Indian Gooseberry Fruit For Fasting Support

Ayurvedic medicine, indigenous to India, is one of the oldest medical systems in the world. Different figures have been given, but most agree it has been around for 3,000 to 5,000 years. It is an intricate system that upholds the mind and body connection with the healing use of plants, herbs, minerals and other naturally-occurring substances. Loosely translated to mean “Science of Life”, Ayurveda focuses on a person’s constitution or rather the balance of one’s constitution, called the doshas. This medical system has stood the test of time and has given us many gems.(1) One of them is Phyllanthus Emblica, otherwise known as Indian Gooseberry (Amla) fruit. Originating in India, the Gooseberry fruit can be found growing in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and Malaysia. Better known as the Indian Gooseberry tree, it is also called “the Malacca tree” in English and in Hindi, it is simply known as Amla.(2) Historically, they are used as chutney, pickles and a sweet delicacy called murabba.   The Gooseberry fruit is arguably one of Ayurveda's most important herb. It has a long list of beneficial properties, but here are three highlights.

A Tonic For the Liver

1. Officinalis (Indian Gooseberry) has been found to increase enzymes in the liver (6) and enhances liver function by playing a protective role. (5) Extracts of Phyllanthus Amarus (Indian Gooseberry) has shown to improve liver function, reduce profibrogenic events and promising potential with chronic HBV infection (Hepatitis B)(2)

  Fasting Blood Sugar Levels

Studies show that Amla has a significant impact on fasting blood sugar levels.(3) Their anti-diabetic properties can be contributed to their high level of phytochemicals - antioxidants and free radical scavenging properties (4) Indian Gooseberry’s high fiber content also contributes to normalizing blood sugar levels. A large amount of fiber slows the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream and can prevent spikes and crashes.(5) The fiber content of the berry makes up 26 percent of the daily recommended value.(7)

Unusually High Phytochemicals

As mentioned previously, Indian Gooseberry has an exorbitant amount of phytochemicals. “Many plant extracts and plant products have been shown to possess anti-diabetic activity having significant anti-oxidant activity. Since E. Officinalis contains a large number of polyphenols, it is found to possess significant antioxidant activity. Therefore, the presence of polyphenols may be responsible for the anti-diabetic activity of E. Officinalis.” - Pub Med - Experimental Study on the Effect of E. Officialis   Implementing Indian gooseberry fruit during a fast can be a potent tool during the fasting phase. Fresh Indian gooseberry fruit may be difficult to obtain, but the dehydrated and powdered fruit is readily available online. There are no known precautions with this beautiful fruit, however, if you’re a diabetic on medication to control blood sugar levels, do talk to your practitioner before using Amla.   Tell me, what do you find most impressive about Amla?

Sources:

1 - Dr. Axe -  7 Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine - https://draxe.com/ayurvedic-medicine/
2 - Science Direct - Phyllanthus Emblica - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/phyllanthus-emblica
3 - Pub Med - Effect of Amla on Blood Glucose Levels - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21495900
4 - Pub Med - Anti-Diabetic Effects - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24577384
5 - Dr. Axe - Indian Gooseberry Benefits - https://draxe.com/indian-gooseberry/
6 - Pub Med - Experimental Study of the Effect of E. Officialis - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3968711/
7 - Dr. Mercola - Food Facts Indian Gooseberry - http://foodfacts.mercola.com/gooseberries.html

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Disclaimer: This article is written and presented in an informative manner and has not been reviewed or evaluated by the FDA and should be not be used to diagnose, cure or treat any diseases. Share the knowledge.