One of the most important medicinal berries in the traditional system of Ayurvedic medicine is Amla – also known as Indian Gooseberry. For thousands of years, it’s been used to help with many health concerns.
The health properties of this unique berry have been harnessed by modern science thanks to the makers of Capros®, a patented Amla extract. In today’s article, we’re going to discuss what Amla Fruit Extract is, its benefits, how to safely take Amla, and where you can find this plant extract.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- What is Amla Fruit Extract?
- Why Capros® is the Superior Amla
- What Benefits Does Capros® Amla Fruit Extract Provide?
- Where Can I Find Capros® Amla?
What is Amla Fruit Extract?
The Indian gooseberry (also known as Amla) has two different scientific names: Phyllanthus emblica and Emblica officinalis.
This small tree features yellow-green flowers that develop into round, edible fruits of the same hue. The fruits have a pit and a thin peel and are roughly the size of a golf ball. Some have described their flavor as sour, bitter, and astringent.
In Ayurveda, it is considered to be a rasayana, which indicates that it possesses restorative properties that stimulate the mind, body, and spirit as a whole. Since ancient times, people have been using the fruit not only for culinary purposes but also in traditional medicine to address a wide variety of health concerns.
The majority of supplements on the market today with Amla are in the form of powder, dried fruit or fruit extracts.
Why Capros® is the Superior Amla
Polyphenols are nutrients with beneficial antioxidant properties that can be found in a wide variety of plants. It has been demonstrated that consuming polyphenols can contribute to healthy aging including the maintenance of a healthy brain, digestive system, heart, and immune system.
Tannins are a class of polyphenols, and those found in amla have unique beneficial properties. The most potent of these amla tannins are Emblicanin A, Emblicanin B, Punigluconin, and Pedunculagin. These particular polyphenols are different and believed to be superior to many other polyphenols and antioxidants because they 1) do not have any pro-oxidant properties and 2) have “cascading” antioxidant activity.
If a polyphenol has "pro-oxidant" properties, it means that even though it acts as an antioxidant, it can also do the opposite and act as a pro-oxidant and make more free radicals in certain situations. Some of the things that affect a polyphenol's pro-oxidant potential are how it reacts with minerals like iron and copper, how well it binds to chelates, its pH, and how well it dissolves. Since most of us want polyphenols to help fight free radicals instead of making more of them, it's best to take supplements that contain polyphenols with little or no pro-oxidant activity. And that's what the polyphenols in amla give you!
What’s more, the polyphenols in amla have something else that makes them special and helps them work so well. You see, many antioxidants run out of power after they neutralize a free radical, and their leftovers don't help your body fight free radicals very well.
On the other hand, the amla polyphenols in Capros® turn on a chain reaction of antioxidant compounds after they neutralize a free radical. These compounds help keep your body from being overwhelmed by free radicals. In other words, the polyphenols in Capros® that are left don't wear themselves out. Instead, the metabolites that are made have antioxidant properties that will help you fight free radicals even more.
Capros® is superior to other amla extracts because it contains a minimum of 60% of these powerful amla polyphenol tannins.
What benefits does Capros® Amla Fruit Extract provide?
Capros® Amla is standardized so the powder extract is made up of at least 60% of the strong amla polyphenol tannins named Emblicanin A, Emblicanin B, Punigluconin, and Pedunculagin. The nutrients in Capros® can help the body in many ways but are best known for supporting cardiovascular and heart health.1 2 3 4
The Capros® polyphenols also helps protect against oxidative stress by bolstering the body’s antioxidant response, which help neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduce lipid peroxidation.
Multiple published scientific studies indicate that the Capros® amla extract can support heart and cardiovascular health in numerous ways. These include helping to maintain already-healthy total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels.
In addition, Capros® may help you maintain healthy levels of C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a biomarker used to assess inflammation levels in the body. Increasingly, health professionals are using hsCRP to monitor cardiovascular and overall health as well as your body's ability to maintain a healthy inflammation response.
Another way Capros® can support cardiovascular health is by helping to promote healthy nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax, resulting in better blood flow. Capros® helps your body activate an enzyme called “eNOS”, which acts as a catalyst to convert the amino acid L-arginine to nitric oxide.
This research also provides support for the strong antioxidant properties of Capros®. Taking Capros® was associated with lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker for oxidative stress and increased levels of the key antioxidant, glutathione, in the blood.
Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant in the body and is essential to many aspects of healthy aging. However, when the body is experiencing increased levels of oxidative stress, glutathione stores in the body are depleted. The increase in glutathione experienced with taking Capros® suggests improved antioxidant status and less oxidative stress.
How should I take Capros® Amla?
In available research, adults typically have taken 500mg to 1,000mg of the Capros® amla extract daily. To determine to the optimal dosage for you and your particular goals, consulting with your healthcare provider is suggested.
Where can I find Capros® Amla?
Three of our NatureCity products contain the amla fruit extract, Capros®:
TrueCapros, each veggie capsule contains 500mg of Capros® to help you maintain already-healthy cholesterol levels, promote healthy blood flow and protect against damage from oxidative stress.
TrueBerry7, our sugar-free drink mix combines 7 best-in-class super fruits that support health in many ways, including cardiovascular health, cognitive function and brain health, immune system function and joint function.
TrueNOx, our 5-in-1 pre-workout drink mix that can help energize your body without caffeine, sugar or other stimulants. It helps to promote nitric oxide and ATP so you can get the most from physical activity and exercise, and also supports muscle recovery.
The quality of amla extracts can vary widely. The premier amla extract for use in supplements is branded as Capros®. Here are some of the features of Capros® that make it different…
- Only FRESH amla fruit is used, to help ensure stable polyphenols
- No pesticides are used
- No harsh solvents are used in the extraction process
- Each batch is tested for microbials and heavy metals, and perhaps most important…
- Capros® contains a minimum of 60% polyphenol tannins, much more than ordinary amla extracts.
As important, Capros® has been the subject of numerous published research studies demonstrating many potential cardiovascular health benefits. No other amla extract we’re aware of has the depth of scientific support as does Capros®.
Bottom line: The health properties of amla have been validated by modern science thanks to the makers of Capros®, a patented Amla extract. This research suggests that Capros® can offer numerous benefits valuable to maintaining good cardiovascular and heart health.
References:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31060549/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25756303/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23935377/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24497739/
| - Maryann Walsh, MFN, RD, LDN |
| Maryann is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer. Maryann pursued the study of dietetics and nutrition because from a young age she became conscious about making healthy decisions and how they can affect our overall health and happiness. Maryann wanted to become a dietitian in order to share her passion and enthusiasm for all things health and wellness with others and to help guide individuals on a path to a healthier lifestyle. Maryann possesses bachelors degrees in Biological Sciences and Dietetics as well as a masters degree in Food and Nutrition. Read more from Maryann! |
