Tamarind Benefits

 

Tamarind trees have several uses for its leaves, beans, bark, and wood. Tamarind is a common component in many dishes throughout Asia, South and Central America, Africa,Pakistan and the Caribbean, as well as in Worcestershire sauce. Many chutneys, sauces, sweets, and beverages contain it. 

The tamarind tree is highly regarded for its beauty and fruit in many cultures throughout the world. Tamarind trees are classified as leguminous since their fruit is a bean-like pod. The pulp of this bean begins as sour and ripens into a very sweet pulp. The pulp of the fruit is used in both cooking and raw consumption.

Health Advantages:

Tamarind is used in traditional medicine, but further research is needed to determine its therapeutic benefits. Numerous nutrients included in tamarind pulp can improve your health.

1-Reduced Risk of Cancer:

Antioxidant-rich diets are advised by scientists for a variety of benefits, including a lower risk of cancer. The DNA of cells can be shielded from damage by antioxidants. According to scientists, damage to DNA is the root cause of many malignancies. Plant phytochemicals have antioxidant properties. Beta-carotene is one of many phytochemicals found in abundance in tamarind.  

2-Bone Wellness:

More magnesium-sufficient individuals have greater bone density than magnesium-deficient individuals. Many people don't get enough magnesium, particularly teenagers and people over 70. Magnesium is abundant in tamarind. It has more calcium than many plant diets.

 These two minerals combined with weight-bearing exercise may help ward off osteoporosis and bone fractures. Calcium utilization in the body requires vitamin D. You will need to obtain vitamin D from other sources since tamarind is not a substantial source.  

3-Tissue Wellness:

The body needs amino acids, which are the protein's building blocks, to develop and repair tissues. Some amino acids must be obtained from food because they are essential, which means that the body cannot produce them on its own. Except for tryptophan, tamarind has sizable levels of each necessary amino acid. It satisfies WHO requirements for an ideal protein in terms of the other amino acids. However, how well the body can absorb all the nutrients included in tamarind is a matter of debate among researchers. 

4-Promotes Digestion:

Tamarind's tartaric acid, malic acid, and potassium levels have made it a popular laxative from the dawn of time. It is also used to treat diarrhea because of its capacity to relax the abdominal muscles. As a result, the fruit can help with constipation, the leaves can treat diarrhea, and the root and bark can be eaten to help with stomach pain.

5-Avoids Stomach Ulcers:

Peptic ulcers can cause excruciating discomfort. These are essentially lesions that develop in the small intestine and stomach's inner lining. The tamarind fruit, which contains polyphenolic chemicals, can stop these ulcers from occurring.

6-Helps in Weight Loss:

Tamarinds have a lot of fiber and no fat. Tamarind contains flavonoids and polyphenols, thus studies suggest that consistently taking it may help with weight loss.

In addition, tamarind contains a significant amount of hydroxy citric acid, which reduces appetite by blocking the conversion of carbs into fat by amylase.

7-Mental Health

Eight distinct vitamins that all perform similarly make up the group of B vitamins. Since they are all water-soluble, the body does not keep any of them. You shouldn't need to take supplements to receive adequate B vitamins in your diet. The entire B vitamin family is necessary for optimum health. They are very important for the brain and neurological system to function properly. B vitamins, particularly thiamine, and folate are abundant in tamarind.

8-Promotes Heart Health

This fruit has high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, that reduce levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and increase levels of "good" HDL cholesterol,  Its seed has also demonstrated a significant immune system modulatory function, which not only aids in regulating cholesterol levels but also balances your defenses and has a positive influence on your cardiovascular system.

9-Looks after your Liver:

The liver is one of our body's organs that is most impacted by modern lifestyle. It is essential to assist him as much as possible because it plays a critical part in digestion and detoxification. Tamarinds are an excellent option for maintaining a healthy liver and should be consumed regularly if you have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or liver damage brought on by alcohol.

10-Can help Prevent Microbial Diseases:

Natural substances found in tamarind extract have antibacterial properties. Research suggests that this plant may have antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.

 Additionally, this fruit contains a wide range of antibacterial qualities. Salmonella typhi,  Burkholderia pseudomallei, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella paratyphi, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus have all been significantly inhibited by tamarind extracts.

This plant's many parts have been used to treat malaria. Tamarind extracts can be used to treat similar fevers brought on by bacterial illnesses. In such circumstances, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects can be extremely important.

11-Successful in Controlling Diabetes

Tamarind seed extracts have anti-inflammatory properties, that they can regulate blood sugar levels and repair pancreatic tissue damage in people with diabetes. Tamarind also contains the enzyme alpha-amylase, which has been shown to lower blood sugar levels.

Inflammation of pancreatic cells, especially those that make insulin, is one of the main causes of diabetes. (beta cells). Tamarind can shield the pancreas from harm brought on by inflammation since it can decrease the synthesis of pro-inflammatory molecules such as TNF alpha.

 Nutrients:

Several nutrients are abundant in tamarind. A cup (120 grams) of the pulp has the following ingredients:

• Magnesium  26% of the daily value  (DV)
• Potassium 16% of the DV 
• Iron 19% of the DV 
•  Calcium 7% of the DV 
• Phosphorus  11% of the DV 
• Copper  11% of the DV 
• Vitamin B1,   Thiamin  43% of the DV
• Vitamin B2,  Riboflavin 14% of the DV
• Vitamin B3,  Niacin  15% of the DV

It contains traces of:

• Vitamins C and K.
• Vitamin B6  (pyridoxine)
• Vitamin B5 folate (Pantothenic acid)
• Selenium

It has 3 grams of protein, less than 1 gram of fat, and 6 grams of fiber. There are 287 calories in all of this.

Although entire fruits often contain a lot of natural sugar, practically all of these calories originate from sugar. Despite having sugar, tamarind pulp is regarded as a fruit rather than an additional sugar.

 It has polyphenols, which are organic plant substances with positive health effects. The body uses several of them as antioxidants.