Amla wine is a type of wine made from gooseberries. Gooseberries, or the Phyllanthus emblica are native to Southeast Asia as well as the Indian subcontinent that grow in shrubs. The gooseberry plants range anywhere in between small to medium in terms of size, with round greenish yellow fruits. In the meantime, the gooseberry fruit itself is described as having a mixture in between sour and bitter tastes.
Its amazing nutrients and the health benefits it offers has made the gooseberry or amla to be traditionally used as a remedy. And now, what are the health benefits of amla wine?
Nutritional Facts of the Gooseberry or the Amla
Here are the nutritional facts of the gooseberry or amla, measured per 100 g of serving. The data below are sourced from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database.
- Serving Amount – 100 g
- Principles
- Energy – 44 kCal (2% of DV)
- Carbohydrate – 10.18 g (8% of DV)
- Protein – 0.88 g (1.5% of DV)
- Total Fat – 0.58 g (3% of DV)
- Cholesterol – 0 mg (0% of DV)
- Dietary Fibres – 4.3 g (11% of DV)
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Folate – 6 mcg (1.5% of DV)
- Niacin – 0.300 mg (2% of DV)
- Panthothenic Acid – 0.286 mg (6% of DV)
- Pyridoxine – 0.080 mg (6% of DV)
- Riboflavin – 0.030 mg (2% of DV)
- Thiamine – 0.040 mg (3% of DV)
- Vitamin A – 290 IU (10% of DV)
- Vitamin C – 27.7 mg (46% of DV)
- Calcium – 25 mg (2.5% of DV)
- Copper – 0.070 mg (8% of DV)
- Iron – 0.31 mg (4% of DV)
- Magnesium – 10 mg (2.5% of DV)
- Manganese – 0.144 mg (6% of DV)
- Phosphorus – 27 mg (4% of DV)
- Zinc – 0.12 mg (1% of DV)
- Electrolytes
- Sodium – 1 mg (0% of DV)
- Potassium – 198 mg (4% of DV)
What is the Amla Wine?
Amla wine is known as “dhatryarishta” in Ayurvedic medicinal culture. It is made with a mixture of amalaki (amla) juice, fermented in an airtight container with dhataki flowers as well as sugar. According to modern alcohol fermenting methods, the flowers can be replaced using conventional winemaking yeast. The mixture is fermented for about a month until bubbles stop to appear, then transferred to another airtight container and fermented again for another 4-6 weeks.
For treatment purposes, amla wine’s dosage is 10-30 ml, 2-3 times daily after meals.
What are its Health Benefits?
Here are the health benefits of Amla Wine:
- Amla Wines are Plentiful Sources of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a common nutrient found in fruits, which of course includes the gooseberry as well. The USDA information above shows that amla wines contain 46% of an adult’s daily value of vitamin C, which simply proves that it is indeed highly plentiful of vitamin C. Vitamin C is much needed by the body as an immunity enhancer, to produce collagen that are useful for the growth and maintenance of both skin and hair, among others.
- Amla Wines are also Plentiful in Fibres
Amla wines also contain dietary fibres that amount up to 4.3 grams or 11% of our daily values per the USDA information above. Sufficient fibres are important to support a healthy digestive system, prevent constipation, better manage body weight, up to more serious cases such as heart disease and colon cancer.
- Amla Wines have Potassium
Potassium is the key to the synchronization of nervous and muscular functions so that they can work properly. In the meantime, lack of potassium inside our body potentially leads to serious diseases such as heart diseases, stroke or hypertension. Gooseberries contain considerate amounts of potassium by 198 milligrams of it per 100 grams of serving.
- Amla Wines are Indeed Rich in Various Vitamins and Minerals
The USDA data above provides evidence that amla or gooseberry wines are indeed wealthy in various types of vitamins and minerals, almost the same as the health benefits of sugarcane wine. Not to mention that each vitamin and mineral contain daily value doses of more than 1%, which means that it is possible for you to get well-rounded health benefits from them.
- Amla Wines Contain Tannin-sourced Antioxidants
Tannins are organic substances found in the galls, barks, or any other types of plant tissues. Tannins are regarded as “the new antioxidants” because they also protect the body from heart diseases, cellular damage as well as cancer. Despite these remarkable benefits, more research and awareness are needed to build up complete understanding of this particular benefit.
- Amla Wines Support Liver Health
Liver helps the detoxification of the body by filtering substances that pass through the body. A 2013 experiment which involved treating rats with gooseberry extracts came up to the conclusion that gooseberries indeed improve liver function, protects its health, as well as increase antioxidant levels inside it.
- Amla Wines are Anti-Cholesterol
Researches also found out that amla are also capable of reducing cholesterol levels in the blood by preventing the buildup of plaque thus eliminating the risk of coronary heart disease. At the same time, amla wines could decrease triglyceride, blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, while increasing LDL cholesterol at the same time. In this case amla wines are similar to the benefits of red wine.
- Amla Wines Possess Anti-Cancer Properties
This is one of the most impressive health benefits of amla wine. Amla or gooseberry turns out to have talents in curing a wide array of cancers, such as skin cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and more. Cancer-healing traits are possible on gooseberries partially due to its phytochemical and antioxidant levels.
- Amla Wines Prevent Diabetes
High fibre as well as high antioxidant contents also play important roles in managing blood sugar levels that cause diabetes. Just like the health benefits of drinking red wine before bed, gooseberries contribute to the reduction of high blood sugar levels through fibres that slow down the absorption of sugar in the arteries.
- Amla Wines Get Rid of Inflammation Naturally
Research has shown that Indian gooseberries, which are the most common type of gooseberries made into wine also help in reducing inflammation by neutralizing free radicals as well as preventing oxidative damage on the cells.
These are also the health benefits of palm wine to the body and the health benefits of glass of wine a day.