Amla is regarded as the storehouse of all essential nutrients needed for your body. It has lots of health benefits. But most of us do not know that it also has some side effects. Amla is known as India gooseberry or amalaki. It is also an important ingredient in many of the ayurvedic medicines because of its medicinal properties. It is a superfood and keeps your body healthy and fit. Although studies do not show any kind of toxic or harsh negative impacts, it can cause some mild adverse reactions on certain people.
According to ayurveda, amla may not be beneficial for people suffering from low levels of iron or hypoglycaemic disorders. You are advised not to eat amla if you are taking any anticoagulant medicines or if your immune system id poor.
Side Effects of Amla:
A burning sensation while passing urine:
Amla is rich in vitamin C. So when you consume amla in excess, it can be acidic. This way you may experience cloudy urine, pain while urinating, burning sensation while urinating, and foul smelling urine while urinating.
Amla during pregnancy:
Consuming amla during pregnancy can leave you uneasy at times. The fiber in amla can cause diarrhoea. This leaves your stomach upset and makes you dehydrated.
Amla for infants:
A dose of 30 to 35 mg is recommended for infants. But you should be very cautious when you give amla to infants, as it can lead to diarrhoea. When infants are given amla in excess, it can upset the stomach of the baby and may even lead to vomiting and pain.
Amla can have side effects on kidney:
If you are suffering from hypertension and renal disorders you should avoid consuming amla in the form of pickles. This is because pickles contain salt used for preserving amla. Taking too much of salt can have a negative impact on people suffering from kidney problems and high blood pressure.
People with blood pressure should use amla cautiously. This is because amla has the ability to lower the blood pressure level and maintain the same.
Could trigger hyperacidity:
Amla is loaded with Vitamin C, which attributes to its acidic nature. Although amla is said to be taken on an empty stomach for its detoxification purposes, it may cause stomach upset when taken on empty stomach. It can cause acidity. If you suffer from hyperacidity or are sensitive to Vitamin C foods, you should avoid eating amla.
Could worsen cold and associated conditions:
Ala can lower your body temperature to a great extent. So, consuming this fruit or taking amla powder can worsen the symptoms of cold. So, avoid amla when you are suffering from cold or associated conditions.
May experience constipation:
Amla is a good remedy for constipation. This is because of the high amounts of dietary fiber present in it. But when you consume amla in large quantities, it can harden the stool. This condition can get worse if you take in less amount of water. So, to prevent constipation, you should have it in the form of juice or in the dried powder form with adequate amount of water.
Might experience scalp dryness:
Dry scalp can lead to hair fall and hair loss. Amla is used in hair oils to prevent scalp from drying and to promote hair growth. However, when amla is used in excess, it can reverse these effects and make your scalp dry. Dry scalp can result in dandruff, flaking, hair fall and even baldness.
Might experience unwanted weight loss:
Consuming amla in excess can lead to excessive loss of weigh. This is because of the diuretic properties of amla. This can cause dehydration. you may also lose weight after a few weeks of using amla. However, if you really want to lose weight, you will benefit by consuming it. The weight loss takes places because of the loss of water due to urination.
Not advisable for eople with heart ailments:
Amla is an effective cardiovascular stimulating agent. It is not known to leave any harsh effects on your heart, but studies say suggest that if you are suffering from any cardiac issues, you should consult your doctor before using it. This way you can avoid any negative effects.
Not safe for diabetics:
Amla in its raw form is good for people suffering from diabetes. But if you are on medication for diabetes, it will be better if you consult your doctor before you consume amla. This is because it has the ability to lower the levels of blood sugar. This can interfere with the medicine you take-in, and can lead to hypoglycaemia.
Diabetic patients should avoid having amla in the form of preservative packed with sugar. The high amount of sugar in it can increase the level of sugar in the blood and can be dangerous for diabetic patients.
Skin might lose its moisture:
Amla is full of antioxidants; especially Vitamin C. Presence of antioxidants makes it great for fighting against the free radicals that cause damage to the skin. But still you should be cautious when you consume amla because it has diuretic properties. This can remove moisture from your skin if you do not take care to replenish your skin with moisture regularly. So, make sure that you drink at least 2 litres of water daily and consume amla in moderate quantities. This way your skin will get the benefits from amla.
You might be allergic to amla:
Certain people can be allergic to alma. in case you are allergic to amla, you may experience symptoms like nausea, stomach cramps, redness, vomiting and swelling around your mouth, itching as well as redness on your face, obstructed breathing, hives on the skin and face, dizziness, headache and light-headedness. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately consult your doctor.
