What Is Tamarind Good For?

The tamarind is a native tree to many parts of tropical Africa and Asia. The tamarind tree was introduced to North America but has never thrived because of its poor tolerance to cold weather. The slow evergreen tree can grow quite tall, Tamarind fruit has been widely used in Indian and Asian cuisine for decades.
In terms of food, what is Tamarind good for? What are the health benefits?

People living in tropical Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America know that eating tamarind means eating healthy. The tamarind casually consumed in these regions has many health benefits for those who eat them. So, the next time you cruise the Asian supermarket aisles make sure to pick up a few of theses treats.

The tamarind fruit is encased within a brown pod. Inside the pod of the tamarind is a soft, brown pulp with hard-coated black seeds. It is this pulp that people eat to get all the nutritional and health benefits of the tamarind. The pulp of the tamarind has a very sour taste while it is young, but as it ripens the pulp gets sweeter. Though the pulp will sweeten with age, the tamarind generally has a sour, acidic taste.

1. Tamarind is a good source of antioxidants that fight against cancer. Tamarind contains carotenes, vitamin C, flavanoids and the B-vitamins
2. Tamarind protects against vitamin C deficiency
3. Tamarind reduces fevers and provides protection against colds
4. Tamarind helps the body digest food
5. Tamarind is used to treat bile disorders
6. Tamarind is a mild laxative
7. Tamarind lowers cholesterol
8. Tamarind promotes a healthy heart
9. Tamarind can be gargled to ease soar throat
10. Tamarind applied to the skin to heal inflammation