罗望子是一种酸甜的水果荚。它广泛用于印度和非洲美食。它也用于一些亚洲和中东的准备工作。

罗望子酱赋予菜以浓郁的甜味。这种水果的提取物已在古代医学中用于治疗蛇咬伤，疟疾，糖尿病，便秘以及一些急性和慢性疾病。

在这篇文章中，我们将探索更多关于罗望子的方法以及在饮食中添加罗望子的不同方法。

罗望子是什么？

罗望子树（ Tamarindus indica ）原产于热带非洲。它是在很久以前引入印度的。印第安人很好地采用了它，以至于（几乎）成为了他们国家的土著。该名称源自波斯语tamar-I-hind（意为“印度日期”）（1）。

它在西班牙语和葡萄牙语中被称为“ tamarindo”，在法语中被称为“ tamarin”，“ tamarinier”，“ tamarinier des Indes”或“ tamarindier”。它在德语中是“ tamarinde”，在意大利语中是“ tamarandizio”。在印度被称为“ ambli”，“ imli”，“ chinch”或罗望子。在柬埔寨，在泰国是“ ampil”或“ khoua me”和“ ma-kharm”。在越南语中，它只是“我”。它被用于世界各地的各种美食，因此得了几个名字。

罗望子的起源

罗望子树被误认为具有印度血统。它的植物名称印度也支持这个神话。但是，这棵树于1797年左右在夏威夷归化。

罗望子被认为是在更早的美洲，百慕大，巴哈马和西印度群岛引入的。

生长缓慢的巨大罗望子树结出荚果状的果实。这些豆荚包含高度酸性（和超级浓郁）的果肉。这些豆荚中包裹着柔软，发白，发育不良的种子。

一旦成熟，豆荚就会变得多汁。果肉变成褐色，粘稠和纤维状。外皮变成容易破裂的外壳。种子长得硬而有光泽的棕色。

生罗望子果实和成熟罗望子果实均广泛用于烹饪。它用作咖喱，调味料，香蒜酱和蘸酱的调味品。罗望子还以米，鱼和肉为主要原料烹饪。

换句话说，罗望子果香几乎进入每个厨房。

但是其全球流行的背后原因可能是什么？不仅仅是因为它的味道，对吗？

真正。罗望子树素以其几种治疗特性而闻名。它可以作为极好的泻药和胭脂。它还具有有效的抗炎和防腐性能。

罗望子传统上用于治疗腹痛，腹泻，痢疾，伤口愈合，发炎和发烧（1）。据信它也有助于治疗关节疼痛，咽喉痛，哮喘，关节肿胀，结膜炎和痔疮。

下一节将介绍罗望子的好处。看看这个！

罗望子的7种健康益处

罗望子是用于治疗便秘，糖尿病，皮肤健康和微生物感染的著名家庭疗法。它也被证明有助于减肥并预防心血管疾病。让我们用一些科学证据来验证这些信念。

1.可以减轻肝损伤

您体内的慢性炎症间接影响您的肝脏。在一项研究中，患有关节炎的大鼠被给予了罗望子种子提取物。结果显示肝脏氧化应激降低（2）。

罗望子提取物中的活性原花青素可以抵抗肝脏的自由基损伤。还注意到诸如谷胱甘肽，总硫醇，谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和还原酶等炎性标志物水平的减少（2），（3）。

罗望子中发现的矿物质（如铜，镍，锰，硒和铁）有助于改善人体抵抗氧化应激的能力。硒与维生素E共同保护肝细胞中的脂质免受自由基的侵害（3）。

2.可以帮助您去除角质并减轻肤色

自古以来，罗望子果肉已被用作天然的皮肤磨砂膏。由于存在α-羟基酸（AHA），因此可促进皮肤光滑细腻。罗望子果肉中的AHA包括酒石酸（8-23.8％），乳酸（2％），柠檬酸和苹果酸。这些AHA以及果胶和转化糖可以滋润和滋润您的皮肤（4）。

罗望子果肉据称具有亮肤特性。与11名男性志愿者进行了一项研究，以研究罗望子种子提取物对肤色的影响。每天两次将种子提取物涂抹/按摩于其脸颊，持续12周（4），（5）。

