The liver is a vital organ of detoxification which requires proper care to maintain its health-enhancing functions. Liver damage and disorder is in epidemic proportions mostly because of an unhealthy diet, being overweight, excessive alcohol consummation and most medications.
The tamarind fruit is very effective in preventing and treating liver disorders. Consumed at least five out of seven days it will improve your liver health and protect it from damages.
This fruit detoxifies our body, eliminates toxins from our organism, boosts metabolism and digestion, and improves cardiovascular and digestive functions…
What is Tamarind?
Tamarind is a delicious, sweet, and sour fruit that has a wide variety of uses, both for medicinal and culinary purposes. It’s a medium-sized bushy tree with evergreen leaves with a fruit that develops in pods characterized by long, brown shells. Inside is a sticky, fleshy, juicy pulp, which is the tamarind fruit – where the nutrition and taste reside! As it is both sweet and sour in taste, people either tend to immediately like it or have a natural disposition against it!
It is a member of the Fabaceae family and its scientific name is Tamarindus indica. The tamarind tree is indigenous to tropical regions of Africa, particularly the Sudan, but its cultivation has spread to almost all tropical areas of the world since it’s such a useful and desirable source of nutrition and unique flavors. It’s been cultivated for thousands of years and likely made its way to Asia about 5,000 years ago. It wasn’t until 500 years ago that it made its way to the Americas via Spanish explorers. South America and Mexico remain the largest consumers and producers of tamarind in the world.
It can be consumed as a raw fruit, added to desserts once it’s fully ripe or can be dried and ground into a spice. It is often used in jams and sauces and is even dried and processed into candies in some parts of the world. It is a normal ingredient in soups and dishes throughout Asia and South America, crediting its health benefits to this little seed pod. Let’s find out more about what components make tamarind such a powerful and essential part of your diet!
Tamarind Nutrition Facts
Tamarind is a very valuable commodity in the world because of its nutritional components. These include a significant level of vitamin C, E, and B, calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber. There are also a number of organic compounds that make tamarind a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
Health Benefits of Tamarind
Tamarind has long been considered a natural laxative and its dietary fiber content is a major reason for this property. Eating tamarind as a fruit or as a spice can increase the efficiency of your digestive system, while the fiber can bulk up your stool, making it move through the smooth muscles of the intestinal tract easily. Tamarind is also a bilious substance, meaning it stimulates bile activity, which can help dissolve food faster, and the fiber stimulates gastric juices to speed digestion. All of this together equates to a faster digestive transit time, making it a powerful laxative if you’re a victim of chronic constipation. Oddly enough, the fiber can also reduce loose stools, and studies have shown tamarind to be effective against chronic diarrhea as well!
Tamarind studies show it to be effective in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. The fiber 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 a reduction in blood pressure since it is known as a vasodilator – reducing stress on the cardiovascular system. The impressive level of vitamin C in tamarind also have something to do with helping constipation as well. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can reduce the impact of free-radicals – those pesky by-products of cellular metabolism linked to heart diseases and a number of other health conditions.
Tamarind is a very good source of iron – a single serving can provide more than 10% of your daily requirement. A healthy supply of iron in the body guarantees proper red blood cell count in the body, which can ensure appropriate oxygenation of muscles and organs for proper function. Also, iron deficiency results in anemia, which is characterized by weakness, fatigue, headaches, cognitive disorders, and stomach issues. So, eat plenty of tamarinds to keep anemia at bay!
One of the most significant vitamins in tamarind is the B complex. Thiamine, an important part of the vitamin B 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 reflexes, and stay strong.
One of the unique compounds that can be extracted from tamarind,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 to 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!
Along with its ability to stop weight gain, inhibiting the enzyme alpha-amylase mainly stops carbohydrates from being absorbed. A carbohydrate-heavy diet can increase the chances of uncontrolled glucose and insulin levels, which is the biggest problem for people suffering from diabetes. Tamarind can help to monitor and control these fluctuations.
- Anti-inflammatory Capacity
The essential oil of tamarind has 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.
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.
Word 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 of a cut or trauma. If you are taking aspirin or other blood thinners, be careful while ingesting an excessive amount of tamarind.
Nutritional Value of Tamarind
Due to its nutritional values and health benefits, Tamarind is known as a very valuable commodity in the world. The most well-known nutrition contained within it are;
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B
- Calcium
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Manganese
- Dietary Fibers
In Southeast Asia, people have been using it as a poultice to reduce the effects of a fever. But that is not all of the remarkable benefits of Tamarind fruit. In the following list, my research team has compiled the very best known uses for Tamarind from all over the world. Thus, following are the health benefits of tamarind fruit:
Treats constipation
Reduces level of acidity in the body
Treats dysentery
Reduces malarial fever
Boosts immune system/Fights infection
Reduces bad cholesterol levels
Prevents/Fights cancer
Following are some ancient recipes for treating fatty liver disease and hepatitis:
- Place two handfuls of peeled tamarind in a blender and add one liter of water. Mix well and drink the remedy every day on an empty stomach.
- Place 25 tamarind leaves in a pot with one litter water. Boil the mixture for 20 minutes and you will get the healthiest tea in the world. Drink this tea before meals twice a day.
As most ancient foods do, tamarind has a long history of medicinal uses. Many involve easing stomach discomfort, aiding digestion, and use as a laxative. Tamarind preparations are used for fevers, sore throat, rheumatism, inflammation, and sunstroke.
Benefits of tamarind seeds
Mostly available during dry season, tamarind seeds contain phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin c, potassium, calcium and amino acids. Tamarind seeds are shiny black in color and have numerous nutritional and health benefits. The fruit appears in a pod and when opened, it contains a sticky pulp and seeds. It can be added to a smoothie or green drink.
Closing Thoughts…AND…OFFER for FREE 15-minute Telephone Consultation with Dr. Gilbere
The contents of this article is “Health thru Education”…do not attempt to “play doctor” if you’re having any of the issues mentioned. If you need professional guidance, as a subscriber, I’m offering you a FREE 15-minute telephone consultation in 19 countries, I place the call to you. This offer is good until August 31st. You MUST request an appointment for a consultation by emailing: drgloriagilbere@gmail.com. Additionally, click on the link provided to complete the short health questionnaire that MUST be attached to your email request. FREE 15-min Phone Consult with Dr. Gilbere for Health Questionnaire.
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