The delicious and healthy fruit, tamarind has been widely used in whipping up some mouth-watering delicacies in Asia, Latin America and Caribbean islands. But not many people know that it has many amazing affects on the skin if used topically on the skin. Are you still unaware of the beauty applications of tamarind? Worry not ! Here comes the solution! Read on to get acquainted with the best beauty and skin benefits of tamarind. Listed below are some wonderful and effective beauty uses of tamarind or imli in your beauty routine.
Tamarind Heart,Skin,Eye,Diabetes,Blood Purifier Benefits Tips
Nutrients in Tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B complex, minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and manganese. It is rich in dietary fiber. Due to its constituents, tamarind has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. All the health benefits of tamarind are derived from these nutrients and they help the body remain healthy and fit.
Health Benefits of Tamarind
Digestion
The presence of the dietary fibers in tamarind make the fruit a digestive agent. Adding tamarind to your diet will help you have smooth bowel movements. Tamarind helps in increasing the production of bile in the body, thereby leading to better digestion. All this makes tamarind an excellent laxative. Add some tamarind extract to your food or chew on some tamarind candy if you are suffering from indigestion. Make an infusion with a teaspoon of tamarind pulp with a liter of water, boil, strain and sip through the day for digestive relief.
Circulation
Tamarind is a rich source of iron. Adding tamarind to your daily food helps you get 10% of your daily iron requirement. This means an increased RBC count in the body leading to the body receiving the optimum amount of oxygen it needs. Once the body receives all of its oxygen, all its functions will be in top-notch condition.
Heart
Tamarind helps in lowering blood pressure due to the potassium present in it. The fiber in the tamarind also helps reducing the cholesterol in the body. The anti-oxidants in tamarind help in keeping the free radicals under check. Put together, they mean a healthy heart.
Weight loss
When you consume tamarind regularly in the diet, it releases into the body hydroxycitric acid which helps in preventing an enzyme in the body that causes fat storage. Tamarind also helps in suppressing hunger pangs. So take your dose of tamarind today to keep your weight under check.
Nerve Health
Tamarind is rich in Thiamine, which is a part of Vitamin B complex. Thiamine helps in strengthening the nervous system and promoting muscle development. Consuming thiamine helps you keep your nerve reflexes at its best.
Rheumatism
The anti-inflammatory property of tamarind comes into picture while treating rheumatism. Mix together two tsp of tamarind pulp with a tsp of salt and apply on the affected area for quick relief.Controls Diabetes
Tamarind is an alpha-amylase inhibitor it helps in preventing carbohydrates from being absorbed and converted into sugars that can spike up the blood sugar levels. Consuming half a teaspoon of tamarind pulp everyday will not just keep your weight but also your diabetes in check.
Strengthens the immune system
The anti-oxidant properties of tamarind, coupled with its anti-microbial effects make it a wonderful substitute to build up the immune system. A serving of tamarind everyday will keep all kinds of microbial infections away and give you more strength to fight other infections.
Relieves pink-eye
Tamarind’s anti-inflammatory effect comes handy to treat conjunctivitis or pink eye. Tamarind eye drops have for long been used to treat pink eye.
For great skin
Its anti-inflammatory nature makes tamarind an excellent choice to treat skin rashes and sun burns.
Tamarind has multiple benefits as cathartic, febrifuge, antiseptic and refrigent.
Tamarind is used as an Ayurvedic medicine for gastric problem, digestion problems and cardio protective activity.
Tamarind can be used as a mild laxative. The pulp which comes from the pods of the tamarind tree is a gentle laxative that improves general sluggishness of the bowels. One to two tablespoons of the pulp in evening can improve bowel movements.
Tamarind is very useful to treat bilious disorders. Being acidic it excites the bile and other juices in the body.
Tamarind leaves are used in herbal tea for reducing malaria fever.
Tamarind lowers cholesterol level in the body and helps in promoting healthy heart.
Sore throat is treated when gargled with dilute tamarind pulp.
