Nutrition has become increasingly important in our daily lives. It’s no longer about eating just to quell the hunger, it’s about eating to live and live long.
As a result, many health conscious individuals are adopting healthier meal choices and snacking options that not only deliver the required nutrient that the body needs, but also help them maintain their weight and become more productive.
What is Tamarind Fruit?
These foods are often referred to as “super-foods”, no doubt owing to their many health benefits. One of these foods is the Tamarind Fruit. Sometimes referred to as the “date fruit of India”, this leguminous fruit is indigenous to Africa, India, Pakistan, other parts of South Asia and is largely found in tropical regions across the globe.
Highly coveted by world renowned chefs like Chef Yottam Ottolenghi, the tamarind fruit has become increasingly popular and is in high demand by people with all sorts of food preferences –including vegetarians who love it.
Whether it’s used as a spice or eaten as a fruit, this delicious, sweet and sour fruit can be added to sauces, different dishes –it is commonly used as spice in the Middle East- soups and stews.
Tamarind Fruit Benefits
Because it is versatile in its uses and functions, it also has a wide range of benefits. The following are some of the benefits of tamarind fruits
Helps Protect and Keep the Liver Healthy
Every year, 33,000 people die from liver cirrhosis in the US. While there are many causes of liver cirrhosis, some of them can be prevented by simply keeping your liver healthy. Your liver is an incredibly important organ.
It plays a huge role in the breakdown and elimination of toxins from your body. This is why anyone diagnosed with liver failure is most likely going to die. Tamarind fruit helps with this by stimulating the production of your liver’s own antioxidants resulting in less damage to your liver.
Aids Relief to Joint Inflammation
Between the years 2010 and 2012, the CDC estimates that almost 53 million American adults were diagnosed with some form of arthritis, with the most prevalent being osteoarthritis.
This means, roughly 1 in 3 American adults suffers from some form of arthritis. You need to do everything you can to prevent it or get some relief at the very least.
Taking tamarind frequently helps protect your joints, bones and cartilages from inflammation by actively counteracting the actions of enzymes that trigger the inflammation of those parts of your body and by breaking down compounds like interleukin which is an inflammatory chemical.
Possibly Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
In 2012, almost 30 million Americans were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. That’s almost 10 percent of the entire American population. It is also estimated that there are almost 9 million undiagnosed diabetics.
In fact, 1 in 4 senior citizens older than 60 years is living with diabetes as we speak. Then, there’s the population of pre-diabetics –people whose blood sugars are high and their pancreas is unable to produce the requisite amount of insulin necessary to breakdown the sugar.
Unfortunately, diabetes is largely preventable. By simply adopting a healthier, more active lifestyle devoid of excess sugar consumption, one can beat and even avoid diabetes. Eating healthier should include the consumption of tamarind fruit.
Tamarind is effective at controlling blood sugar levels. Research has shown that taking tamarind fruit every day results in the lowering of blood sugar levels within a week, whilst bringing your triglyceride down to healthy levels.
Helps With Fluoride Toxin Removal
While fluoride is good for your oral health when taken in small quantities, it can become toxic if excessively consumed. Unfortunately, we’re completely inundated by fluoride these days.
Some of the major sources of fluoride include dental products, processed foods and beverages, old tea leaves, pesticides and insecticides, contaminated air and Teflon pans. As you can see, it’s almost as if we can’t really escape fluoride as they are in our soils, the air, and even the water we drink.
We need to find ways to lower the amounts of fluoride in our bodies. Tamarind fruit can help with that. A study involving about 18 boys showed that taking one-third of an ounce of tamarind resulted in significantly lower fluoride levels in the body.
Improves GIT Health and Functions
Your gastrointestinal tract plays a key role in your survival and health. This is why you need to keep it clean by frequently detoxing or going on a cleanse. But, if that doesn’t interest you, you can add tamarind to your daily meals. Research has shown that when taken frequently, it will work with your bile to get rid of waste from your colon.
Functions as a Powerhouse Antioxidant
Antioxidation is the key to living longer, healthier and looking younger than your age. If these are your goals, you should take loads of tamarind fruits as they are a rich source of tartaric acid, geraniol, saffrol, and methyl salicylate; all effective antioxidation agents capable of eliminating free radicals from your system.
Other extra benefits include its use as meat tenderizer, and meal flavorings.
Can Tamarind Help Weight Loss?
Lately, tamarind has been touted as another real weight loss option for those looking to lose weight naturally. Well, while it doesn’t directly help you lose weight, it does play some critical roles in accelerating the process.
For instance, it is an effective appetite suppressant. Which means you’ll eat less. Combine that with an active lifestyle, as well as eliminating junk food and you will most definitely lose weight. People who tend to overeat too will find its appetite controlling properties welcome.
Also because it is rich in hydroxyl citric acid (HCA) which helps in the reduction of fatty deposits as well as slows down the carb-to-fat conversion process, it means that your body will store less fat.
Combine these effects with a more active lifestyle, workouts and exercise, and you’ll experience considerable weight loss, increased energy levels and better health.
Apart from the fact that it leaches small amounts of zinc, tamarind fruit has little or no side effects. However, if you’ll be taking it in large quantities, you might want to take some zinc supplements.
