Health Benefits of Tamarind

• Scientific name: Tamarindus indica
• Origin: Tropical Africa
• Varieties: Sweet and sour, but mostly sour
• Tree: height 20-30 m
• Fruit: diameter: 2-3 cm; length: 5-10
• Season: in the dry season
• Culinary uses: jam; syrup, chutney; pickle; for use in confectionary; flour (from seeds)
• Other uses: medicinal; metal cleaner

Tamarind is a long bean-like pods that belongs to the vegetable order, but is treated like a fruit. Its name is derived from the Arabic "tamar", meaning a "dry date fruit". It was the Arabs in India who gave the name of "tamar-hindi" to this tree.

Tamarind is green when immature and when it matures, it becomes fatter and changes color to a sandy brown. The flesh of the fruit consists of dry, sticky, dark brown pulp and inside the pulp are shiny black seeds. It is this pulp that people eat to get all the nutritional and health benefits of the tamarind. The pulp of the tamarind has a very sour taste while it is young, but as it ripens the pulp gets sweeter. Though the pulp will sweeten with age, the tamarind generally has a sour, acidic taste. The sour taste of tamarind is the favorite flavoring for a host of fish and curry dishes.

Other culinary uses: The pulp is used for jams, syrups and sweets. In the West, tamarind contributes to the preparation of Worcestershire and barbecue sauces and other meat condiments.

Nutritive Values: Per 100 gm.

• Vitamin A: 30 I.U.
• Vitamin B: Thiamine .34 mg.;
• Riboflavin: .14 mg.;
• Niacin: 1.2 mg.;
• Vitamin C: 2 mg.
• Calcium: 74 mg.
• Iron: 2.8 mg.
• Phosphorus: 113 mg.
• Fat: .6 gm.
• Carbohydrates: 62.5 gm.
• Protein: 2.8 gm.
• Calories: 239

Health Benefits:

• Tamarind juice is a mild laxative.
• Tamarind is used to treat bile disorders
• Tamarind lowers cholesterol
• Tamarind promotes a healthy heart
• The pulp, leaves and flowers, in various combinations, are applied on painful and swollen joints.
• Tamarind is use as a gargle for sore throats, and as a drink to bring relief from sunstroke.
• The heated juice is used to cure conjunctivitis. Eye drops made from tamarind seeds may be a treatment for dry eye syndrome. Tamarind seed polysaccharide is adhesive, enabling it to stick to the surface of the eye longer than other eye preparations.

• Tamarind is used as a diuretic remedy for bilious disorders, jaundice and catarrh.
• Tamarind is a good source of antioxidants that fight against cancer.
• Tamarind reduces fevers and provides protection against colds. Make an infusion by taking one ounce of pulp, pour one quart of boiling water over this and allow to steep for one hour. Strain and drink tepid with little honey to sweeten. This will bring down temperature by several degrees.
• Tamarind helps the body digest food
• Tamarind applied to the skin to heal inflammation
• The red outer covering of the seed is an effective remedy against diarrhea and dysentery.
• Juice extracted from the flowers is given internally for bleeding piles.

Other uses: Tamarind juice is a great cleanser of brass, copper and other metals.