Decoction of tamarind leaves is useful in treating jaundice and ulcers.
Dilute tamarind decoction can help in destroying the stomach worms in children.
Tamarind protects from Vitamin C deficiency.
Tamarind heals the inflammation of the skin to great extent.
Tamarind seeds are used in preparations of eye drops that treat dry eye syndrome.
Being a good source of antioxidants, tamarind helps fight against cancer.
Juice extracted from tamarind flowers are used for treating piles
Tamarind is used as blood purifier.
Other uses of Tamarind:
Tamarind pulp is used for jams, syrups and sweets. In the West, tamarind contributes to the preparation of Worcestershire and barbecue sauces and other meat condiments.
Tamarind juice is used as a cleaning agent of brass, copper and other metal.
Medicinal Benefits of Tamarind Paste:
As tamarind is available in many forms, one can use tamarind paste for treating several health conditions. Tips natural acne treatment for sensitive skin
Water
Drinking water regularly every day to help the removal of toxins from the body which can also help in overcoming acne.
Lemon
Mix the juice of 1 lemon with 1 cup of water and drink every morning after waking up in the morning before breakfast. This mixture can discard pile on the sebum excess oil that causes acne.
Addition of lime can also be used as a natural antiseptic that can help kill the bacteria that cause acne. Cut the lemon / lime into 2 parts, plainly rubbing with acne on the face for 30 minutes then rinse with warm water. Do it 2-3 times a day for optimal results. Face will look more clean and fresh.
Tamarind
Tamarind is often used as an anti-allergy drug to treat eczema and ulcers because of abortion that can serve as an anti-inflammatory as well as antiseptic. Therefore, the acid can also be used as a drug to get rid of acne. Take 10 fingers old sour fruit, mix fruit that has been seeded with ½ teaspoon of salt, then rub a pimpled face, leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Repeat 2-3 times a day for optimal results.
Starfruit
Starfruit apart as herbs can also be used to treat acne. Combine 3 starfruit fruit with 1 tablespoon lime juice and ½ teaspoon of sulfur, mash until smooth and apply on the face with acne. Use 2-3 times daily for optimal results.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera has a content that can be used to reduce inflammation and prevent the inflammation comes back, and can increase the suppleness and elasticity of the skin. Take 1 leaf crocodile skin, peeled, chopped 2-3 parts and rub the fruit on problematic skin, leave on for 15-20 minutes, rinse with warm water. Repeat every day for optimal results.
Garlic
Garlic contains a natural antiseptic so it serves as one of the plants that is often used as a spice in cooking can also be used as a natural acne remedy. Peel the garlic and mash until smooth, flatten a pimpled face (be careful not to get in eyes), let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Repeat 1 times a day regularly for optimum results.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are commonly used as a spice in cooking or served as juice good for eye health because it contains vitamin A in tomatoes. But in addition to vitamin A, tomatoes also contain vitamin C which is good as an antioxidant and has a good content of citric acid to remove dirt and grease on facial acne. Rubbing tomatoes that have been cut on the face, leave on for about 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Do it for 2-3 times a day for maximum results.
Honey
Honey contains that function as anti-inflammatory suitable for reducing inflammation caused by acne. Combine 2 tablespoons of honey with 1 teaspoon lemon juice, flatten it on the face and leave on for 15-20 minutes, repeat 2-3 times daily for optimal results.
Diet / Diet Regularly
Eat vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins and minerals to prevent new acne. Vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, and selenium can help balance the body so that the face can avoid new acne.
Avoid Foods Cause Acne
Improper diet can cause acne. Therefore proper diet is essential to helping eliminate also prevent acne. Avoid foods that contain salt, chili, gluten (bread, noodles, cakes), avoid processed foods as well as nutritional value that is too low (such as nuggets, sausages, burgers) and also avoid milk and derivative products.
