17 Amazing Benefits Of Tamarind Juice For Good Health

The mention of tamarind itself is enough to bring forth cozy memories of home-cooked meals and thirst-quenching beverages laced with this intense sour and tangy flavor! The most common way of using tamarind is to squeeze out the juice from the pulpy seeds of the fruit! However, are you aware of tamarind juice benefits other than just its flavor? Commonly used in Latin American, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and Asian cuisines (Indian and Southeast Asian) tamarind juice is rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, carotenes, potassium, and magnesium amongst other important nutrients! No wonder then that they help boost your immunity and benefit your health in several significant ways! Read on to know more!

Know Your Ingredient: Tamarind Juice

What Is It?
Juice made up of fresh and ripe tamarinds with a tangy flavor.

What Are Its Benefits?
Adds flavor to cuisines, boosts metabolism, and improves immunity.

Who Can Consume It?
Anyone can consume it except people who take antibiotics frequently, are allergic to it, and have digestive issues as it may worsen the condition.

How Often?
It can be consumed daily in moderation.

Caution
Excessive consumption may be detrimental to the teeth’s appearance.

Tamarind Juice Benefits

Let us look at the top 17 ways in which tamarind benefits your health:

1. Laxative

Tamarind juice is a mild laxative (1). This is used to treat bile disorders and helps the body fight against viral infections such as cold and fever (2), (3).

2. Eye Care

The tamarind pulp juice can be used to cure conjunctivitisⁱ  XIrritation or inflammation of the thin clear tissue that covers the white part of the eyeball, causing it to appear reddish. Pilesⁱ  XAlso known as Haemorrhoids these are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels that are found inside or around the rectum and anus.  (4). Eye drops are prepared by the traditional method using tamarind seeds to cure dry eye syndrome (5).

3. Piles

The tamarind flower’s juice is extracted and this is to be drunk to potentially help with bleeding piles (4).

Trivia

Tamarind comes from the Arabic term ‘tamar hindi,’ which means Indian dates.

4. Cooking

Tamarind juice is widely used in many states of India for making curries, salad dressing, marinade, etc. Here are a few ideas:

• Add juice to sauteed vegetables for a refreshing finish.
• You can also make a fresh drink by mixing a little bit of sweetener, sugar or maple syrup with tamarind juice with 2 cups of cold water and lemon wedges.
• Make a tangy drink by adding this to fresh orange juice with ice (sugar is optional).

Fun Fact

Tamarind is used as a solidifying agent in various confectionaries.

• Prepare a salad dressing out of tamarind, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil.

5. Metabolism

Tamarind juice may help to boost metabolism that may, in turn, be an excellent way to reduce weight loss (4).

Jessey Anthony, a fitness enthusiast and blogger, was introduced to the benefits of tamarind by a friend. She writes, “When Kikai [her friend] shared how the tamarind plant changed her life, I got hooked (i).” Jessey adds that her friend started drinking tamarind juice daily after losing 10 pounds in a week and reveals, “She [Kikai] wasn’t doing any exercise and had only cut gluten from her diet. The miraculous result prompted her to include tamarind in her diet. She customized her meals and used tamarind powder as a spice in soups, pizza, casserole, spaghetti and sauce.”

6. Stomach Health

Use of tamarind juice may treat inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Tamarind pulp juice helps to keep stomach ulcers and stomach acids at bay (4).

Mix it with honey, milk, lemon and dates to help indigestion. They are rich sources of fiber that regulate bowel movements and may help with 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 (4).

7. Diabetes

Tamarind pulp juice contains “carb-blocking” properties that help your body to absorb carbohydrates. This helps lower the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients postprandially (after meals). Tamarind juice is a traditional method to manage diabetes and lower blood-sugar levels (4), (6). Tamarind juice also may help with preventing oxidative damage in the pancreas, which may otherwise increase diabetes risk (7). Patients with diabetes may also develop cardiovascular disease (8). Drinking unsweetened, freshly made tamarind juice regularly reduces the risk of this and other related diseases (7).

8. Immune System

This juice contains many powerful antioxidants that are beneficial for optimal health. This also may improve the immune system and treat problems associated with a weak immunity like cold, cough, flu, etc (9).

9. Antioxidants

Tamarind juice is a very rich source of antioxidants that protects your body from hazardous free radicalsⁱ  XHighly unstable and reactive atoms that are byproducts of normal metabolism that can injure cells, resulting in illness and aging. and signs of premature aging (7).

 10. Heart Health

This juice has the potential to prevent the oxidation process of cholesterol, which can stop cholesterol sticking to the walls of your arteries and blocking them with plaque. This may help lower the risk of coronary heart disease and high cholesterol levels in the blood (9).

