Gooseberries are small, round to oval berries of European origin. They grow wild all over temperate climates of Europe, North America, and Siberia. Botanically, the berries are close relative of currants and belong to the same family of Grossulariaceae, of the genus: Ribes. Rich in antioxidant polyphenolics and vitamins, the berries comes in different colour, flavour, and shapes
Gooseberries (R. uva-crispa L.) are one of the four wild Ribes species (R. alpinum L., R. rubrum L. and R. petraeum Wulf.) growing in the Northern Hemisphere. As in currants, gooseberry grows best in regions where summer is humid but winter severe and chilling. The plant is a fast growing, small deciduous shrub growing about 4-6 ft tall featuring sharp thorns all along its woody branches. The bush begins fruiting 2-3 years after plantation. Berries come in many shapes, colours, and taste. They can be round, oval, pear-shaped or elongated, green, white, yellow, purple, red-brown or black colour, sweet and tart, surface smooth or hairy with conspicuous veins and 15-30 tiny edible seeds. In general, the berries measure 1-2 cm in width and weigh  4g to 10 g.

Health benefits

Hair care: Amla is used in many hair tonics because it enriches hair growth and hair pigmentation. It strengthens the roots of hair, maintains colour, and improves lustre. Eating fresh gooseberry or applying its paste on hair roots improves hair growth and colour. Amla oil is very popular in India because it has been shown to reduce the chances of hair loss and baldness. This quality is due to the carotene content of Amla, as well as its iron content and general antioxidant capacity, which reduces hair loss by not allowing free radicals to damage hair follicles or impact the hormones that can cause premature hair loss.

Eye Care: Drinking Gooseberry juice with honey is good for improving eyesight, and studies have shown it to improve near-sightedness and cataracts, while reducing intra-ocular tension. This is mainly due to its impressive content of carotene, which have long been known for their powerful effect on vision-related conditions, including those that stem from free radical activity. Vitamin A and carotenes reduce macular degeneration, night blindness, and strengthen your vision before the age-related degeneration from free radicals can occur!

Calcium Absorption: One of the less discussed benefits of Amla is how it helps the body absorb calcium in a positive way. Calcium is an essential component of our bones, teeth, and nails, and also ensures that we have beautiful lustrous hair. So, eating a vitamin C-rich fruit like Indian gooseberries is a great way to keep your body looking and feeling great!

Metabolic Activity: Eating foods that are high in protein is one of the most important ways to stay healthy, since proteins are an essential part of our body’s metabolic activities. Our enzymes can breakdown plant proteins into amino acids and reassemble them into usable proteins for our body. Protein is necessary for cellular growth, muscle development, organ health, and a wide range of other metabolic activities that we need to remain healthy and happy!

Menstrual Cramps: Some of the minerals and vitamins in Alma combine to make it very useful in the treatment of menstrual cramps. Since it takes a while for the necessary elements to accrue in the body, it is better to consume Alma on a regular basis so it is always in the system and menstrual cramps can be prevented every month for women.

Diabetes: Gooseberry contains chromium, which has a therapeutic value for diabetic patients. Indian Gooseberry stimulates the isolated group of cells that secrete the hormone insulin, thereby reducing blood sugar in diabetic patients and keeping their body balanced and healthy. When blood sugar is reduced, it means that glucose is also being used by the cells as functional energy, so the metabolism is stronger and you have more energy, without the plunges and spikes in blood sugar that are so dangerous for diabetic patients. Chromium also enhances the effect of beta-blockers, which are used for heart health, by reducing the LDL cholesterol content of the body.

Diuretic Activity: Besides being a fruit that is very high in water, Amla is also slightly diuretic in nature. This means that it increases the frequency and volume of urination. Urination helps our body eliminate unwanted toxins and excess levels of water, salts, and uric acid. Furthermore, it can help you lose weight, since up to 4% of urine is actually composed of fat. Therefore, a diuretic substance is always necessary for keeping our kidneys healthy, and also preventing urinary infections and uterine infections. Alma is a great way to do this!

Digestion: Alma is very high in fibre, like most fruits. Fibre adds bulk to the stool and helps food move through the bowels and keeps your bowel movements regular. This reduces the chances of constipation, and fibre can also bulk up loose stools and reduce diarrhoea. Fibre also stimulates the secretion of gastric and digestive juices, so food is digested efficiently, nutrients are absorbed in an optimal way, and you feel lighter and healthier.

Reducing constipation can also help protect your from various gastrointestinal disorders, even colorectal cancer!

Heart Disease: As mentioned above, gooseberry strengthens the heart muscles, so the heart pumps blood smoothly throughout the body. By reducing excess cholesterol build-up, the chromium can reduce the chances of atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up in the vessels and arteries. This can reduce the chances of strokes and heart attacks. The iron content promotes the creation of new red blood cells, increasing circulation and the oxygenation of organs and cells to maximize growth and regeneration of tissue, while keeping the blood vessels and arteries clean.

 Infection: Due to its antibacterial and astringentattributes, Indian Gooseberries protect the body against infection and improves the body’s immune response. They are also a very good source of vitamin C, which is famous for its impressive antioxidant abilities and its stimulation of the immune system. It increases the white blood cell count in the body, which is the main line of defence for the immune system, since white blood cells attack and eliminate foreign toxins and substances in the bloodstream and throughout the body.

Diarrhoea and Dysentery: Due to its strong cooling and laxative properties, Gooseberry is a useful component in remedies for diarrhoea and dysentery. It provides great relief for gastric syndrome and hyperchlorhydria (burning sensation in the abdomen). As a laxative, it helps flush out any toxins or harmful substances you may have eaten that are causing your discomfort or illness, thereby eliminating it from your system so the healing process can begin, and cooling the burning and discomfort often felt when diarrhoea occurs.

Improving Appetite: Consuming Gooseberry powder with butter and honey before a meal improves appetite. It also helps to balance nitrogen levels, thereby increasing weight in a healthy way.

Anti-Aging: Amla prevents health-related hyperlipidaemia by reducing the amount of free radicals in the body through its antioxidant qualities. Free radicals are associated with signs of aging like wrinkles and age spots.

The fresh fruit of gooseberries contains more than 80% water, protein, minerals, carbohydrates and fibre. It is also used as a remedy for fever, liver disorder, indigestion, anaemia, urinary problems, respiratory problems, cerebral, gastric and cardiovascular illness. Gooseberry lowers cholesterol levels, increases red blood cell production, and strengthens teeth and nails.

In other words, consume Indian Gooseberry (Amla) as a fresh fruit, juice, or dried form to see a big improvement in your health!