So you've hit a plateau in your weight loss journey. You continue to work out regularly, get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, and you have a balanced diet. Are you looking for a way to lose those last few pounds still hanging around? Tamarind might be the answer for you. Tamarind benefits are so easy to enjoy!
Have you heard of tamarind before? While it may be a lesser known fruit, it's one you should definitely get to know! Tamarind has many health benefits. Many of us struggle with feeling sluggish or struggling to get through the day. Sometimes, we also struggle to control diabetes and our heart health. Let's take a closer look at tamarind and how it can help you with your health and weight loss journey.
What is Tamarind?
While most people would describe tamarind as a fruit, it is technically a legume. This puts it in the same categories as foods such as black beans and peanuts. It is a pod-shaped fruit that grows on trees. It is believed that tamarind trees first originated in Africa. Today, they grow throughout the semi-arid, warm climate countries in South Asia and Africa.
Tamarind can typically be found in three different forms:
- Raw pods
- Pressed blocks
- Concentrate
You can also find tamarind flavored candy and syrup. It has a characteristic sweet and sour taste.
The raw pods are completely unprocessed. To remove the pulp, you simply open the pod. This is the purest form of tamarind that you can find.
The pressed block is made of the fibrous pulp found on the interior of the pod. Many of these pods are harvested, scraping the pulp from the pod. The pulp is then compressed into a large block.
In order to produce the concentrated version of the tamarind, the pulp needs to be boiled down. By reducing the water content of the tamarind pulp, only the purest nutrients remain. However, in order to prolong its shelf life, additives and artificial preservatives may be added to the concentrate.
Tamarind is used for a variety of purposes. The pulp is often used for cooking. You can find it in Asian, Mexican, Arabic, and Caribbean cuisines.
While the pulp is typically what is used for cooking, the seeds and leaves of the tamarind fruit are also edible.
It is not uncommon for tamarind to be used in sauces and deserts across the world. Tamarind can also be found in juice form. This processed form of the fruit can be a good source of its nutrients but it also may contain preservatives and additives.
More commonly, tamarind has a large history of and still plays a large role in traditional medicine. Its health benefits have been documented and sought after for centuries. Tamarind is a highly nutritious fruit and provides numerous health benefits.
What are the Health Benefits of Tamarind?
Tamarind owes much of its medicinal use to its high fiber content. Historically, tamarind was used for a variety of medicinal purposes. It was originally used in India to treat diarrhea and constipation due to its high fiber content. It was also used to treat fever and peptic ulcers.
Tamarind is also a powerful, all-natural, anti-inflammatory agent. The tamarind can help protect you against many different diseases including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Tamarind seed extract can also help you control blood sugar.
Thanks to a naturally occurring compound, lupeol, tamarind also boasts antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Traditional medicine used tamarind to treat malaria because of its antiviral properties. Crushed leaves and seeds of the tamarind fruit can aid in wound care.
When topically applied, the grounds can help accelerate the healing rate.
Tamarind is also high in magnesium. Studies show that there is a direct correlation between magnesium levels and risk for high blood pressure and diabetes. If you struggle with low magnesium levels, you have a greater risk for high blood pressure and diabetes. The magnesium in tamarind can help boost your magnesium levels and prevent the risks associated with low magnesium levels.
Tamarind fruit is full of antioxidants. Not only can this provide anti-aging benefits, but it also helps to regulate cholesterol levels. One study found that tamarind helped reduce LDL cholesterol levels. This means that tamarind fruit can be effective in helping to prevent heart disease.
Tamarind can also help you manage your diabetes. Carbohydrates are notoriously dangerous for those who suffer from diabetes. When carbohydrates are consumed, they are processed by the body and turned into sugars. This can lead to severe irregularities in insulin levels. Tamarind contains a compound called alpha-amylase. This compound helps to prevent the absorption of carbohydrates in the body. Tamarind is not enough to replace a balanced diet, but it can help naturally regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics.
How Tamarind Helps with Weight Loss
The tamarind fruit is packed with nutrients. Tamarind contains a high amount of hydroxycitric acid. There is a naturally occurring enzyme in our bodies that has a tendency to store fat. The hydroxycitric acid blocks this enzyme from storing fat.
Not only does the tamarind fruit help slow the rate at which our body stores fat, it also helps suppress appetite. The nutrients in the tamarind fruit increase the serotonin transmitter. As our serotonin levels rise, you will feel fewer cravings and your appetite will be greatly reduced. You can say goodbye to those midnight munchies! Increased serotonin can also lead to feeling full, even if your stomach is not full. Your increased serotonin levels will result in eating less, helping you lose weight.
Drinking tamarind juice can also help to boost your metabolism. It will help kick your metabolism into high gear, helping you burn calories quicker and with less effort. Keep on sweating it out at the gym but let the tamarind juice do the rest of the work for you!
Is Tamarind Good for Your Skin?
Tamarind is a fruit filled with antioxidants. Preliminary studies show that tamarind can help to reverse sun damage. It can also help treat and reverse skin with sun damage. Ongoing studies are being performed to confirm the extent to which tamarind helps your skin.
Tamarind can also be applied topically to address skin issues. It contains a compound called Alpha hydroxyl, which can help prevent acne flare-ups. Tamarind can be ground into a coarse powder and used as an exfoliant.
Tamarind also contains different types of alpha hydroxy acids. This compound is shown to increase collagen production. More collagen production has never been a bad thing. The increased collagen production in your skin will give you a youthful glow and help prevent wrinkles as you age.
If you struggle with dry skin, tamarind may be able to help you. It soothes irritation as well as inflammation. The pulp also makes a great humectant, locking in the moisture in your skin.
The vitamin E levels in tamarind can also promote smoother, more healthy looking skin. Vitamin E can also boost healing, helping heal wounds and bruises faster.
To promote healthy skin, tamarind can be ingested and applied topically. Use it in face masks, like a homemade toner, or even as a face wash. It provides an all-natural solution for young, healthy-looking skin.
Tamarind Benefits for High Blood Pressure
If you struggle with high blood pressure, tamarind may be able to help you. Because it has a high fiber content, tamarind helps filter some of the LDL cholesterol from your veins and arteries.
Tamarind contains high levels of potassium and vitamin C. Increased potassium can help reduce blood pressure by acting as a natural vasodilator. In turn, this leads to less stress on your cardiovascular system. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant.
The high levels of vitamin C in tamarind capture and reduce the impact of free radicals.
These free radicals are linked to heart disease. Reducing the number of free radicals can help reduce your risk of heart disease.
Tamarind is also a great source of iron. Incorporating just a single serving of this fruit provides you with more than 10% of the daily recommended iron intake. Your iron levels are critical to your well-being. Without iron, you risk low oxygen levels. This can lead to weakness, fatigue, and headaches. Tamarind can help keep your iron levels normal to prevent these issues.
Despite its long history, tamarind was not always a well-known fruit. But it certainly deserves the classification of superfood. As you can see, there are numerous health benefits that are associated with tamarind. Throughout its history, it has proved its worth as an all-natural remedy to many different health conditions. From its anti-aging benefits to its ability to regulate cholesterol and diabetes, tamarind is a seemingly magical health fruit.
But maybe most importantly of all, tamarind can help you achieve your weight loss goals. If you feel like you're stuck in a rut on your weight loss journey, try incorporating tamarind into your diet. It won't just be a tasty surprise; it may be the key to pushing you to the next level. Get one step closer to your goal weight with the all-natural tamarind fruit.
Do you already love tamarind fruit? Let us know the best way to prepare it down in the comments!
Sources:
https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-tamarind-health-benefits/
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/tamarind.html
Comments
Loading…