Amla Berries: The World's Most Underrated Superfood

­­­­Avocados, kale, wheatgrass, it seems that every week, we’re introduced to a new superfood that will ‘change our lives’. It’s funny though, because despite the discoveries of dozens of superfoods, one of the best in the world – and HALO’s secret ingredient - still remains undiscovered by so many: amla berries.

Hailing from India, the Middle East, and a few other Southeast Asian countries, amla berries, also known as Indian Goose Berries, are the fruits found in Malacca Trees. While it’s still a relatively unknown fruit in the western hemisphere, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a wide variety of health conditions for many centuries.

"There are so many benefits of amla berry!" says HALO adviser and Wellness Expert Dr. Amy Shah. "It's a darling super food in the world of ayurveda. It's used in Ayurveda to help with immunity, digestion, and brain function.  In this world, it is a known immune booster, good for acid reflux, good for liver, brain, cholesterol, heart, lungs, and gut. It's also a great source of vitamin C."

In honor of World Health Day on April 7, here’s a roundup of just four major health benefits of amla.

• It Keeps Your Blood Sugar In Check
  Amla berries work by reducing total cholesterol levels – including triglycerides – without affecting the high-density lipoprotein – also known as the ‘good cholesterol’. Studies have found that this dual effect can help improve glucose metabolism in your body.
• They Are Packed With Antioxidants, Like, A Lot 
  To put it into perspective, compared to other superfoods, amla berries contain 60 times the antioxidant power of pomegranate, 50 times the antioxidant power of raw blue berries, and 13 times the antioxidant power of black berries. Amla berries also contain more than 20 times the amount of Vitamin C found in an orange, which helps support the body’s immune response and protects the body against infection. 
• Promotes Healthy Skin and Hair
  Those antioxidants aren’t just good for your immune system! Studies have found that amla extracts raises the production of collagen, a protein that promotes youthful skin. These amazing berries also packed with vitamin E and proteins, which strengthens hair at the root and prevents hair fall.
• It Restores Digestive Health
  Amla contain cooling laxative properties, which helps flush out toxins in the body that may cause discomfort of illness. Unlike other digestion enhancing herbs, such as ginger, amla doesn’t create heat in the digestion, making it easier on the stomach. When consumed regularly, amla also helps protect your liver from toxins and has been shown to lower cholesterol.