What is Tamarind? The Benefits and Potential Harms of Tamarind
Tamarind is one of the most famous fruits that are widely used, especially in the Arab countries, because of its special taste and unique taste, and it also has many health benefits that it offers you, so follow this article with us in which we will explain to you the most prominent benefits of tamarind with The most important uses and also the expected damages.
What is Tamarind?
Tamarind is considered one of the most important and prominent tropical fruits with multiple health and medical benefits. The tamarind tree is a solid tree with horns growing on it, which is very similar to beans. Inside these pods are many seeds surrounded by the pulp, which is characterized by its small size, green color, and sour taste, which later turns into a kind of dried fruit.
But when these seeds ripen and become paste-like, it becomes sweet in taste. The original home of this tree is Africa, but it grows abundantly in the tropics as well, in the continent of Asia, and the most famous areas in which Pakistan and India appear.
The Nutritional Value of Tamarind
It contains many important nutrients. One cup of tamarind seeds, about 120 grams, provides your body with a large portion of the nutrients required for your body during the day. This quantity contains:
- 26% of magnesium.
- 16% potassium.
- 7% of calcium.
- 19% iron.
- 11% phosphorous.
- 11% of copper.
- 43% of Vitamin B1.
- 14% of Vitamin B2.
- 15% of Vitamin B3.
In addition, this quantity contains simple percentages of:
- Vitamin K.
- Vitamin C.
- Vitamin B6.
- Vitamin B5.
- Selenium;
- Folic acid.
This quantity also contains:
- 6 grams of natural fiber.
- 3 grams of protein.
- Grams or less of fat.
How many calories are in tamarind?
One cup of its seeds contains about 287 calories because it contains a large proportion of natural sugar, but the sugar in the pulp is a natural sugar that results from being a fruit and not artificial or added sugar.
Tamarind Benefits
There are many health benefits that it offers to your health, and it is one of the most famous alternative medical treatments that have been used for a long time, and in the coming lines, we will show you its most important benefits.
1. Benefits of tamarind for the heart
Because it contains polyphenols and flavonoids in addition to antioxidants, it helps to improve heart health and regulate cholesterol levels in body, according to a 2013 study, the results of which showed that it may protect against atherosclerosis, vascular problems, and some heart diseases, but no tests were conducted. A clinical trial of this human heart in practice.
2. A powerful anti-inflammatory
This is due to the antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids as well. These elements help greatly in controlling and controlling the various infections that affect the body.
3. Antiviral and antibacterial
It is rich in natural compounds that have a strong anti-microbial effect, and studies have shown that it helps as an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and also anti-viral that attacks the body. It also works to strengthen the immune system.
4. Benefits of tamarind for the liver
It is one of the fruits that improve liver function and health, according to a 2011 review stating that its antioxidants may help protect the liver from disease.
5. Tamarind and constipation
One of its most well-known benefits is helping to treat and get rid of constipation because it contains natural fibers that help the digestive system work more efficiently, as these fibers collect inside the stool and make it move faster and easier through the intestines, so it is considered an effective natural laxative.
In addition, it can help stimulate bile and bile juice in the body, which has a major role in dissolving food quickly.
6. Benefits of tamarind for weight loss
As it contains unique compounds known as trypsin inhibitors, these compounds help reduce the feeling of hunger, and suppress appetite because they increase the secretion of one of the neurotransmitters, serotonin.
Research in this field is still ongoing, especially since the extracts of its horns had promising signs for preparing a nutritional supplement that helps to lose weight.
7. Tamarind and diabetes
It helps a lot in controlling diabetes, as it inhibits the alpha-amylase enzyme, which helps prevent the absorption of large proportions of carbohydrates in the body, and the high levels of magnesium-rich in it also help prevent diabetes and control the severity of symptoms, but with Eat it with a small amount of sugar.
8. Benefits for the kidneys
During one study, they found that it helps prevent the formation of kidney stones, and it also inhibits calcium oxalate stones in the urine and the ability to break them up. In addition to the fact that it contains a high percentage of potassium, it has the ability to purify the blood of toxins and deposits and maintain the health of the kidneys.
