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Amla Versus Diabetes

For a dollar a month, Indian gooseberry (amla) powder may work as well as a leading diabetes drug without the side effects.

January 17, 2012 |
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Amla Versus Diabetes, 4.8 out of 5 based on 6 ratings

Sources Cited

Ngamkitidechakul C, Jaijoy K, Hansakul P, Soonthornchareonnon N, Sireeratawong S. Antitumour effects of Phyllanthus emblica L.: induction of cancer cell apoptosis and inhibition of in vivo tumour promotion and in vitro invasion of human cancer cells. Phytother Res. 2010 Sep;24(9):1405-13.

Akhtar MS, Ramzan A, Ali A, Ahmad M. Effect of Amla fruit (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) on blood glucose and lipid profile of normal subjects and type 2 diabetic patients. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2011 Sep;62(6):609-16. Epub 2011 Apr 18.

Acknowledgements

Transcript

Dripping plant extracts on cancer cells in a test tube is a far cry from testing whole foods in whole people. Another amla study published recently, though, tried Indian gooseberries on patients with diabetes.

A normal fasting blood sugar is considered under a hundred. Between 100 and 125 is called pre-diabetes, and over 125 you are by definition, diabetic. So they took people with diabetes and put them on a diabetes medication like glyburide, sold as Diabeta or Micronase, it brings down their blood sugars. Then researchers then compared that leading diabetes drug to a just 3/4s of teaspoon a day of dried powdered amla—that's less than 2 berries a day worth. They just gave them a tiny bit of this fruit, and worked even better than the leading drug. So they tried half teaspoon a day of gooseberry powder, a quarter teaspoon a day. That’s not even one berry and it still brought their sugars down into the normal range.

Here are the potential side-effects of the drug, Glyburide: most commonly weight gain, feeling like you’re going to throw up, or rarely - your skin starts to fall off, or your liver fails or it poisons your bone marrow. The side effects of gooseberries, well I don’t know, they taste kinda sour.

Amla has been used safely apparently for centuries, but these researchers did actually find three dramatic side-effects. In addition to bringing their blood sugars down, Amla lowered their bad cholesterol straight from the danger zone, into the happy zone. One gooseberry a day cut their bad cholesterol in half in three weeks. Boosted their good cholesterol, and cut their triglycerides in half!

Yeah, but how expensive are Indian gooseberries? Most of the diabetes drugs are generic now. You can get a 3 months’ supply for only like $50. So I biked over to an Indian spice store I actually have in my neighborhood to see if they had amla, Indian gooseberries. I was afraid they’d be like, uh, what? Instead, they were like do you want frozen, dried, sweetened, salted, pickled, packed in syrup, packed in nitrogen! I bought these entire selection in a tiny little store in a strip mall a couple blocks away from where I live. (You can tell I liked the sweet the best).

And yes, they had powdered too. A three months’ supply was only three dollars!

Am I recommending people treat their diabetes with gooseberry powder? No, I recommend curing your diabetes with a plant-based diet. Why treat anything when you get at the root cause and reverse it in the first place.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by MaryAnn Allison.

To help out on the site please email <a
href= “mailto:volunteer@nutritionfacts.org” >volunteer@nutritionfacts.org

Dr. Michael Greger

Doctor's Note

Please feel free to post any ask-the-doctor type questions here in the comments section and I’d be happy to try to answer them. Be sure to check back for the other videos on amla and don't miss all the videos on diabetes. And there are 1,449 subjects covered in the rest of my videos–please feel free to explore them!

For some context, please also check out my associated blog posts: Watermelon for Erectile Dysfunction, Amla: Indian gooseberries vs. cancer, diabetes, and cholesterol, Is Caffeinated Tea Really Dehydrating?, Stool Size and Breast Cancer Risk, Breast Cancer Stem Cells vs. Broccoli, and Increasing Muscle Strength with Fenugreek

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mgreger/ Michael Greger M.D.

