, anti-inflammatory activity, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Results: The growth of various cancer cell lines, including those of stomach, prostate, intestine and breast, was strongly inhibited by raspberry, black currant, white currant, gooseberry, velvet leaf blueberry, low-bush blueberry, sea buckthorn and cranberry juice, but not (or only slightly) by strawberry, high-bush blueberry, serviceberry, red currant, or blackberry juice. No correlation was found between the anti-proliferative activity of berry juices and their antioxidant capacity (p>0.05). The inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by berry juices did not involve caspase-dependent apoptosis, but appeared to involve cell-cycle arrest, as evidenced by down-regulation of the expression of cdk4, cdk6, cyclin D1 and cyclin D3. Of the 13 berries tested, juice of 6 significantly inhibited the TNF-induced activation of COX-2 expression and activation of the nuclear transcription factor NFκB.

Conclusion: These results illustrate that berry juices have striking differences in their potential chemopreventive activity and that the inclusion of a variety of berries in the diet might be useful for preventing the development of tumors.