Tamarind is a delicious, sweet, and sour
fruit that has a wide variety of uses, both for medicinal and culinary
purposes. It’s a member of the Fabaceae family and its scientific name is
Tamarindus indica. The tamarind tree is indigenous to tropical regions of
Africa (popularly known as Awin in
Yoruba, Icheku in Igbo and Tsamiyar kurm in Hausa), particularly Sudan, but its cultivation has spread to almost all
tropical areas of the world since it is such a useful and desirable source of
nutrition and unique flavors. It is a medium-sized bushy tree with evergreen
leaves and a fruit that develops in pods characterized by long, brown shells.
Inside is a sticky, fleshy, juicy pulp, which is the tamarind fruit. It can be
consumed as a raw fruit, added to desserts once it is fully ripe or can be
dried and ground into a spice. It is often used in jams and sauces and is even
dried and processed into candies in some parts of the world. Tamarind is a very
valuable commodity in the world, because of its nutritional components which
include a significant level of vitamin C, E, and B, calcium, iron, phosphorus,
potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber.
Health Benefits of Tamarind
- Improves Digestion
- Prevents cancer
- Protects Heart Health
- Improves Circulation
- Improves Nerve Function
- Weight Loss
- Manages Diabetes
- Anti-inflammatory Capacity
- Boosts Immunity
- Protects against parasites and worms
Word of Caution: When taking aspirin or other blood thinners, be
careful while ingesting an excessive amount of tamarind.
Comments
Post a Comment