Is tamarind good for your health?

Tamarind contains ingredients that might have laxative effects and fight against certain fungi and bacteria. People use tamarind for dry eye, constipation, parasite infections, early orgasm, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. Using eye drops containing tamarind seed extract seems to help relieve dry eye. Taking tamarind by mouth increases the amount of fluoride removed from the body in the urine. Tamarind is commonly consumed in foods, but there isn't enough reliable information to know if tamarind is safe when used in larger amounts as medicine. Tamarind seed extract is possibly safe when used in eye drops. Tamarind might lower blood sugar levels, and taking tamarind along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low.

The pulp of tamarind is rich in numerous phytonutrients that act as potent dietary antioxidants, and can enhance the efficacy of the body’s natural immune defences. Being rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, tamarind has been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, thereby lowering the risk of atherosclerosis. Tamarind fruit extract has been shown to provide a protective effect for the liver, as it contains antioxidants called procyanidins, that counter free radical damage to the liver. Natural compounds present in tamarind extract have the potential of being used as a natural antimicrobial against pathogenic microorganisms. The anti-inflammatory effect of tamarind seed extract has been shown to offer potential protective benefits and improve blood sugar regulation in those with diabetes. 100g of tamarind contains approximately: 238 kcal/1011 KJ, 2.3g protein, 62.5g carbohydrates, 5.1g fibre, 0.6g fat, 1.9mg niacin, 14ug folate, 3.5mg Vit C, 30IU Vitamin A, 628mg potassium, 74mg calcium, 92mg magnesium, 2.8mg iron.