Tamarind Juice Benefits:
Laxative:
Tamarind juice is a mild laxative. This is used to treat bile disorders and helps the body to fight against viral infections such as cold and fever.Eye care:
The tamarind pulp juice can be used to cure conjunctivitis. Eye drops are prepared by the traditional method using tamarind seeds to cure dry eye syndrome.
Piles:
The tamarind flower’s juice is extracted and this is to be drunk to cure bleeding piles.
Cooking:
Tamarind juice is widely used in many states of India for making curries, salad dressing, etc.
Add juice to vegetables for a refreshing finish.
You can also make a fresh drink by mixing sugar and tamarind juice with 2 cups of cold water and lemon wedges.
Make a tangy drink by adding this to fresh orange juice with sugar.
Prepare a salad dressing out of tamarind, lemon juice, sugar and olive oil.
Metabolism:
Tamarind juice boosts the metabolism that in turn is an excellent way to reduce weight loss.
Stomach health:
Use of tamarind juice treats inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Tamarind pulp juice helps to keep stomach ulcers and stomach acids at bay.
Mix this with honey, milk, lemon and dates to help indigestion. They are rich sources of fiber that regulates bowel movements and cures constipation, intestinal worms and parasites in children. This is a great natural way to cure diarrhea and dysentery, and lower inflammation caused due to hemorrhoids.
Diabetes:
Tamarind pulp juice contains carb-blocking properties that help your body to absorb carbohydrates. This lowers the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients after meals. Tamarind juice is a traditional method to cure diabetes and lower blood-sugar levels. Tamarind juice prevents oxidative damage in the pancreas which is linked with diabetes. Diabetic patients can also develop coronary heart disease. Drinking tamarind juice regularly reduces risks of this and other related diseases.
Immune system:
This juice contains many antioxidants that are beneficial for good health. This also improves the immune system and other problems related to it like cold, cough, flu, etc.
Antioxidants:
Tamarind juice is a very rich source of antioxidants that protects your body from hazardous free radicals.
Heart health:
This juice has the power to prevent the oxidation process of cholesterol, which can stop cholesterol sticking to the walls of your arteries and blocking them. This will lower the risk of coronary heart disease and high cholesterol levels.
Obesity:
Many people with obesity need to lose weight to maintain their body weight. Tamarind juice can be very beneficial in such cases for weight loss and for treating obesity.
Cancer:
This is very high in antioxidants that are useful to lower the risk of cancer and improve the body’s immune system.
Cooling effect:
This imparts a cooling effect to your body temperature. Hence, the drink is to be consumed to cure sun strokes in the tropical regions.
Anti-inflammatory:
Tamarind juice is anti-inflammatory that can be useful to cure a sore throat. Gargle with tamarind juice to reduce the pain and soothe a sore throat. It can also be applied on to the joints to soothe inflammation and pain.
Skin health:
Tamarind juice is excellent for the health of your skin and to treat burns and prevent edema. Apply the juice to maintain glowing and healthy skin. This can also reduce or remove common acne or chickenpox scars from the face and other parts of the body. Tamarind juice has enzymes, fiber, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and alpha hydroxyl acids that remove dead skin cells.
Blood purifier:
Tamarind juice is also used in cosmetics such as tamarind face mask and face scrub. This contains acids, minerals, dietary fiber and Vitamin C which is a good blood purifier.
Body scrub:
Take 3/4 cup of fresh tamarind pulp juice.
Mix with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, some baking soda and 2 tablespoon of brown sugar.
Blend well until this turns into a smooth paste.
Exfoliate with a loofah while taking shower for glowing skin.
Tamarind fruits in a tamarindus indica tree
tamarindus indica, tamarind tree
Tamarind pods. Note for brown color fruits (pods) hanging down from a branch.
Tamarind tree
Tamarinds are evergreen tropical trees native to Africa. They grow throughout tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, South Asia, South America and Caribbean islands for their fruits.
Health benefits of Tamarind
Tamarind fruit contains certain health benefiting essential volatile chemical compounds, minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber.
