Tamarind is a delicious, sweet fruit that has a wide variety of uses and applications, both for medicinal and culinary purposes. It is a medium-sized bushy tree with evergreen leaves and fruit that develops in pods characterized by long, brown shells. Inside is a sticky, fleshy, juicy pulp, which is the tamarind fruit.

Benefits of Tamarind :-

• 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.

Tamarind has long been considered a natural laxative, and its dietary fiber content probably has something to do with it. 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 easier. Tamarind is also a bilious substance, meaning that stimulates the activity of bile, which can help dissolve food faster, and the fiber also stimulates gastric juices to speed up digestion. All of this together means that things run through your digestive tract faster, making it a powerful laxative if you are suffering from chronic constipation.

Tamarind is a very good source of iron, and a single serving can provide more than 10% of your daily requirement. A healthy supply of iron in the body guarantees the proper red blood cell count in the body, which can ensure appropriate oxygenation of different muscles and organs that need oxygen to function properly. Also, iron deficiency results in anemia, which is characterized by weakness, fatigue, headaches, cognitive disorders, and stomach issues. So, eat plenty of tamarind to keep anemia at bay!

Studies done on tamarind have shown it to be effective in reducing blood pressure and blood 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 the reduction in blood pressure, since it is known as a vasodilator that reduces the stress on the cardiovascular system. The impressive level of vitamin C in tamarind also may have something to do with it as well, since vitamin C is an antioxidant compound that can reduce the impact of free radicals, those pesky byproducts of cellular metabolism that have been linked to heart disease and a number of other health conditions.

One of the unique compounds that can be extracted from tamarinds 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 store fat. Furthermore, tamarind has been known to suppress the appetite by increasing the serotonin neurotransmitter.

The essential oils of tamarind have 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 andantimicrobial effects. It has specifically been linked to eliminating stomach worms in children in tropical areas where tamarind in cultivated.

Nourishes skin and hair :-

Tamarind is a great tonic for both the skin and the hair. For the skin, it can help reduce inflammation and irritation and is a common folk remedy for conditions like hemorrhoids, which are largely caused by swelling and inflammation. Topically, it can also be used for conditions like cellulite and help smooth the skin and reduce dimpled appearances. It can also be used as a remedy against hair loss or hair thinning due to age or hormonal imbalances.

Regulates blood sugar levels :-

With diabetes reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, tamarind’s ability to help with day-to-day diabetic management may boost its popularity. Certain active compounds in tamarind have been shown to act in much the same way that insulin does in the body, lowering insulin resistance and thus overall blood sugar levels.

Lowering Cholesterol :-

Tamarind like other organic foods plays an important role in the body of lowering potentially harmful cholesterol levels and keeping your heart healthy. By lowering cholesterol tamarind prevents development of heart and cardiovascular diseases thereby increasing longevity and chances of living a healthy and disease free life.