10 Shocking Health Benefits Of Tamarind (Imli) Fruit, Juice & Seeds

Listed here are a few of the health benefits of tamarind. Check them out.

By Archana Mukherji

Friday, October 27, 2017, 15:07

Tamarind is an amazing fruit with a sweet and tangy taste and is commonly called Imli in India. It has been used by several ancient civilizations and is a favourite fruit of many. It is used for culinary purposes and is used almost all over the world.

No doubt, this is a palate pleasing fruit and you can trust this fruit to add a delicious flavour to your dishes.

The tamarind tree is usually found in abundance in tropical regions; however, it is grown in almost all parts of the world and also used in all types of cuisines.

Tamarind is packed with assorted vitamins, especially vitamins B & C, antioxidants, carotene and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Hence, this mushy fruit is considered the storehouse of nutrients.

The tamarind fruit appears in a pod that is brown earthy coloured and the pulpy fruit with seeds are seen inside. The leaves of the tamarind tree are also used in many dishes as a flavouring agent.

There are also many health benefits of the tamarind fruit, tamarind leaves and seeds. Most of us only know tamarind as an ingredient added to our foods for a tangy flavour, but you will be surprised at the wonderful medicinal benefits of tamarind.

Here are the amazing health benefits of tamarind:

Aids Weight Loss:

Tamarind is an excellent ingredient for obesity and weight loss. Tamarind contains hydroxy citric acid, also called HCA which slows down the production of fat, similar to citric acid. HCA is also found in many other plants; however, it is predominant in tamarind. It inhibits the enzyme in the body that promotes fat storage, thereby aiding in weight loss.

Betters Digestion:

Consumption of tamarind aids in the smooth working of the digestive system and aids to keep your health at optimum levels.

Prevents Peptic Ulcer:

Peptic ulcers are painful sores that appear in the stomach and small intestine. The polyphenolic compounds in tamarind seed extract have a protective effect on ulcers and have also been proven to prevent ulcers.

Good For The Heart:

Studies have proven that tamarind is a very heart friendly fruit. The flavonoids present in tamarind can lower bad cholesterol, also called LDL and can raise the levels of good cholesterol, also called HDL. It also helps to prevent the building up of triglycerides in the blood, which is a type of fat again. The high potassium content in tamarind is very useful for high blood pressure. Eventually, this fruit is very good for the heart.

Helps Fight Cancer:

Tamarind, especially the seed extract is rich in antioxidants and this property helps to reduce the severity of acute kidney failure and kidney cancer.

Heals Wounds:

The leaves and bark of the tamarind tree have antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which aid in healing wounds. Tamarind seed extract can also completely heal wounds in just ten days' time.

Prevents Cold & Cough:

Being a vitamin C-rich ingredient, tamarind helps to boost the immune system and prevents cold and cough. Drink a cup of tamarind water in the form of tea to soothe your senses from cold and cough. For faster results, add a dash of pepper to the tea.

Treats Asthma:

Researches have proven that tamarind has antihistaminic properties, which is very effective to treat allergic asthma.

Protects The Liver:

It is surprising to know that tamarind protects your liver as well. For people who have had a damaged liver due to excessive alcohol consumption, it has been proven that just by using tamarind leaves regularly, the condition had become better.

A calorie-rich diet can lead to a fatty liver and daily consumption of tamarind extract can reverse the condition.

Good For Diabetes:

The seeds of tamarind have anti-inflammatory properties and can even stabilize blood sugar levels. This reverses the damage of the pancreatic tissue that is associated with diabetes. The alpha-amylase enzyme present in tamarind can also help reduce the blood glucose levels.