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Tamarind provides nutrients, has therapeutic benefits and also acts as a sunscreen and hair moisturizer

The term "tamarindo" originates from the Arabic (hindu tamr), which in Portuguese means "date of India". The word came to Portuguese through medieval Latin tamarindus, hence the name of the genus, in scientific Latin: tamarindus.

The tamarind (tamarindus indicates L.) is a species that belongs to the legume family, consisting of plants whose seeds grow in pods. Tamarind is the fruit of the tamarind tree. According to a survey, it is a food of African origin, although it is mainly cultivated in India.

Tamarind has an acidic and sweet taste and is very good for your health. Its tree can grow naturally in tropical and subtropical climate regions and measures approximately 20 meters in height. It has flowers that are yellow and red.

The fruits (tamarinds) have brown skin and pod shape. Each fruit can have from 1 to 10 seeds, which are trapped in the tamarind pulp. According to a study, tamarind has been introduced in more than 50 countries, and the main commercial producers are India and Thailand, and on the African continent the production of this fruit is intended for their own use. In Brazil, tamarind cultivation occurs in almost all states, being consumed mainly in the Northeast.

what is tamarind for

The pulp of the tamarind fruit is used as a spice, seasoning and in various recipes. It can be used to make sauces, juices, jellies, jams and even alcoholic beverages, through pulp fermentation.

The seed is obtained through pulp processing and does not have a very pleasant taste, for this reason it is more used in the textile and paper industry, as a component in some products. In addition, the seed germ is used in the production of tamarind gum, which is widely used in Japanese cuisine. The flowers and leaves can be eaten as if they were vegetables, in salads and soups.

nutritional composition

According to data from the Brazilian Table of Food Composition (Taco), for every 100 g of raw tamarind, approximately 300 kcal, 3 g of protein, 0.5 g of lipids, 70 g of carbohydrate, 6 g of dietary fiber were found; 40 mg calcium, 0 mg cholesterol and significant amounts of iron, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin C.

health benefits

Studies indicate that this food is used to treat problems in the digestive system, helps to combat the production of gas in the intestine, has an expectorant property (helps to expel accumulated secretions in the bronchi), laxative, favors digestion and there are studies that relate it to cure malaria fever. Discoveries indicate that tamarind has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity, in addition to having an antidiabetic effect.

Tamarind seed is used to fight worms, to treat eye diseases and ulcers. The external part of the seed is able to act in the treatment of burns. The same research also points out that tamarind seed has antioxidant activity due to the presence of flavonoids, which are able to fight free radicals (responsible for the loss of healthy cells) present in our body, through oxidation processes.

Tamarind in cosmetics

Analyzes were carried out by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) on the ability of tamarind to act in the treatment of hair and protect it against ultraviolet (UV) rays. The result was positive and it was proven that the pulp of this food forms a protective film on the hair, which, in addition to moisturizing and giving shine, protects the threads against UV rays and visible light. Tamarind is also used, mainly in Indonesia, as a natural hair dye. In addition, its seed, when crushed and mixed with vinegar or lemon juice, prevents the formation of pimples.