The fruit of the Amla tree, called Indian Gooseberry or Amalaki, along with the Pomegranate fruit, have a long history as potent Ayurvedic medicines that have recently become the focus of many scientific studies. Both are potent antioxidants for the cardio-vascular system that seem to stand above the rest for heart and arterial health. With 71 million people suffering from Cardio-Vascular Disease, these two fruit offer a daily dose of hope.
Amalaki is well known as one of the most potent sources of Vitamin C, which is an essential vitamin. While most forms of Vitamin C will cause looser stools at high doses, Amalaki actually corrects and firms loose stools at high doses, exemplifying the difference between a store-bought synthetic or extracted Vitamin C and the natural whole form of Vitamin C in Amalaki. For years I have been overly impressed by Amalaki’s incredible ability to heal and repair irritable bowel pain and reduce intestinal mucus that compromises assimilation and detoxification pathways. Amalaki Helps With Cholesterol Levels
However, Amalaki’s effect on the Cardio-Vascular System and Cholesterol levels has given this Ayurvedic fruit international attention. In the same way Amalaki repairs the gut it also repairs the endothelial linings of blood vessels by preventing inflammatory cells from "sticking" to them and preventing the overgrowth of smooth muscle cells which block arterial flow. Maybe the most exciting of all is Amalaki’s ability to raise HDL’s by an astonishing 18% (HDL’s are high density lipoproteins, or good cholesterol, that takes the fat away from the cells). In addition, Amalaki decreases LDL cholesterol and LDL oxidation by 17% along with a significant reduction of triglycerides, VLDL’s and total cholesterol.
Amalaki Keeps You Young
Amalaki also reduces AGE’s (advanced glycation end products) that have been implicated in many age related diseases. AGE’s are damaging cross links between proteins and sugars which alter the function of protein throughout the body. The lesser known AGE’s are now thought to be as damaging as Free Radicals and are known to be responsible for many Cancers, Cardio-vascular disease, arterial damage, Alzheimers and more.
Amalaki Decreases Inflammation and Cleanses Your Lymph
Researchers are excited about Amalaki’s ability to reduce inflammation throughout the body, which is now understood as a major trigger for the disease process. This inflammation starts in the gut when stress or digestive acids irritate the intestinal lining, making the stools either constipated or loose. Reactive mucus in the gut is produced as a result and the intestinal villi are often bogged down in this overly mucousy environment. This inflammation of the gut compromises the villi’s ability to absorb the needed essential fatty acids that help to calm the nervous system and support cardio vascular health. In addition, these villi pull fat soluble chemicals like heavy metals, environmental toxins and pesticides off the gut to be processed via the body’s immune charged lymphatic system. If reactive mucus in the gut exists, which is very common - the lymph around the gut becomes congested and the toxins default to and overwhelm the liver. From here they often end up stored in the body’s fats cells or in the brain tissue as neuro-toxins.
Amalaki maintains the health of the intestinal mucousa, lymphatic drainage, the arterial walls and the entire cardio-vascular system with as little as 500 to 1000 mg. per day (1-2 capsules).
Pomegranates are the second most amazing fruit I would like to discuss. In one study, Pomegranates showed that their antioxidant properties far exceed those of blueberries, grapes, red wine, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and others. Pomegranate offers abundant benefits for the cardiovascular system by preventing damage to arterial walls, promoting healthy blood pressure levels, improving blood flow to the heart, and preventing or reversing atherosclerosis. In one Israeli study, with only 2 ounces a day of pure pomegranate juice, blood pressure fell by 21% after one year and plaque lesions in the carotid artery were reduced in size by 35%.
Pomegranates are the second most amazing fruit I would like to discuss. In one study, Pomegranates showed that their antioxidant properties far exceed those of blueberries, grapes, red wine, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and others. Pomegranate offers abundant benefits for the cardiovascular system by preventing damage to arterial walls, promoting healthy blood pressure levels, improving blood flow to the heart, and preventing or reversing atherosclerosis. In one Israeli study, with only 2 ounces a day of pure pomegranate juice, blood pressure fell by 21% after one year and plaque lesions in the carotid artery were reduced in size by 35%. Pomegranate helps lower blood sugar levels and protects the cardiovascular system from diabetes-induced damage. Pomegranate shows promise in killing prostate cancer cells and helps halt the progression of prostate cancer in men who have undergone surgery or radiation for the disease. Pomegranates also lower LDL, oxidation which is the leading cause of high cholesterol levels. Studies show that pomegranates increase the production of one of the body’s most potent antioxidants -the Nobel Prize winning Nitric oxide – by a whopping 130%. In addition Pomegranates may protect the brain against oxidative stress-induced changes that can lead to Alzheimer’s and other cognitive concerns that are associated with aging. Based on my research, I suggest drinking at least 2 to 8 ounces a day of the pure juice for maximum benefits. You can mix those ounces of juice with just about anything if the taste is too strong for you.
Suggested Doses:
- Amalaki: as little as 500 to 1000 mg. per day (1-2 capsules). If your lymph, digestion or cardio-cascular system needs extra support, you can take up to 1500mg 3 times per day after food for 2 months. Be sure to use pure Amalaki – some products are called Amalaki but are diluted with other ingredients.
- Pomegranate juice: drink 2-8 ounces daily of the pure juice. Be sure to get pure pomegranate juice that is not mixed with other fruits or sugars.
- Personally, I take 3 Amalaki caps and 6oz of pure pomegranate juice each morning with breakfast. In addition to all the above benefits, both are great for my Pitta constitution, which tend toward inflammation.
Recipe Ideas: Add these two amazing fruits to your meals for a delicious way to improve your health with these easy Recipe Ideas with Amalaki and Pomegranate.
Be sure to add Pomegranate juice and Amalaki into your daily routine for optimal health!
Sincerely,
John Douillard
Dear Dr. Douillard,
Thank you so much for your post. Please keep these wonderful Ayurveda posts coming. They are very helpful to me, and appreciate you taking time to write them.
Namaste,
Pam