Its sticky pulp is a rich source of non-starch polysaccharides dietary-fiber such as gums, hemicelluloses, mucilage, pectin and tannins. 100 g of fruit pulp provides 5.1 or over 13% of dietary fiber.Dietary fiber in the food increases its bulk and augments bowel movements thereby help prevent constipation. The fiber also binds to toxins in the food thereby help protect the colon mucus membrane from cancer-causing chemicals.
In addition, dietary fibers in the pulp bind to bile salts (produced from cholesterol) and decrease their re-absorption in the colon; thereby help in expulsion of “bad” or LDL cholesterol levels from the body.
While lemon composes of citric acid, tamarind is rich in tartaric acid. Tartaric acid gives sour taste to food besides its inherent activity as a powerful antioxidant. It, thus, helps human body protect from harmful free radicals.
Tamarind fruit contains many volatile phytochemicals such as limonene, geraniol, safrole, cinnamic acid, methyl salicylate, pyrazine and alkylthiazoles. Together these compounds account for the medicinal properties of tamarind.
This prized spice is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is essential for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.
In addition, it is also rich in many vital vitamins, including thiamin (36% of daily required levels), vitamin-A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin-C. Much of these vitamins plays antioxidant as well as co-factor functions for enzyme metabolism inside the body.
Medicinal uses of Tamarind
Its pulp has been used in many traditional medicines as a laxative, digestive, and as a remedy for biliousness and bile disorders.
This spice condiment is also used as emulsifying agent in syrups, decoctions, etc., in different pharmaceutical products.
See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:
Tamarind,
Nutritional value per 100 g.
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA
Carbohydrates 62.50 g 40%
Protein 2.80 g 5%
Total Fat 0.60 g 3%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Dietary Fiber 5.1 g 13%
Vitamins
Folates 14 µg 3.5%
Niacin 1.938 mg 12%
Pantothenic acid 0.143 mg 3%
Pyridoxine 0.066 mg 5%
Thiamin 0.428 mg 36%
Vitamin A 30 IU 1%
Vitamin C 3.5 mg 6%
Vitamin E 0.10 mg <1%
Vitamin K 2.8 µg 2%
Electrolytes
Sodium 28 mg 2%
Potassium 628 mg 13%
Minerals
Calcium 74 mg 7%
Copper 0.86 mg 9.5%
Iron 2.80 mg 35%
Magnesium 92 mg 23%
Phosphorus 113 mg 16%
Selenium 1.3 µg 2%
Zinc 0.10 mg 1%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß 18 µg --
Crypto-xanthin-ß 0 µg --
Lutein-zeaxanthin 0 µg --
Selection and storage
Tamarind pods
Tamarind pods. Note for brown color, tart and sweet-flavored pulp enclosed inside semi-hard shell.
Fresh tamarind pods are available in late spring and early summer seasons. However, processed tamarind types such as compressed tamarind blocks, ready-to-use slices, paste, concentrates, balls, etc can be more readily available in the condient stores and spice markets.
Choose fresh unbroken pods packed in boxes. If you are purchasing processed form, buy the product from a well reputed authentic brand. Avoid old, desiccated pulp, or off-smelling products.
Once at home store the pods or pulp inside the refrigerator where it will stay fresh for several months.
Here are some serving tips:
Tamarind is a common ingredient all over India and South-East Asia in curries, “rasam”, chutneys, as well as in vegetable and lentil recipes.
The pulp is also favored in “hot and sour” soups as well in marinades.
The juice made of tamarind pulp with addition of dates, sugar, honey, cardamom, cloves, and coriander seeds are a refreshing drink marketed in different parts of the world.
Its pulp is also used in confectionaries as solidifying agent.
Safety profile
Tamarind has no known reported cases of allergic or toxicity, and may be safely used in pregnancy and in nursing mothers.
(Medical disclaimer: The information and reference guides on this website are intended solely for the general information for the reader. It is not to be used to diagnose health problems or for treatment purposes. It is not a substitute for medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. Please consult your health care provider for any advice on me.
