59. NELLIKAI

                                                    NELLIKAI

Nellikai or ‘amla’ is a seasonal vegetable or fruit. There are different types of nellikai depending upon the size. Children are very fond of the small type of nellikai (earth nellikai). But the big type(stone nellikai) is also edible and it taste really sweet if eaten after drinking water. Its leaves are in great demand in India during one festival during the kartik masa.  Nellikai is worshiped as goddess earth. A festival called amla navami is specially celebrated in some places in India.

Nellikai has phelamblin, ascorbic amla acid, galic acid, tonin, pectin, chromium, zinc and other important minerals.  Most of the medicines in Ayurveda have amla.

Once a year, all the leaves on the tree fall off making the tree look bare. Soon new leaves appear. Yellow flowers fill the tree making the tree look beautiful. Leaves are very good for health.

        Nellikai has a lot of minerals and tastes sour. This sour taste itself is its power. It is small to look. 10 nellikai will be equal to one apple for its size. But one nellikai has three times more proteins than one apple.

        What about the orange? It is proud to have a lot of vitamin C (900 mg). And yet, one nellikai has more vitamin C than one orange. Nellikai has more anti oxidant than found in any other fruit. 

        Stone nellikai is used in making pickles. It is also dried. It is a medicine store from root to leaves.

Benefits:

1. Amla is one of the prestigious herbs that prevent aging and promote longevity. It has been found to be the most abundant source of Vitamin C containing as much as 20 times that of an orange. It is supposed to rejuvenate all the organ systems of the body, provide strength and wellness. It also helps us to keep away from all the diseases by boosting our immune system.

2. It has anti oxidants that will keep diseases away.

3. Nellikai has antiviral and antimicrobial characters.

4. Nellikai is a good cure for gastric problems. It helps digestion. If you take amla pickle with food, it balances the acids and chemicals in stomach helping digestion.

5. It improves blood circulation and reduces cholesterol. It controls the blood sugar. It reduces the risk of diabetes and BP.

6. Nellikai is good for people who feel tired.

7. It is good for cough and cold.

8. The health medicine called chavanprash has amla in it.

9. According to Kamasutra, amla activates the sex organs.

10. Body heat: Nellikai cools the body and removes toxins. Drink amla juice with honey and lime juice with water on an empty stomach every morning.

11. Amla increases memory power.

12. Amla makes the nervous system perfect.

13. It cleans the lungs.

14. Menstruation: Eating amla helps perfect the menstrual cycle in a lady and thus helps her to become pregnant.

15. Eyes: Amla is also good for the eye. Your eye sight will improve.

16. Hair: Amla is good for the hair. It helps to keep dandruff away.

17. Amla has a lot of calcium to make your bones, nails, hair and teeth strong.

18. Baby: Eating amla suring pregnancy is good for the growth of the baby in the stomach.