No doubt that tamarind has lots of benefits for our taste buds, but also for our bodies:
- Heart health: Studies show that tamarind might help fight cholesterol; a study showed that daily consumption of tamarind fruit (pod) decreased cholesterol by 50%.
- Diabetes management: intake of tamarind increased the amount of insulin-producing cells and lowered blood sugar levels because of the high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids.
- Tamarind pulp is also linked with healthy weight management: SF Gate notes that, “Tamarind… decreased levels of fat in the liver and reduced levels of liver enzymes, which, when elevated, indicate stress on the liver. Tamarind-supplemented animals showed significant weight loss after 28 days in a study.”
- Mercola says that tamarind contains high amounts of thiamin, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and fiber. When used in recipes– which usually call for a small amount– the fiber amount is small, but if you eat the fruit itself, it has over 20% of your daily recommended fiber intake per cup.
- The tangy flavor of tamarind comes from tartaric acid, which gives flavor but also offers great antioxidants to fight those nasty free radicals in our body.
Tamarind is good for the health if it is used in moderation.