    Please feel free to post any ask-the-doctor type questions here in the comments section and I’d be happy to try to answer them. Be sure to check back for the other videos on amla and don’t miss all the videos on diabetes. And there are 1,449 subjects covered in the rest of my videos–please feel free to explore them!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/thea/ Thea

    Wow! This information is truly amazing.

    I really appreciate how you ended the video too. Just because amla could be used to treat diabetes does not mean that that is the best thing to do.

    I don’t have an Indian store in my city. But I would think that if I want to sprinkle some amla powder on my morning oatmeal, I could find the powder on line. It’s good to know that the powder is effective too.

    Thanks!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/bsmithson/ bsmithson

    Is liquid smoke harmful? It is called for in many vegan seitan recipes. I thought I had read that it was mutagenic.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/rmsboston/ rmsboston

    Hi Dr. Greger,

    Does the report that you cite on Indian gooseberries provide any data on A1C numbers for the research subjects?

    As an aside, a type 2 diabetic doesn’t need to be a research scientist to confirm these findings. A diabetic can simply eat gooseberries for a week and check with their meter to see what is happening with their blood glucose levels. I recommend testing one hour after a meal which is near the peak for blood glucose for most foods for most people. Perhaps a good test would be to have oatmeal at breakfast for one week without gooseberries and a second week with gooseberries.

    One quibble with the video. I don’t think that diabetes can be “reversed”. Once someone has type 2 diabetes, regardless of how good their diet is, they will still fail a glucose tolerance test. On the other hand, a proper diet will lower blood glucose levels for many people to near normal ranges.

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/thea/ Thea

      rmsboston, you wrote, “I don’t think that diabetes can be “reversed”.”

      You might be interested in Dr. Bernard’s book on reversing diabetes:

      http://www.amazon.com/Neal-Barnards-Program-Reversing-Diabetes/dp/1594868107/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326837278&sr=1-1

      I read this book and thought it was excellent. He makes a very good case, and I believe he has scientific studies to back up his claims.

      Just thought you might be interested.

      • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/rmsboston/ rmsboston

        Hi Thea,

        Yes, I have a copy of Dr. Bernard’s book.

        I actually manage my T2 diabetes for the past 2 years with diet and exercise and no pills. My fasting and A1C numbers are now in the normal range. However, these good numbers don’t mean that I can now have 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with jam, a large glass of OJ, and a coffee with sugar for breakfast without seeing a substantial blood sugar spike one hour later.

        • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/thea/ Thea

          That’s great that you are able to manage without pills. Good for you. I think it’s great when people take responsibility for their health.

          Question if you have time: You wrote: “However, these good numbers don’t mean that I can now have 2 pieces of whole wheat toast … without seeing a substantial blood sugar spike one hour later.”

          Wouldn’t everyone see a “substantial blood sugar spike one hour later”? Or are you thinking that your numbers would be abnormal compared to someone who has never had diabeties?

          I may not have understood, but it seems to me that Dr. Bernard is arguing that type 2 diabetes is the result of too much fat getting into the cells. Once you fix that, then your body can start processing insulin? correctly again. I was thinking that once you really clean out your cells and get your body working correctly for a good while, that your body would essentially be no different than any other body in terms of how it reacts to what you eat. Maybe that is not a reflection of reality. I don’t know.

          FYI: I don’t have diabetes, but my biological father died of diabetes complications. I’m very interested in the subject.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/rmsboston/ rmsboston

    Hi Thea,

    For someone without diabetes, a post-meal blood sugar reading typically doesn’t go above about 120 because insulin is doing its job. However, for a diabetic, a post-meal blood sugar spike will be much higher when they consume carbs in the form of sugar or starches. A one-hour post-meal reading of about 150 can be an indication of prediabetes, while readings over 200 probably means diabetes. Anyone with a glucose meter can do this kind of post-meal testing.

    Over the past few years, I have done post-meal testing for friends and relatives. I have found 3 people with prediabetes that was later confirmed by their doctors using an A1C test. An A1C test measures average blood sugar levels over a 2 and 3 month period. The test gives a better idea of overall control of blood sugar. An A1C number wants to be below at least 5.5%. Diabetes kicks in at 6.5%.