11. Obesity

Many people with obesity are struggling to lose weight to maintain their body weight. Tamarind juice can be a very beneficial part of a healthy and balanced eating plan to promote weight loss and treat metabolic syndrome (9).

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 42.4% in its survey results on the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among adults aged 20 and over in the United States in 2017–2018. As a result, a portion of adults in the given age range were likely to be obese.

12. Cancer

This juice is very high in antioxidants that may potentially lower the risk of cancer development and improve the body’s immune system (7).

13. 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 (4).

14. Anti-inflammatory

Tamarind juice contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may be useful to soothe a sore throat (4). Some people find that gargling with tamarind juice may reduce the pain and soothe a sore throat. It can also be applied to the joints to potentially soothe inflammation and pain (4).

15. Skin Health

Tamarind juice may be used for the health of your skin and to treat burns and prevent edema. Apply the juice to maintain glowing and healthy skin. This may also reduce or remove common acne or chickenpox scars from the face and other parts of the body. Tamarind juice contains enzymes, fiber, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and alpha hydroxyl acids that remove dead skin cells (10). However, these benefits are based on anecdotal evidence, so try it at your own risk.

16. Blood Purifier

Tamarind juice is also used in cosmetics, such as tamarind face masks and face scrubs. It contains acids, minerals, dietary fiber, and vitamin C and acts as a good blood purifier. However, research is limited in this regard and therefore is not proven to be beneficial.

17. Body Scrub

• Take 3/4 cup of fresh tamarind pulp juice.
• Mix with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, some baking soda, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.
• Blend well until it turns into a smooth paste.
• Exfoliate with a loofah while taking a shower for glowing skin.

These amazing benefits for your health and skin will have you craving tamarind juice. In case you can not get your hands on some, follow the instructions given below to make it right at home!

How To Make Tamarind Juice

Ingredients

• Half a cup of tamarind pods
• 2 cups of hot water
• Sugar to taste
• A pinch of salt

How To Prepare

1. Remove the outer shells of the tamarind pods and place them in a bowl.
2. Pour hot water over the tamarind.
3. Let it soak for about 30 minutes to allow the tamarind to soften.
4. Break apart the tamarind and extract the pulp.
5. Strain the liquid into a pitcher, ensuring no pulp remains.
6. Add sugar to taste, along with a pinch of salt.
7. Stir until it dissolves completely.
8. Refrigerate the tamarind juice and serve over ice.

Infographic: Top 5 Incredible Benefits Of Tamarind Juice

Tamarind, an exotic fruit prized for its sweet, tart, and tangy flavor, is used in sauces, stews, condiments, and other dishes worldwide. Apart from imparting a unique flavor to food, tamarind contains essential nutrients that may improve your metabolism and treat conjunctivitis. Check out the infographic below to learn about the top 5 astonishing benefits of tamarind juice.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink tamarind juice every day?

Yes. Consuming moderate amounts of tamarind juice every day can help boost your skin, hair, and overall health in many ways.

Is tamarind good for hair growth?

While anecdotal evidence suggests that tamarind may help prevent hair fall and strengthen the hair, scientific evidence regarding its role in hair growth is limited.

Is tamarind a blood thinner?

Scientific evidence regarding the anticoagulant properties of tamarind is still lacking.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Indulge in the delightful and refreshing tamarind juice, but are there any considerations for daily consumption? Check out the video below and uncover whether it’s suitable for everyday enjoyment!

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Ella DavarRD, CDN

     

Ella Davar is a registered dietitian, integrative nutritionist, certified health coach, and speaker with 3 years of experience. She specializes in personalized anti-aging nutrition programs based on genetic and microbiome testing. She helps her clients manage weight, stress, diet, and various health conditions by streamlining their wellness routine and helping them achieve a healthy balance in life. She has also...more

Tanya ChoudharyHealth & Wellness Writer

Tanya is an ISSA certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition. She specializes in writing articles on ingredients that benefit skin, hair, and health. She believes in the right health and lifestyle practices and strives to promote the same to everyone around her. She finds purpose in creating authentic and useful content that can impact people's health in better ways. In...more

Ravi Teja TadimallaSenior Editor

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a senior editor and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over eight years. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University. He has written over 300 articles about ingredients and their benefits for the skin, hair, and health. He...more

Moksha GandhiHealth & Wellness Writer

Moksha is a health and wellness writer and a certified diet and nutrition coach. Her passion for science and writing has helped her excel in crafting evidence-based articles. Her previous experience in writing science-based research papers ensures that her articles are grounded in research and provide practical tips that are reader-focused. Moksha graduated from Mumbai University and was a key...more