当使用测试产品时，皮肤黑色素和皮脂含量相对减少。这可能归因于罗望子树中抗氧化剂多酚的存在。这些化合物可消除体内的自由基，从而间接减少皮肤中的黑色素含量（5）。

3.可能帮助体重管理

肥胖与心脏，肝脏，肾脏和几种代谢性疾病有关。研究人员已经在大鼠研究中研究了罗望子对体重控制和肥胖的影响。罗望子果肉被发现可以降低血浆中的坏胆固醇（LDL）和增加好胆固醇（HDL）（6）。

当高脂饮食的大鼠口服5、25或50 mg / kg的罗望子果肉提取物10周后，就可以看到这种抗肥胖作用。该研究还导致这些大鼠体重减轻（6）。

而且，该提取物降低了脂肪酸合酶（FAS）的活性。FAS是一种酶，可促进体内脂肪组织的形成。它还可以防止脂质被自由基氧化。大鼠研究也证明了这种提取物的抗氧化特性（6）。

该提取物可以在肥胖引起的大鼠中诱导有益作用。需要进一步研究，以了解植物中还有哪些其他化合物有助于这种益处。

4.可能缓解胃痛和便秘

罗望子传统上被用作泻药，因为它含有大量的苹果酸和酒石酸。罗望子还含有酒石酸氢钾，与其他有效成分一起可缓解便秘（7）。

便秘和腹泻通常会引起腹痛。罗望子树皮和根提取物已被证明可有效治愈胃痛。在尼日利亚，可以吃浸泡的罗望子树以应对便秘（7）。

Rasam是一种南印度制剂，由香料，罗望子，小茴香，黑胡椒和芥末制成。它与大米一起食用以促进消化（8）。

5.可能控制高血压并促进心脏健康

The dried pulp of tamarind fruits was found to have anti-hypertensive effects. Tamarind pulp has been found to reduce diastolic blood pressure at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight (9).

Animal studies have demonstrated the anti-atherosclerotic effect of this fruit. Thus, tamarind extract has a high potential to lower the risk of atherosclerosis (clogging of arteries) in humans as well (10).

The fruit extract was able to heal atherosclerotic lesions in hamsters. Moreover, active tamarind molecules possess anti-inflammatory effects. They can tone down the severity of atherosclerosis and several cardiovascular diseases (10).

6. May Help Manage Diabetes and Hyperglycemia

Tamarind brought down the blood sugar levels in diabetic rats. This fruit could neutralize hyperglycemia even in rats that had severe diabetes (10), (11).

One of the major causes of diabetes is inflammation of pancreatic cells, especially those cells that produce insulin (beta cells). Since tamarind can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory chemicals like TNF alpha, it can protect the pancreas from inflammation-induced damage (11), (12).

The seeds of this fruit can boost the neogenesis (production of new cells) of pancreatic beta cells. This may restore the ability to produce required amounts of insulin in patients with diabetes (10), (12).

7. Can Help Prevent Malaria And Microbial Diseases

Tamarind has been used as a febrifuge (fever control medicine) in traditional medicine. African tribes in Ghana use the leaves of tamarind to treat malaria (10).

This fruit also has a broad-spectrum of antimicrobial properties (10).

Extracts of tamarind have shown significant inhibitory effect against Burkholderia pseudomallei , Klebsiella pneumoniae,Salmonella paratyphi , Bacillus subtilis , Salmonella typhi , and Staphylococcus aureus (10).

Various parts of this plant have been used to cure malaria. Similar fevers caused due to bacterial infections can also be managed with tamarind extracts. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties could play a critical role in such cases.

Did You Know?

Tamarind has proven anti-venom properties. It is widely used as a remedy against snake bites in India.

Its extract prevents edema, hemorrhage, and rapid blood clotting in victims.

Moreover, tamarind seeds can inhibit several enzymes that are involved in venom response in your body (10).

In India and Africa, tamarind is used as an aphrodisiac. Rat studies demonstrated the effect of this fruit extract on sexual drive and arousal. Male rats showed an increase in sperm count and motility.

Tamarind extract has low toxicity and is safe up to an oral dose of 2000 mg/kg (13).

Tamarind is a household name. This sour-sweet fruit is a staple in several cuisines. Its integral place in the kitchen is because of its excellent nutritional value. Check out the next section to find out more.

Nutritional Value of Tamarind

The values in the brackets include the daily value of the particular nutrient the serving of the ingredient meets .