    Here is a bit more about this post-meal testing method:

    http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046889.php

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/thea/ Thea

      rmsboston: Thanks for the reply.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/rick1/ Rick1

    Great news. I hope the price on these berries doesn’t shoot up now. lol

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/lxb/ LXB

    Does anyone know something about the effects of eating Amla raw?

    Yesterday I stumbled over them in an Indian shop and they only had them raw. They are quite sour and bitter and you seem to have get used to it. One amazing effect after having eaten one whole raw amlaberry is that it turns the taste in your mouth into something sweet and you really wonder where it is coming from. a kilo costs 3,80 Euros by the way, that is about 44 berries. we can just hope that they are not spraying them so much with pesticides and insecticides.

    The people in the shop told me they would traditionally eat the raw berries with some salt and chili.

    • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/thea/ Thea

      LXB: I don’t have the answer to your question. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I found it so interesting. I’m very curious to try try these berries!

      Also, your post helped me get the right frame of mind. It seems like it will help if I have the frame of mind of eating something with salt and chili than thinking of sweet berries. Sometimes whether one likes a food or not is all about expectations. YOu helped to frame my expectations. Thanks!

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/jessica/ Jessica

    I just discovered that a tea I enjoy drinking has amla in it: Yogi Green Tea Super Antioxidant. Perhaps other blended teas do too?

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/yummy/ yummy

    Dr. G…what is your opinion of the amla capsules available on health-food sites…and what would be a good mg capsule to take on a daily or twice daily basis….most of the capsules I’ve researched are 500 mg. Since the taste of the powder is not yummy, the capsules may be a better option for some people.

    • “Radical” Rod

      The powder product tastes like,…dirt!
      Or possibly… dried dog dirt!
      To get around the taste, try putting the…err(?) …powder into,00 or 000 size capsules, and then  buy a Cap-M-Quick (50 pills at a time) or The Capsule Machine (24 at a time) to put the ..”matter” in capsules to “get um down” without gagging. To quote my 91 year old da,d, “Wow! that stuff would gag a Maggot!” I can get it down with just water but I sure don’t like the taste!
      Both “machines”can be found on the net & or @whole food store if your lucky.
      Both machines are very slow ,and the smaller one especially so which all the more reason to go with the larger 000 size also which will hold a 30% larger dose for “more bang for your buck”and time.
      If I had it to do over again I’d spend a few more bucks to get a machine made in China that makes 100 capsules @ a time to make a better accounting of my time and efforts. If you get a chance borrow one and try it out before you  buy one.

    • Melanie

      Personally, I wouldn’t trust any medical or health product sold over the internet.

  • http://nutritionfacts.org/members/mercman40/ mercman40

    I found AMLA frozen, powder, and in many other forms, bought powder, frozen, and dried. Had hoped this would work for my mother who has T2 Diabetes, had her take the powder and eat two berries every night, and had her stop taking her pills, unfortunately, her blood sugar went sky high, without the pills after 4 days, and she had to go back to the pills.
    I am still eating the dried pieces, and will start taking the powder soon…someone has to use it!

    Thanks for all the info!!!

  • Jovan Jovanovic

    Dear Dr. Michael Greger,

    Thank you so much for this precious information.  I was trying to find the full article, yet every source seems to rquire subscription.  My question is,  how were the patients in this study taking Amla powder?   Was it after meals, or was it in the morning on an empty stomach? Was it spread through the day, or all at once?  

    THANK YOU

    Jovan

  • Michael Greger M.D.

    For some context, please also check out my associated blog post Watermelon for Erectile Dysfunction!

  • Rod Lewis

    Dr.
    Here you are touting the positive effects of amla and IT SOUNDS EXCITING, BUT yet in still another location on your sight. your warning us that 20% of these…”foods” out of India are INDEED contaminated with heavy metals, like lead, and arsenic, which are poisons.

    Dr. I appreciate what your trying to do, but you can’t have it both ways and remain “creditable.”

