Gooseberry - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Gooseberry, also known as amla, is a little fruit with green or yellow colouring that has an extremely tart and sour flavour. It is a fruit that is rich in nutrients and one of the best sources of vitamin C. Because of its many health advantages, Ayurveda refers to it simply and profoundly as "the fruit that rejuvenates." It is a superfood unique to us! In this article, we outline the health advantages, nutritional value, and therapeutic applications of gooseberries, as well as how they can help control diabetes and improve skin and hair care.

People consume gooseberries either fresh or canned. Additionally, some people use it as a supplement or cosmetic. Amla, sometimes referred to as Indian gooseberry, provides a number of health advantages.

What is gooseberry? 

The common name for a small, round, edible fruit is gooseberry. Gooseberry fruit is used to produce jams, jellies, and pies. Furthermore, some types of the plant have herbal characteristics, and people employ them in complementary medicine.

Types of gooseberry:

There are numerous kinds from diverse places, including:

 European gooseberry: The botanical name for the European gooseberry is Ribes grossularia var. uva-crisp. It is a green, hairy fruit. Europe, northwest Africa, west, south, and southeast Asia are its native continents. European gooseberries are consumed in pies, jams, and puddings.

American gooseberry: The green to purple American gooseberry is a native to the northeastern and midwestern regions of the country. The botanical name of the American gooseberry is Ribes hirtellum, and it is frequently planted in fruit and vegetable gardens.

Indian gooseberry: A yellowish-green fruit that grows in India, Southeast Asia, China, Iran, and Pakistan is known as an Indian gooseberry (also known as an Emblic or Amla fruit). Emblica Officinalis is its scientific name.

Health benefits of gooseberry: 

Diabetes management

Amla berries contain soluble fibre that dissolves quickly in the body, which slows down how quickly your body absorbs sugar. This may lessen blood sugar peaks. Amla berries are also beneficial for type 2 diabetics' blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

Improved Digestion 

Amla berries' fibre aids in the body's regulation of bowel motions and may help with the symptoms of illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome. Amla berries contain high quantities of vitamin C, which aids your body in absorbing other nutrients. As a result, they might be beneficial if you take iron and other mineral supplements.

Better eyesight

Vitamin A, which is essential to enhancing eye health, is abundant in amla berries. In addition to enhancing vision, vitamin A may help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. The vitamin C in amla promotes eye health by battling bacteria, so helping to shield your eyes from illnesses like conjunctivitis (pink eye) and others.

Boosts Immunity

More than double the adult daily recommended dose of 300mg of vitamin C is found in one 100g serving of amla berries, or roughly a half cup. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols are also present in significant quantities. Amla contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

Brain and Memory Health 

Amla contains antioxidants and phytonutrients that can protect brain cells from free radical damage and attack, improving memory. Because of the large amount of Vitamin C in amla, your body can manufacture norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that may benefit dementia patients with their cognitive abilities.

Benefits of Gooseberries for Hair 

Gooseberries can make your hair appear silky and smooth, which is healthy for your hair. In India, this is a traditional herbal remedy that has been used for many years to prevent dandruff and dry hair. Here are some advantages of gooseberry for hair.

Natural Hair Straightener: Do you long for straight hair? Try a natural hair straightener. You must have previously used hair straightening tools or lotions that have a higher risk of harming your hair. Gooseberry paste is a natural hair straightener—did you know that? Yes, gooseberry paste or juice tends to strengthen hair growth and heal hair follicles. Simply apply some amla juice to your scalp and let it air dry for 30 minutes. You can wash it off with lukewarm water when it dries. You will become stronger as a result, and it will shine even more.

Prevents Premature Greying: Hair that is prematurely grey is one of the first indicators of ageing quickly. For young people, this may turn into a nightmare, but you must realise how important this is. How then do you stop your hair from going grey? Simply add some gooseberry juice to your hair and let it air dry for 30 minutes is all that is required. Vitamin C and antioxidants found in amla juice help stop hair loss and early greying.

Prevents Dandruff: Dealing with dandruff may be very difficult, especially since it is considered to make you appear less confident in public. There are a lot of anti-dandruff shampoos and lotions on the market, but why not try something natural and get rid of dandruff for good? Try amla juice to restore damaged hair strands and add an additional layer of shine.

Natural Hair Conditioner: Amla juice helps to give your hair a smooth and lustrous finish and works well as a conditioner. Simply combine some henna and amla juice, then gently massage the mixture into your scalp. Once it has dried, you can wash it out with some lukewarm water to give your hair that extra smoothness and shine. This will make your hair look healthy.

Gooseberry Skin Benefits

You must be wondering how gooseberries might benefit your skin. You can immediately apply it to your skin or take it with honey to get the advantages. If you are having trouble eating this tart fruit, consider making juice out of it. Your skin will benefit from this. Here are some advantages of gooseberries for your skin's health.

Anti-Aging Properties: Drinking gooseberry juice can slow down the ageing process of your skin. One unique stage of getting older is the desire to look younger as you start to age. But who doesn't want to appear youthful? As a result, simply prepare some amla juice, add some honey, and drink it. This beverage is packed with antioxidants that can fight ageing cells and improve the appearance of your skin. Amla contains vitamin C, which promotes healthy-looking skin. Amla juice can help you avoid wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and premature ageing.

For acne treatment, you can also produce an amla paste, apply it to the afflicted areas of your face, and wait no more than 15 minutes for it to dry. This will aid in treating acne-related breakouts, fine wrinkles, and scars. It is a natural blood purifier that prevents acne scars and breakouts. Amla juice provides perfect skin as a result.

Good Skin Tone: Your skin contains a lot of collagen, which gives your skin solidity and a soft appearance. Amla juice enhances vitamin C levels and aids in increasing collagen formation in the skin when consumed regularly. Your skin will seem smooth and young as a result.

Treats Skin Pigmentation: Amla juice is supposed to cleanse your skin and lessen skin pigmentation when applied topically or consumed. All you have to do is apply some amla juice to your face, and after it dries, be sure to wipe it away with a small piece of cotton. Keep your eye closed as you do this as well. Regularly performing this will help to fade pigmentation and remove skin marks.

Gooseberry Juice:

Ingredients in gooseberry juice:

Here is everything you need to have before we discuss how to make this healthy juice.

Indian gooseberry, 1 cup (Sliced into tiny pieces).

One sugar cup

one grain of salt

Cardamom powder, 1 pinch

How is gooseberry juice made?

Here is how to make this sour and healthy juice that will benefit your skin and hair now that you have all your components ready.

1. The beautifully washed amla needs to be washed first, then set aside.
2. Next, take a pressure cooker and fill it with 1.5 cups of water. Keep the burner on low and cover the cooker.
3. When you hear a single whistle, turn off the stove or hob.
4. The gooseberries that were set aside should then be gently pressed to test if they have softened. The seeds can then be taken out and set aside after this is finished.
5. After completing this, you must powderize the sugar by grinding it.
6. Next, crush the amla bits and sugar powder together. After completing this, combine the amla with some sugar powder and salt and ground them once more.
7. To make the amla powder even more liquid, add more water. Apply it to your skin and hair after thoroughly stirring, and you'll see a change.