Tamarind - useful properties and contraindications

This amazing fruit has a shape similar to peanuts, but inside it is flesh, sweet and sour taste. Tamarind seeds are large and dark brown. Due to the popularity of this product among the population of India, Mexico and Indonesia, its middle name is an Indian date. And although it has a sour taste, due to the content of hydroxycitric acid in it, it is used in the manufacture of many sweets, as well as a variety of seasonings and sauces.

The birthplace of tamarind is east Africa. This plant remains green all year round, which bears fruit only once a year in the month of September.

Harvesting Indian dates can be at a time when its seeds are separated without much difficulty from the pods. Fruits are very valuable in any form. The size of the fetus reaches 20 cm in length.

Tamarind is a fairly tall tree, and reaches 25 meters in height, and a trunk girth of 8 meters. The crown of the tree is very large with many branches and leaves that are arranged in bunches. Usually the average number of leaves is from 10 to 40. The flowers are white and large.

Nutritional value of the product

Like any exotic fruit, tamarind simply contains a storehouse of vitamins. There is an essential vitamin C, B, as well as phosphorus and magnesium, which is good for the heart, and tamarind pulp contains thiamine. This vitamin is useful for the digestive tract and musculoskeletal system.

This fruit is rich in carbohydrates, so it is quite high in calories. 100 grams of tamarind contains 239 kcal.

Benefits of Indian Date

1. Tamarind is very useful for the human body, since it has an active anti-inflammatory effect, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and lowers blood cholesterol.
2. It is well used for various fevers, sunstrokes, paralysis, as well as for diseases caused by fungi.
3. With antibacterial properties, it is widely used in the preparation of decoction for rinsing the throat with angina. It also reduces the effect of alcohol on the body.

According to scientists, with a high content of antioxidants, phenols, as well as vitamin C, the work of the heart and blood vessels improves. All these components prevent the appearance of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. According to experts, the largest amount of beneficial phenols in this fruit appears at the time of boiling.

Digestive system benefits of tamarind

1. Ayurvedic practitioners use this fruit for disorders of the digestive system, increased gas formation, and also used to normalize appetite. With the help of a date, treatment for constipation, diarrhea is actively performed, and vomiting is also stopped, the effects of poisoning and abdominal pain are eliminated.
2. Tamarind can be used as a laxative. In order to normalize stool and get rid of constipation, you need to eat 15-20 grams of Indian dates for food. They can be taken with other laxatives. Their interaction does not produce any negative effects.
3. While lemon traditionally contains citric acid, tamarind is rich in tartaric (tartaric) acid, which frees the human body from free radicals.
4. Due to the content of iron in the date, it is an active assistant in the formation of red blood cells.

Tamarind for diabetes

This product has a carbonate compound, which makes it very useful in the prevention and immediate treatment of diabetes. For the first time medicine turned its attention to the beneficial properties of this fruit after they were discovered by Harry Preuss, who published an article in one of the medical journals about the benefits of tamarind and its use in food. He claimed that this tropical fruit helps eliminate signs of diabetes and get rid of obesity.

The doctor believed that excessive consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates leads to a lack of sensitivity of the body to insulin, resulting in diabetes mellitus. The specialist believes that the solution to the problem lies in eating foods that inhibit the absorption of carbohydrates.

In the diet of people with diabetes, be sure to have products such as tamarind, blueberries or green tea. Their systemic use helps lower blood sugar. And it is no secret that these natural ingredients are of great benefit and safer than therapy. This benefit is due to the interaction of natural components with the biological systems of the body.

This product can be considered one of the most effective for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

The benefits of tamarind for weight loss

Accelerating the metabolism, this product is very useful for losing weight, as it reduces the feeling of hunger, burns fats. Thanks to its action, the action of enzymes participating in the accumulation and preservation of nutrients is reduced.

Very often, the intestinal or gastric mucosa undergoes the action of digestive acids, which leads to the formation of ulcers, colitis, inflammation and other problems with the stomach. Due to constant diets, stress, and malnutrition, the situation is only getting worse. In this case, tamarind will be an excellent assistant, because it manages to reduce the production of gastric juice and relieve inflammation.

In the US, the use of hydroxycitric acid derived from tamarind in food is already the norm. It is actively consumed as a dietary supplement to food, but still it is preferable to eat fresh fruit.

Contraindications

So far, there are no contraindications to this product from the scientific side. However, one should not be carried away by using it during pregnancy, during lactation, as well as with diseases of the kidneys and liver. People with diabetes need to eat this fruit with caution, as possible jumps in sugar may very well happen. It is worth noting that abuse of this product can lead to diarrhea.

Also, this product is quite high-calorie compared to other fruits, which can cause problems in people who are actively controlling their weight. This date is also contraindicated with ibuprofen and other blood thinners because of the high risk of bleeding.

Folk recipes with tamarind

1. For febrile conditions, it is recommended to take tea based on this fruit. To do this, you need 50 grams of dried tamarind roots and 200 ml of boiling water. All brew and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. After ready to take this solution, 45 mg three times a day. This tea works better than any antipyretic.
2. Thanks to the astringent action, this product allows food to stay in the body much longer, and this contributes to a greater absorption of nutrients.
3. Infusion at high pressure. The crushed flower petals of tamarind (30 grams) are filled with 200 ml of boiled water and left for 2 hours. After this, the solution is cooled and decanted. Take the resulting substance 25 ml 3 times a day. The effect is noticeable after 5 minutes. The heartbeat rate returns to normal and shortness of breath disappears.
4. Remedy for worms on tamarind seeds.It will take 40-45 pieces of seeds, which are fried in a hot pan without adding oil for 1.5 minutes. Be sure to stir. After roasting, the seeds are transferred to a plate and cooled. Eat seeds before or after meals and within a week the result will be felt. Approximately 7 seeds are allowed at a time.
5. Laxative. Tamarind seeds (20-30) are poured with 300 ml of boiled water. After the mixture must be boiled again and reduce the heat, continuing cooking for 20 minutes. Cool the solution and filter. Refrigerate. In case of constipation, take 50 ml of the substance. After three hours, the desired effect occurs. Store this solution in the refrigerator for a month.
6. Improving the digestive tract. To do this, you need 50 grams of tamarind to eat, washed down with plenty of liquid. After 4 hours, a complete cleansing of the intestine and its walls occurs, while all useful substances remain in the body, absorbed by it. Eating the fruits of tamarind is recommended to take several times a day.

It is not easy to get the fruits of this exotic product in ordinary supermarkets, but it is very real to find it in the form of sauces or spices in the seasoning department. It can also be purchased online. Tamarind paste is usually made in glass or plastic jars.

Store this product in the refrigerator. Thus, the freshness of the product is guaranteed for many months.

If the date is not at hand, it can be replaced with other products:

• Vinegar.
• Fresh lime juice.

This plant has several varieties. The most popular of them:

• Tamarind. Indian date.
• Pink tamarind.
• Other varieties actively grown in Asian countries.

Tamarind is a unique plant that can be used as a medicinal product, as well as seasoning for many dishes. It is very healthy and tastes good. Due to the huge content of useful substances in it, it will not be superfluous to purchase this product in your own refrigerator.

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