Tamarind is widely used in traditional medicine and has multiple health benefits. What are the tamarind health benefits for men? Read on to find out.
Tamarind Origins
Tamarind is the fruit of the Tamarindus indica tree which traces its origin to Eastern Africa and Madagascar. The fruit is a pod with a hard outer shell, inner fibrous pulp, and seeds. The pulp can be red or brown, depending on the variety of tamarind. It has a tangy-sweet and sour taste.
Composition of tamarind
The fruit’s pulp contains:
- Carbohydrates
- Tartaric acid
- Reducing Sugar
- Pectin
- Protein
- Dietary Fiber
- Volatile Chemical Compounds, and
- Cellulosic Materials.
- It is also rich in B vitamins, minerals like potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, copper, iron, selenium, zinc, and sodium.
- It has a minimal amount of fat- only 0.6 g in 100g of tamarind pulp.
Uses of tamarind
Tamarind pulp is used in culinary preparations, in industries, and for medicinal purposes. It can be used in the form of juice, powder, paste, or as a pickle.
In Asian and Caribbean cuisines, it is a staple and is added extensively in curries and sauces. It has been used since ancient times in folk remedies to treat certain health conditions like constipation, liver diseases, digestive problems, cold, sore throat, fever, pregnancy-related nausea, intestinal worm infestation, and dry eyes.
Tamarind Health Benefits for Men
1. Good for Aging Men
Aging men are susceptible to health problems like obesity, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Tamarind has health and nutritional benefits, which makes it a healthy condiment to add to their diets. It helps lower cholesterol levels and keeps their hearts healthy.
2. Helpful in Various Diseases
Tamarind is rich in polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against the development of chronic diseases. Minerals like potassium help regulate heart rate and blood pressure, and iron helps prevent anemia. Tamarind helps treat fatty liver disease, gall bladder ailments, and bile disorders.
3. Aids in Weight Loss
It has hydroxy citric acid, which helps burn the fat in their body and thus speeds up weight loss. It also helps them feel full longer after a meal and reduces food cravings. Tamarind boosts metabolism and can keep you fit and energetic.
4. Boosts Immunity
High vitamin C content boosts immunity and helps your body fight against infections. In older men, tamarind seed extract is useful in treating joint pain associated with arthritis. It helps maintain good digestion and prevents stomach ulcers. The fibrous pulp keeps the bowels regular and lowers the risk of colon cancer.
5. Distinctive Properties
The antioxidants in tamarind fight cell damage caused by free radicals and helps to keep you looking younger. It also has anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties to fight off infections from Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, salmonella, and others. You can use tamarind juice to exfoliate skin and make it softer and smoother.
6. Increases Fertility
Tamarind is also said to increase the sperm count in men, thereby increasing fertility.
How to make it a part of your diet?
You can eat tamarind pulp raw, or soak the pulp in hot water to soften it before adding it to culinary preparations. The recommended amount for daily consumption is 10 g. You can use it in chutneys, beverages, sauces, curries, and salad dressings to add flavor.
It occupies an important place in Indian cooking and is a part of their chutneys to give them a sweet and sour taste. You can add the commercially available tamarind paste to marinades to soften meat dishes. You can also add it to seafood curries and vegetable gravies to add sourness and increase flavor.
Precautions
- If on drugs to treat high blood sugar levels, regulate tamarind intake as it lowers blood sugar levels.
- If you are scheduled for surgery, it is better to avoid tamarind from about two weeks before the surgery.
- It enhances the absorption of certain drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen in the body and can cause undesirable side effects.
- Those with chronic kidney disease should avoid consuming tamarind. However, it is safe for pregnant and lactating women.