NUTRITIONAL VALUE PER 1 CUP, PULP 120 g
Nutrients	Units	Quantity
Water	g	37.68
Energy	kcal	287
Energy	kJ	1200
Protein	g	3.36
Total lipid (fat)	g	0.72
Ash	g	3.24
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	75.00
Fiber, total dietary	g	6.1
Sugars, total	g	46.56
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	89
Iron, Fe	mg	3.36
Magnesium, Mg	mg	110
Phosphorus, P	mg	136
Potassium, K	mg	754
Sodium, Na	mg	34
Zinc, Zn	mg	0.12
Copper, Cu	mg	0.103
Selenium, Se	mg	1.6
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	4.2
Thiamin	mg	0.514
Riboflavin	mg	0.182
Niacin	mg	2.326
Pantothenic acid	mg	0.172
Vitamin (B6)	mg	0.079
Folate, total	mg	17
Folate, food	mg	17
Folate, DFE	µg	17
Choline, total	mg	10.3
Vitamin A, RAE	µg	2
Carotene, beta	µg	22
Vitamin A, IU	IU	36
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	mg	0.12
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	µg	3.4

(Source: United States Department of Agriculture)

Tamarind contains a variety of biologically active phytochemical compounds. Predominantly, it contains catechin, epicatechin, proanthocyanidins, apigenin, luteolin, naringenin, taxifolin, eriodictyol, and other phenolic polymers (14).

Tamarind leaf pulp contains pipecolic acid, nicotinic acid, 1-malic acid, geraniol, limonene, pipecolic acid, lupanone, lupeol, orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, cinnamates, serine, pectin, tannins, and glycosides (7).

Tamarind fruits commonly contain tannins, succinic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, and pectin. Its seeds contain campesterol, beta-amyrin, beta-sitosterol, oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and eicosanoic acid. Cellulose, albuminoid amyloids, and phytohemagglutinin were also found in traces (7).

The phytochemicals and nutrients of tamarind act in synergy to produce its miraculous benefits.

Aren’t you excited to use tamarind in your cooking? Here are a few tips on how to use and store tamarind.

How To Use And Store Tamarind

There are various ways you can use tamarind in your cooking.

One of the simplest ways to extract the pulp of this fruit is by soaking it.

• Soak a small piece of tamarind in warm water.
• Leave it in the water for about 10 minutes until it softens. Squeeze and squish the tamarind piece with your fingers.
• Strain the juice and discard the pulp.

The next method takes a bit longer. You will need to soak, refrigerate, and extract the pulp.

• Place a handful of semi-dried tamarind pieces in a glass container that has a lid.
• Pour enough drinking water to immerse the pieces.
• Close the lid and place the container in the refrigerator.
• Leave it overnight. By the next morning, the chunks of tamarind will soften and be ready to use.
• Squeeze sufficient pulp and store the rest of the soft tamarind.
• Cover the container once you are done. Let the rest remain in the refrigerator until it lasts.

Now comes the elaborate and (a little) messier way of extracting the pulp. In this method, you soak, squeeze, and boil the tamarind.

• Add 5-6 ounces of tamarind pieces and 2 cups of water to a microwave-safe bowl.
• Heat it in the microwave for about a minute until the pieces soften.
• Let the contents cool down completely.
• Once cooled, squish out the pulp from the soaked tamarind pieces using your fingers.
• Add small amounts of water and keep squeezing the pulp until the yield ceases.
• You will have a slurry of tamarind pulp in water.
• Run the slurry through a mesh/sieve/strainer to collect the juice in a colander.
• Add more water to the remaining pulp in the sieve and squeeze it to extract the last traces of tamarind juice.
• You should only be left with the fiber and seeds from the fruit when you are done.
• Discard the solid waste and transfer the juice to a saucepan.
• Boil the contents for 1-2 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer for 5 minutes. The juice should thicken to a soupy-syrupy consistency by now.
• Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
• Pour the fresh tamarind syrup into a clean, sterile jar.
• Refrigerate until the next use.
• Use a clean, dry spoon to take out the tamarind syrup.
• Refrigerate the rest. Don’t leave the spoon/ladle in the bottle.

This way, tamarind extract can last up to three months. If you use tamarind in your cooking every day, the above method is probably the best. It saves you time and effort without compromising on the taste.

You can try the method you prefer and enjoy the benefits of tamarind. Including tamarind in your food can fulfill the recommended daily requirement of several minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

Tamarind also has medicinal uses. It could be used in the form of a beverage to treat constipation or fever. Its bark and leaves may also be used to promote wound healing. However, more research is warranted in this regard.