    Isn’t this like playing Russian Roulette  where the gun ONLY goes off “just 20% of the time?

    Please address this very real issue about “amla.”

    Thanks for your enthusiasm and what you are trying to do.

    • thatdude

      What’s with all the “quotes?”

  • Gyoakums5

    Are you supposed to take this Indian gooseberry plus your medication?

  • http://GreenMommyBlog.com/ Kristen Suzanne

    Wow that’s interesting :)

  • Valnaples

    Be careful if you find gooseberry candies…the gooseberry has a STONE in it…someone might break a tooth, just saying!!! All I could find at our local Asian Market (they do stock Indian foods) was “Dried Hot Goosberry” which are actually from Vietnam but ingredients are: gooseberry, sugar, chilli, water, salt. I’ve just been rubbing the sugar off. Hope to find powder sometime soon, though. The brand I have is Willis Eagle.

  • Ismertc

    God Bless You for this site!

  • Indian Girl

    This is a fantastic explanation :-)  You are doing a great job informing people about the benefits of Amla

  • sally

    Morning Dr Greger, I live in AUS , and I am 50years young, and for most of my life I have been an active Equestrian Dressage rider on State and National Squads, I am very fit, riding 3 or 5 horses per day, and feel great. then I had a blood test and my blood sugar was 16 and my Dr put me on metformin, but I had a skin itchy reaction , so she changed my too gliclazide, I have only had for one week. I watch your videos almost every day, I have not seen all 1,449, but a fair few I have seen now. I have been having my Amla powder in my black and blue berry smoothie every day now for about 3 weeks. my sugar has not dropped much like only down only to 13 or 14. I eat cinnamon, oatmeal, am really trying very hard to eat only vegies all day and am progressing to only soy milk. I have cut my meat down like about 70%. I am going to buy some of the soy food products this week. My Dr has said my diabeties is in my genes, that is how she believes I got it. I will keep going with the amla, should it just take longer to work for me?? I dont like taking drugs.. I have also put 2 of my friends onto amla, as they both have cancer and have sent them your link .
    in a dilema and confused

    regards
    sally

    • Jovan

      Please read “There is a Cure for Diabetes” by Dr. Gabriel Cousens. Diabetes is a metabolic disease (problem in processing some macro-nutrients), and amla is but one powerful actor that helps. But the solution lies in a holistic approach, and you seem to be leaning in that direction anyway, the book will only effectively refine your strategy.

      I said the same to one gentlemen above. But I have to repeat it, it’s important, as I will probably repeat it a few more times on this post so all people do see it.

      Dr. Cousens is 99% up the same street with Dr. Greger, I found the book extremely useful, please do give it a read and you will not regret it.

      God Bless! Get well soon!

  • gus

    I’ve began encouraging customers to look into this product and have requested the health food store I work at to order it in. Sounds very promising!

  • John at 65

    Hair – I bought a bottle of Solaray Amla 500mg and have been taking one
    pill each morning. I have a bald spot on the back of my head 3 inches in
    diameter and it was completely bald. This bald spot has been increasing
    in size over a period of 20 years. After 45 days of taking the Amla I
    notice that hair is growing back there. I was shocked to see the hair
    coming back. I also noticed that my beard is getting tougher. At first I thought it was a dull blade. But I don’t think so. I have also changed my diet to Vegan for the past 4 months.
    I
    originally bought the Amla for lowering my blood sugar. With the Vegan
    Diet, Amla, and exercising, I have been able to stop using Glipizide for
    my diabetes. A1C was 9.8 and is now 5.3 in just 3 months. My doctor was
    impressed. And
    that was without the Amla. I still take 1,000 mg of Metformin twice a
    day. I listen to my doctor and hope to reduce other medications for
    Cholesterol and high Blood Pressure.

  • http://www.facebook.com/devells Devin Ellsworth

    Hi Dr. Greger,

    This is a pretty amazing result in this study. Cutting bad cholesterol in half in just 3 weeks with only a teaspoon of anything and no other changes sounds too good to be true. I am wondering if you know or if anyone has explained the mechanism for how this happens? What about the amla helps the body clear out the LDL?

