There are many dos and don’ts when it comes to our health and diet. But making a few small tweaks and adopting certain healthy food habits can help us stay in the pink. Agreeing with this mantra is Ayurvedic practitioner Dr Dixa Bhavsar Savaliya who swears by the benefits of having amla-turmeric, also called Nisha-Amalaki (nisha =turmeric; amalaki = amla), daily.
“This age-old ayurvedic formulation is 100 per cent effective in balancing your blood sugar, reversing pre-diabetes with healthy lifestyle changes, normalising your HbA1C and reducing insulin resistance, and blood cleansing,” Dr Savaliya stated on Instagram, adding that it also improves immunity and energy levels.
How much and in what quantity should it be consumed?
Dr Savaliya shared that one should take an equal quantity (say 100 gm each) of amla and turmeric and mix them well. “Then consume 3 gm of it with warm water before breakfast or dinner. Just consuming it for 21 days shall start showing you positive effects,” shared Dr Savaliya.
How do the ingredients benefit:
Amla
Amla is known for its hypoglycaemic properties. “It helps regulate blood sugar levels, making it beneficial for type 1 and type 2 diabetes management. It can also reduce the risk of sudden spikes and crashes in blood glucose levels,” shared Dr Savaliya.
Sushma PS, chief dietitian, Jindal Naturecure Institute said that rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, has antioxidant qualities that may shield pancreatic cells from oxidative stress-related damage and maybe maintain the cells’ capacity to make insulin. “Moreover, amla may boost cellular absorption of glucose and insulin sensitivity,” said Sushma.
Do you have amla and turmeric? (Source: Freepik)
Notably, amla contains vitamin C, dietary fibre, calcium, iron, and antioxidants like polyphenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which help in boosting immunity, and eyesight by reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration owing to the presence of vitamin A.
Turmeric
It helps reduce blood sugar, improves insulin sensitivity, prevents weight gain, improves energy, reduces inflammation, cleanses blood, improves quality of skin and hair, is great for muscle, heart, oral, and vision health, shared Dr Savaliya.
“Curcumin in turmeric has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help lower blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity. Research indicates that curcumin may also improve blood sugar regulation by blocking enzymes that produce glucose,” said Sushma.
Is the formulation effective for all?
Both amla and turmeric, which are well-known in traditional medicine, “have qualities that might help control blood sugar levels and possibly lessen the chance that pre-diabetes will become type 2 diabetes”, said Sushma.
Sushma said that turmeric and amla together “may have synergistic benefits that provide a multimodal approach to blood sugar management”.
“It’s important to remember, however, that even though some natural cures seem promising, medical treatment should still be sought at the earliest. It is best to speak with a healthcare provider before adding amla and turmeric to your routine, particularly if you have pre-diabetes or any other medical issues,” said Sushma.