Losing Weight: Gooseberry (Amla) Juice

An attempt to increase immunity led to some interesting results - one of which was unintentional weight loss. Sharing it here in case it is useful to someone. :) 

Fresh Amla Juice on Near-Empty Stomach

1. Take 1 fresh amla. One amla per person. I always buy them from the organic shop. 
2. Chop, remove seed, and grind in a mixie.
3. Add a glass of water, keeping the fibre. 
4. Drink on an empty stomach every morning. We used to have our tea at 6.30, then have this juice at 8.30, and breakfast at 9. So technically empty stomach before and after - that is key. 

Amla increases metabolism and fat breakdown apart from being super-high on Vit C. All 3 of us lost weight in a few months, which I didn't expect. BMI readings showed reduction in fat percentage also. Also, I didn't have a single episode of my allergic sneezing throughout this time. 

Warning

• Amla reduces blood sugar. So please check with your doctor if you are diabetic/have kidney or any other issue you are under treatment for. 
• Amla is "cold" as per Ayurveda. So in winter it may cause cold-like symptoms in some people. Please stop/check with a doctor if you experience any side effects. 
• If you are already slim/have low fat, may not be a good idea to have this regularly - you don't want to lose all healthy fat. We have stopped daily consumption, reduced to once a week, after breakfast. 
• Check with your doctor first if you are under any sort of medication.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is just something that happened as a side effect of taking amla for immunity, for 3 of us. May not work for everyone. If you indeed lose weight, do let me know. :) 

Reducing Gas/Bringing Back Appetite

Rasam/Buttermilk

Excellent recipe by Satya Sadasivan! 😀 I have used it for my husband who develops bloating/complete lack of appetite every time he takes antibiotics - this is the only thing that works. 

The Rasam Version

Ingredients

• Tamarind
• Whole pepper
• Jeera seeds
• Ghee
• Mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• Salt

Procedure

1. Make some tamarind water with a small lemon-sized ball of tamarind mixed in water. 
2. Lightly roast half a teaspoon of fresh pepper and half a teaspoon of jeera each, without oil. 
3. Grind and make into powder. (I usually make a few spoons of this and keep in a bottle to save time. Both equal quantities.)
4. Boil the tamarind water. Add half a teaspoon of pepper powder and half a teaspoon of jeera powder. Boil it well. Add salt as needed. 
5. Now add seasoning and switch off - some mustard seeds and curry leaves spluttered in some ghee. The ghee is important - it reduces vaatha (gas) in the body. 
6. Drink well before your mealtimes, so the gas goes out and you develop appetite before your meals. 

The Buttermilk Version

The faster one. :) 

Ingredients

• Buttermilk
• Whole pepper
• Jeera seeds
• Ghee
• Mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• Salt

Procedure

1. Mix half a teaspoon of pepper powder and half a teaspoon of jeera powder in some buttermilk. (see above - you can make and keep the powder ready in a bottle). Add salt as needed.
2. Now add seasoning - some mustard seeds and curry leaves spluttered in some ghee. The ghee is important - it reduces vaatha (gas) in the body. 
3. Drink well before mealtimes so the gas goes out and you develop appetite before your meals. 

Ginger/Salt/Lemon

A tip from an Ayurvedic counselor.

1. Chop 1/4 tsp fresh ginger with a pinch of rock salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime and consume 20 minutes before eating.
2. This makes you burp usually, and it is supposed to kick-start your digestion.

Do  you have any tips that worked for you?