    Thanks!

    Devin

  • rekha aggarwal

    How can we compare the antioxidant property of amla against green tea.

  • LDGourmet

    Is this different from gooseberries we see at the farmer’s market here in New England? They’re also called ground cherries. Tart and wonderful with blackberries in pie (also loaded with pectin, so great for pies.)

  • P. Park

    Could this possibly help type 1 diabetes?

    • Jovan

      Dear P.Park,

      Please read “There is a Cure for Diabetes” by Dr. Gabriel Cousens

      Diabetes is a metabolic disease, and amla is but one powerful actor that helps. If you want to seriously improve the health you must approach it with an equally serious approach. I found this book so useful, although I am still trying to find the best way to lead my grandparents to follow the advice etc. All in all, reading this for me goes as a MUST for anyone serious about truly having an impact on their health and in this case diabetes. I could not emphasise this more strongly.

      God Bless :) and fruitful reading!

    • Stewart Edgington

      I’ve had type 1 for 42 years. (started having the symptoms about my
      21st birthday). Your question evokes several others. First the type 1
      diabetics have beta cells that are dead n gone. So we produce no
      insulin. The question about amla is, does it enhance insulin production
      or does it reduce insulin resistance? For all I know it might do both
      but in the type 1 there will be no boost in insulin production. Well a
      few days ago I did start taking Amla and my daily total intake of
      insulin has gone from about 36 to 31 units. And that is with good
      control. I use a pump and it will give me a daily count. So it seems
      to make the insulin work better or make me need it less.

      All in
      all I feel like yelling when I hear someone talking about “carb
      counting”. I have reduced my insulin needs from about 50+ units a day
      to about 40 per day just by reducing fat intake. When I eliminated
      animal products from my diet the requirement dropped to about 36 units
      per day and amla seems to help more. So yes I think this is good for
      type 1 diabetics. And no I do not count or limit my carbohydrates.
      Those who have seen no results should be patient and keep trying.

  • BCFotos

    Hi, Dr. Greger, it seemed that the Amla powder is the most convenient way to add to the preparation of food. Is it just as effective as other forms of Amla in order to control type 2 diabetes?

  • power

    Hello Dr. Greger, my age is 65 yrs.. i belong to India. i have read your article and i hope you ll give me some solution. my whole family background in non diabetics.. but from last 2 years i got this problem ( my routine is very busy in physical activities). i was told after random checking that my level of Blood sugar is 238. i was prescribed ZYDE MF tablet twice a day before meals.

    in your article you mention that AMLA powder is effective way to reduce LDL & BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS.. please update what should be intake directions for me to consume This magical powder.

    • Jovan

      You are the third person that I speak to with the same information on this post, but I will repeat myself because it is important. Please read “There is a Cure for Diabetes” by Dr. Gabriel Cousens. Diabetes is a metabolic disease and amla is but one powerful actor that helps but this needs to approached from all angles (diet as a whole, mindset, activity etc.)

      The book is amazing, I read it because I have grandparents that are 62 and 63 years of age, and they are starting to develop some sugar problems, so I want to help them, so I think it could do you good as well.

      Read it, apply it, and you will be amazed.

      God Bless! Be well! :)

  • Gaurang Pandya

    People won’t believe this. It is difficult to believe that disorders like diabetes and cholesterolemia can have such simple treatment. And the conclusion Dr, M Greger makes is more helping towards believing.

  • coacervate

    I know this post is a year old but i am hoping someone will have a suggestion…i have type 2, take metformin 2X daily 850 mg. My sugar tends to run high, 7 to 12 mMolar. I have learned that good judgement w/resp to GIndex, a midday coffee, and or certain other foods will drop my to a perfectly normal 5 to 6…PROBLEM? Yes, I get so shakey and bad feeling, the bottom drops out and I’m no good for anything the rest of the day. I recheck my blood and it is right in the zone! QUESTION, what can I do when a normal blood sugar makes me feel so bad?

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