8 Benefits of Tamarind for Body Health Along with its Contents

Kapanlagi.com - Tamarind or better known as tamarind is a type of fruit that has a refreshing sour taste. Tamarind is usually used as an ingredient in several Indonesian dishes, and some even make tamarind into candies. But not only that, apparently tamarind has many good benefits for your health, KLovers.

Tamarind itself comes from a tree commonly known as Tamarindus Indica. The tamarind tree is tall, large, and does not experience autumn. Tamarind is one of the plants that grow abundantly in tropical countries and is believed to originate from the African Savanna. Tamarind is not only used as a food seasoning, but also as a traditional medicine.

What are the benefits of tamarind for the body? According to various sources, here are 8 benefits of tamarind that are good for your health and must be known. Let's check it out KLovers.

1. Nutritional Content of Tamarind

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Before knowing the benefits of tamarind, it's good for you to know what nutrients are contained in tamarind. And one of the spices in tamarind actually has extraordinary nutrients, KLovers. And here are some extraordinary nutrients in 1 cup of tamarind:

Iron 19%
Magnesium 28%
Potassium 22%
Phosphorus 14%
Calcium 9%
Copper 5%
Selenium 2%
Vitamin C
Vitamin B
Vitamin A
Vitamin K

With so many extraordinary contents in tamarind, it's no wonder that tamarind has many health benefits. And it becomes one of the healthy plants that is very good to consume regularly, with the right dosage.

2. Improving Digestive System

The first benefit of tamarind is that it can improve the digestive system in the body. Digestion is indeed one of the main reasons for a healthy body. If your digestion is not smooth, it can lead to diseases such as hemorrhoids, constipation, bloating, obesity, and even colon cancer.

There are many foods that can promote a healthy digestion, one of which is tamarind. This is because tamarind contains a sufficient amount of fiber. Tamarind contains 6 grams of insoluble fiber that makes it easier for your feces to pass through the intestines. According to a 2011 study on the health benefits of tamarind for humans, it was found that the fruit contains potassium acid which makes it effective as a laxative.

In addition, it has also been found that children in Africa use tamarind as part of their breakfast to treat constipation. Usually, they mix unripe tamarind fruit with lime juice or honey. Therefore, it is believed that tamarind-containing drinks can help alleviate digestive disorders such as diarrhea and constipation.

3. Maintaining Heart Health

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The next benefit of tamarind is that it can maintain heart health. The heart is indeed one of the important organs that needs to be maintained. This is because heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the world. Besides exercising, you can also maintain heart health by consuming healthy food. And one of them is by using tamarind.

This is because tamarind contains polyphenols such as flavonoids that are antioxidants for the body. In a study, it was shown that levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), total cholesterol, and triglycerides decreased due to the effects of tamarind extract. This is because tamarind extract absorbs and helps cleanse LDL from nerve tissues.

4. Weight Loss

Having an ideal body is everyone's dream, and to help with weight loss, you can use the benefits of tamarind. In fact, a study showed that tamarind is one of the fruits that can reduce the risk of obesity. Obesity is a condition when someone's body fat levels increase excessively, especially in adipose tissue or commonly known as fat.

And indeed tamarind has been proven to effectively reduce weight. This is because the content of hydroxycitric acid or HCA helps inhibit fat storage in the body. Although the impact may not be significant, tamarind can also suppress your appetite because there is an increase in serotonin levels.

5. Treating Flu and Cough

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Not only for weight loss, it turns out that tamarind also has great benefits in treating flu and cough, KLovers. If you feel attacked by flu or cough that makes your throat very itchy, then you can use the benefits of tamarind. This is because tamarind contains a very high vitamin C.

And this high vitamin C content is useful for boosting the immune system, treating flu, and relieving cough conditions. You can consume a cup of warm tamarind water when you have the flu as a natural remedy.

6. Managing Diabetes

For those of you who have diabetes, you may already be familiar with the benefits of tamarind in controlling the disease. In a conducted study, it has been found that tamarind extract, when liquefied, can act as a strong anti-diabetic.

From the same study, the administration of tamarind extract can reduce the risk of hyperglycemia due to its relatively high magnesium content, which is 28 grams. Despite its high sugar content, the magnesium contained in tamarind plays an important role in over 600 organ functions in the human body, including as an anti-diabetic.

7. Maintaining Brain Health

Illustration (credit: Freepik)

Having remarkable nutritional content, it is no wonder that one of the benefits of tamarind can provide health to the brain. This organ is equally important as the heart. Because the brain also needs to be given proper nutrition, so that as it ages, the brain can still function properly. And the nutrition needed is obtained by consuming tamarind.

And the benefits of tamarind are obtained from the content of vitamin B. This content is very important for every aspect of brain function, including DNA/RNA synthesis and repair, gene regulation, and synthesis of various signaling molecules. Based on a study, the active role of vitamin B in brain health is demonstrated by its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, where it performs neurochemical synthesis.

8. Protecting the Liver Organ

The next benefit of tamarind is that it can protect the liver. The liver is an important organ that needs to be taken care of, and this has been proven, KLovers. This is because hydroalcoholic extract from tamarind helps to enhance the anti-inflammatory system for the liver. So it's not surprising that tamarind is believed by most people to help reduce liver damage. And usually in Indonesian society, tamarind is consumed by making it into a traditional herbal drink.

9. Increasing Bone Density

Illustration (credit: Freepik)

And the last benefit of tamarind is that it can increase bone density. Tamarind is very good for bones because it contains nutrients that contribute to increasing bone density and maintaining the entire skeletal system strong. Magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, and zinc found in tamarind help in the formation and growth of bones.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the benefits of tamarind contribute to increasing bone density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis in women after menopause. This benefit can be obtained because of its magnesium content. Not only that, the potassium content in tamarind is useful for maintaining calcium levels and reducing mineral loss in urine. Because potassium deficiency can cause calcium depletion in bones.

And the phosphorus content found in tamarind is another important element for bone growth. Because 85% of phosphorus in the body is found in bones in the form of calcium phosphate. Insufficient phosphorus can lead to weak and soft bones.

Those are 8 good benefits of tamarind for body health that are rarely known. Not only being a fruit that can be used as a food seasoning, the benefits of tamarind can also provide good nutrition for your body health.

(kpl/dhm)