9. Benefits of tamarind for the uterus
There is no documented and explicit research indicating that there are benefits to the uterus when eating it, but there was a study conducted on a number of girls, about 30 girls who suffer from the problem of menopause, and they found that it helped improve menstrual flow and blood quantity and improve the duration of the menstrual cycle as well.
10. Benefits of tamarind for men
Its benefits for men do not exceed the benefits that we explained in the previous lines, as its benefits for men come from the beneficial nutrients rich in it, which greatly support men’s health. There is also a widespread belief that it increases sperm and fertility in men, but this theory has not been proven by confirmed studies so far.
Other Benefits
It has some other benefits for treating some disease conditions, such as
- Cases of dry eyes when using eye drops extracted from its seeds.
- Colds.
- Stomach disorders;
- Fever.
- Nausea attacks during pregnancy.
- Intestinal worms,
However, studies that prove its effectiveness in treating these conditions are not 100% confirmed so far.
Types of Tamarind
It can be obtained prepared in more than one form and type, such as made candy or sweetened drinks made from it. In addition, you can get the original, unprocessed fruit in three different forms, namely:
- The pods, in their raw form, are easily opened and the pulp inside is taken out and used.
- Pressed blocks, where the pulp is pressed into a firm mass after being removed from the pods and is the closest form to raw tamarind.
- Concentrated liquid, made by boiling tamarind pulp to form a liquid with a high concentration (tamarind paste), and some preservatives can be added to it.
The Uses of Tamarind and How to Eat?
Tamarind can be used and eaten in more than one way, as it can be added to different sauces and pickles as well, and it is popular in Asian cuisine in particular in many recipes,
The most famous of which are mixtures for softening meat before cooking it. It can also be taken in more than one form, such as
- The raw image is that it is eaten as a fruit, but its flavor is very strong in this case.
- It is possible to enter it in the work of sweets and some types of candy.
- Add its paste to some recipes and use it in cooking.
- Add it to the soup.
- It can also be used to make a spice like a chutney.
- Wonderful and delicious tamarind drinks can be made.
- Additionally, you can use unsweetened frozen pulp or sweetened syrup for cooking.
- You can also use this fruit to add a sour flavor to savory dishes, in place of lemon.
- It can be used in many types of Indian pickles with lots of spices which is called “Achar”
Storage Methods of Tamarind
It is preferable to keep its fruits away from the sun and its direct rays and to keep them at normal room temperature, in order to preserve the freshness of the fruits. It can also be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container to keep the fruits soft and fresh.
Where can I buy pure tamarind?
It can be purchased in various forms either in its original form as pods or after it has been prepared for use, from supermarkets, or from online.
The Best Tamarind Pastes
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The Best Tamarind Candy
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The Best Tamarind Concentrate
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Note: Beware of the instant powder that is sold as instant tamarind, because this product may not contain natural tamarind, and it may also be harmful to your health.
It is best to use the original and natural type.
Side Effects of Tamarind
When you are taking it by mouth: Tamarind is safe when used in food amounts. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if it is safe when used in large amounts as medicine.
When applied to the eyes: It is safe to use its seed extract as eye drops.
It may cause some damage and side effects as a result of its use in some cases, such as
Pressure:
as it may help lower blood pressure, so it is best if you are taking any pressure medication to consult a specialist about the possibility of taking it.
Drug interactions:
It has some properties that make it blood-thinning, so it may interact with some medications such as aspirin, so it is best not to take it if you are using this type of medication.
Diabetes:
If you have diabetes, be aware that it can lower the level of blood sugar, so it may make you unable to control the high and low levels of sugar levels in your body, try to monitor your sugar well in this case, especially with taking your medications.
Lead poisoning:
There are many types of tamarind candy that contain significant levels of lead, much more than the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined, so be careful when buying this candy, whether for you or your children.
Special Precautions and Warnings
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
There isn’t enough reliable information to know if tamarind is safe to use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. You should stay on the safe side and hold to food portions.
Diabetes:
Tamarind seeds might lower blood sugar levels. (1) There is a worry that tamarind might interfere with blood sugar control. If you are a diabetes patient and intaking tamarind, regularly monitor your blood sugar levels. Diabetes medication dose adjustments may be needed.
Surgery:
Tamarind seeds might lower blood sugar levels. There is a study that tamarind might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. (2) You have to stop eating or using tamarind for at least 2 weeks before going under a scheduled surgery.
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