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Tamarind contains
many health benefiting essential volatile chemical compounds, minerals,
vitamins and dietary fibre.
Its sticky pulp
is rich source of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) or dietary fibre such as
gums, hemicelluloses, mucilage, pectin and tannins. 100 g of fruit pulp
provides 5.1 or over 13% of dietary fibre. NSP or dietary fibre in the food
increases its bulk and augments bowel movements thereby help prevent
constipation. The fibre also binds to toxins in the food thereby help protect
the colon mucus membrane from cancer causing chemicals.
In addition,
dietary fibres in the pulp bind to bile salts (produced from cholesterol) and
decrease their re-absorption in the colon; thereby help excretion of “bad” or
LDL cholesterol levels from the body.
While lemon
contains citric acid, tamarind is rich in tartaric acid. Tartaric acid gives a
sour taste to food but is also a very powerful antioxidant. (Anti-oxidant
E-number is E334). It helps body protect from harmful free radicals.
Tamarind fruit
contains many volatile phytochemicals such as limonene, geraniol, safrole,
cinnamic acid, methyl salicylate, pyrazine and alkylthiazoles. Together these
compounds account for the medicinal properties of tamarind.
This prized spice
is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, iron, selenium,
zinc and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids
that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is essential for red
blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.
It is also rich
in many vital vitamins including thiamin, vitamin A, folic acid, riboflavin,
niacin, vitamin-C that are essential for optimum health.
Digestive Health: Tamarind has long been considered a natural laxative, and its
dietary fibre content probably has something to do with it. Eating tamarind as
a fruit or as a spice can increase the efficiency of your digestive system,
while the fibre can bulk up your stool, making it move through the smooth
muscles of the intestinal tract easier. Tamarind is also a bilious substance,
meaning that stimulates the activity of bile, which can help dissolve food
faster, and the fibre also stimulates gastric juices to speed up digestion. All
of this together means that things run through your digestive tract faster,
making it a powerful laxative if you are suffering from chronic constipation.
Oddly enough, the fibre can also reduce loose stool, and studies have shown
tamarind to be effective against chronic diarrhoea as well!
Heart Health: Studies done on tamarind have shown it to be effective in
reducing blood pressure and blood cholesterol. The fibre content in tamarind
certainly has something to do with the reduction in cholesterol, since it is
known to scrap excess LDL cholesterol from the veins and arteries. The
potassium in tamarind may be responsible for the reduction in blood pressure,
since it is known as a vasodilator that reduces the stress on the
cardiovascular system. The impressive level of vitamin C in tamarind also may
have something to do with it as well, since vitamin C is an antioxidant
compound that can reduce the impact of free radicals, those pesky by-products
of cellular metabolism that have been linked to heart disease and a number of
other health conditions.
Circulation: Tamarind is a very good source of iron, and a single serving
can provide more than 10% of your daily requirement. A healthy supply of iron
in the body guarantees the proper red blood cell count in the body, which can
ensure appropriate oxygenation of different muscles and organs that need oxygen
to function properly. Also, iron deficiency results in anaemia, which is
characterized by weakness, fatigue, headaches, cognitive disorders, and stomach
issues. So, eat plenty of tamarind to keep anaemia at bay!
Nerve Function: One of the most significant
vitamin elements of tamarind is the B complex. Thiamine, one of the most
important parts of that vitamin family, is found in high quantities within
tamarind. Thiamine is responsible for improving nerve function, as well as
muscle development, which can help you remain active, maintain your reflexive,
and stay strong.
Weight Loss: One of the unique compounds that can be extracted from tamarinds
or gained as a benefit from it when used as a spice is called hydroxycitric
acid (HCA). HCA is connected to weight loss because it has been shown to
inhibit an enzyme in the body that specifically helps store fat. Furthermore,
tamarind has been known to suppress the appetite by increasing the serotonin
neurotransmitter. Research is still ongoing in these respective areas, but it
shows promising signs as a weight loss supplement!
Manage Diabetes: Along with its ability to stop weight gain, inhibiting that
enzyme, alpha-amylase mainly stops carbohydrates from being absorbed, which are
easily converted to simple sugars or fats. A carbohydrate-heavy diet can
increase the chances of uncontrolled glucose and insulin levels, which is the
biggest problems for people suffering from diabetes. Tamarind can help monitor
and control these fluctuations.
Anti-Inflammatory
Capacity: The essential oils of tamarind have been
connected to a number of anti-inflammatory abilities, including the reduction
of joint pain and inflammation, arthritis, rheumatic conditions, and gout. It
also reduces eye irritation. One of the most common forms of this is
conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Tamarind has shown a definite soothing
and anti-inflammatory ability, and is therefore used in many herbal remedies
for inflammation.
Immune System: High levels of vitamin C, as well as other antioxidant effects
in the essential oils make tamarind a wonderful way to boost your immune system
and ensure long-term health from microbial and fungal infections. It also
reduces the occurrence of parasites in the body due to its antiseptic and
antimicrobial effects. It has specifically been linked to eliminating stomach
worms in children in tropical areas where tamarind in cultivated.
A Few Words of Caution: The main concern is that tamarind lowers blood pressure and is a
blood thinner, so it can be difficult to reduce bleeding in case something
happens. If you are taking aspirin or other blood thinners, be careful if you
ingest an excessive amount of tamarind.
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