Amla Extract Supplements & Health Benefits – High Cholesterol

Living with high cholesterol isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. With cardiovascular health such an important topic, watching your triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels is crucial for keeping your heart healthy. Between prescription medications, specific low-cholesterol diets, and other lifestyle changes, this can be exhausting! Thankfully, there are ways to support better cardiovascular health, and they’ve been under our noses for thousands of years.

Traditional medicines can and do work to control your cholesterol — and one of the most effective of these medicines is amla extract. Amla, also called Indian gooseberry or emblic, is more than just an age-old folk medicine; in fact, modern science has researched how amla extract can influence cardiovascular health. Here’s how amla supplements work to keep your heart pumping healthy for years to come.

Amla for Cholesterol Control
Amla extract has been used for generations by Ayurvedic and other traditional medicine practitioners for supporting heart health. Much research has been done into the subject, with scientists discovering how amla reduces bad cholesterol by a significant amount when taken regularly. Researchers have watched both LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels decrease under laboratory conditions, which leads to better overall cardio health — something Ayurvedics have known for thousands of years!

Other Uses of Amla Extract
In addition to being able to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your body, amla extract does have a few other uses. Amla, which is sourced from the fruit of the Indian gooseberry tree, grows in South Asia, the Middle East, and some parts of Southeast Asia, is widely used in many different types of cuisine. Additionally, the bark of the Indian gooseberry is also used in traditional medicines, but the main source has been the gooseberry fruit itself.

As far as flavor, the Amla fruit is known to be quite sour and even bitter. The fruit is often pickled in a mixture of salt, oil and spices. Other uses for the Amla fruit and components of the tree itself include making certain inks, shampoos, and hair oils. It’s also used to help dyed fabrics keep their color by preventing the dye from fading, thanks to the high levels of tannins in the fruit.

Amla Benefits
Amla benefits start with cholesterol control, but that’s not the only way this nutritional supplement can help you stay healthy. Here are just a few of the ways this versatile little bitter fruit can revitalize your body and protect your health beyond keeping your blood pumping through your veins for years to come. You might just be surprised!

Cardiovascular Health
We’ve gone over how well Indian gooseberry fruit extract can make your LDL and triglycerides drop, but amla supplements do more for your heart health than just reducing cholesterol levels (as if that wasn’t enough!). In fact, research has shown that amla can act as an anticoagulant, can help lower blood pressure, and even help combat anemia. This is some very good news for anyone who’s struggled with heart problems, as taking amla extract provides great all-around protection for what ails you!

Anti-Inflammatory Capabilities
The same research study that found amla extract can act as an anticoagulant also discovered that amla can also act as an anti-inflammatory. This can help reduce generalized swelling in muscles, joints, and other parts of the body, making it easier for you to move without quite as much pain as you might be accustomed to being in otherwise — and all without resorting to drugs made in a laboratory somewhere.

Digestive Health
Ayurvedics have been using amla-based medicines to treat digestive health issues for thousands of years to great effect. Modern science backs this up, as research has revealed that amla can help treat heartburn and other types of related stomach upset. Gastrointestinal health is a major component of feeling good, after all!

Blood Sugar Regulation
While most research into amla extract has been to discover how it can help your cardiovascular system stay healthy, there’s mounting evidence that the fruit can have a positive effect on people with diabetes. Scientists have found that amla can help improve glucose metabolism, which aids in fighting diabetic symptoms like high blood sugar.

Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Properties
Amla doesn’t just protect your heart and your gut. In fact, it can even help you fight off infection! Thanks to recent research, amla supplements have been shown to have an antimicrobial and antibiotic effect. In other words, amla may help you stave off certain types of infections and keep you from getting sick.

How Much Amla Extract Should I Have Each Day?
For the most part, amla extract is considered generally safe. This means that no risks are posed by eating food with Indian gooseberry as an ingredient. As far as daily supplementation in concentrated extract form, it’s understood that taking 1000mg or less every day is safe.

However, there are some instances where you need to be careful with amla extract. Due to its ability to act as a blood thinner, taking amla supplements before surgery could cause bleeding complications. Also, since it can reduce blood sugar, diabetics should monitor their glucose levels carefully to ensure they don’t drop too low. Modern medicine also doesn’t recommend amla if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding because there’s not enough known about how the extract interacts with developing children.

Keep Your Sweet Heart with This Sour Fruit
The Indian gooseberry might have a sour, bitter tang to its taste, but the amla extract made from these lip-puckering fruit can keep that sweet heart of yours pumping along strong and steady. While you should always consult your doctor before starting any nutritional supplement, if you’re looking for a good lift to your cardio health you’ve found just the right thing for you!