Different Forms Of Tamarind

There are two major forms of tamarind. The most common form is the one that tastes sour. The other form is sweet tamarind that is usually grown in Thailand.

Tamarind can be consumed fresh, both in its ripe or unripe forms. It also can be processed into different products. Tamarind juice has similar benefits, as discussed in this post.

Though tamarind is medicinally very relevant, excess intake can cause problems. In the following section, we will look at the possible side effects of tamarind.

Does Tamarind Have Any Side Effects Or Risks?

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers tamarind fruit to be safe and non-toxic. Rat studies have shown no mortality/toxicity even after the administration of 5000 mg/kg and 3000 mg/kg doses of its extract (15).

However, your kidneys may be affected by mineral overload. It would be better to consult a nutritionist/healthcare provider to decide on the upper limit of tamarind intake for you (15).

There is insufficient data to understand the safety of consuming tamarind for pregnant and nursing women.

Also, if you are on anti hypertensive or anti-diabetic drug medication, it is better to consume only small amounts of this fruit extract. Some may advise you against its usage. However, none of these claims have been proven.

Conclusion

Tamarind is the central ingredient of Indian and several indigenous Asian dishes. Traditional medicine considers this fruit and its parts a remedy for a host of conditions.

Its leaves, fruit, seeds, bark, stems, branches, and flowers (almost every part) have high therapeutic value. The anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, catechins, tannins, polyphenolic acids, minerals, vitamins, sugars, and other phytonutrients make tamarind an ingredient you cannot miss.

Expert’s Answers for Readers Questions

Is it good to eat tamarind every day?

Yes. Tamarind is rich in nutrients, and including it in your everyday diet can improve your health in the long run.

Is tamarind good for sleep?

Some believe that the high magnesium content in tamarind may help promote sleep. The mineral is believed to relax nerves. However, there is lack of scientific evidence to back this up.

Does tamarind help treat kidney stones?

There is no research that links tamarind to treating kidney stones. Excess intake of tamarind may, in fact, overload your kidneys with the minerals.

Is tamarind good for migraine?

There is no scientific backing to prove that tamarind can help migraines.

15 sources

Stylecraze有严格的采购准则，并依赖经过同行评审的研究，学术研究机构和医学协会。我们避免使用三级引用。您可以阅读我们的编辑政策，进一步了解我们如何确保内容的准确性和最新性。

• 罗望子果：挖掘潜力的潜力，生药学评论，美国国家医学图书馆，美国国立卫生研究院。

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210002/

• 罗望子种子提取物减轻了关节炎大鼠的肝脏氧化应激，食品与功能，美国国家医学图书馆，美国国立卫生研究院。

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24500568

• Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of a New Tablets Formulation from Tamarindus indica L., Hindawi, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

  www.academia.edu/31741563/Antioxidant_and_Hepatoprotective_Activity_of_a_New_Tablets_Formulation_from_Tamarindus_indica_L

• Cleansing lotion containing tamarind fruit pulp extract. III. Study of lightening efficacy and skin irritation on Asian skin type, ScienceAsia, CiteSeerX, The Pennsylvania State University.

  citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.488.1466&rep=rep1&type=pdf

• Skin Lightening and Sebum Control Efficacy of a Cosmetic Emulsion Containing Extract of Tamarind Seeds on Asian Skin Type, Latin American Journal Of Pharmacy, ResearchGate.

  www.academia.edu/30222560/_Skin_Lightening_and_Sebum_Control_Efficacy_of_a_Cosmetic_Emulsion_Containing_Extract_of_Tamarind_Seeds_on_Asian_Skin_Type

• Antiobesity effect of Tamarindus indica L. pulp aqueous extractin high-fat diet-induced obese rats, Journal of Natural Medicines, Academia.

  www.academia.edu/32111753/Antiobesity_effect_of_Tamarindus_indica_L._pulp_aqueous_extract_in_high-fat_diet-induced_obese_rats

• Medicinal uses & pharmacological activity of Tamarindus indica, World Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academia.

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• A Comprehensive Review on Rasam: A South Indian Traditional Functional Food, Pharmacognosy Review, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

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• Effect of Tamarindus indica fruits on blood pressure and lipid-profile in human model: an in vivo approach, Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16751124

• Tamarindus indica: Extent of explored potential, Pharmacognosy Review, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210002/

• Anti-inflammatory action of Tamarind seeds reduces hyperglycemic excursion by repressing pancreatic β-cell damage and normalizing SREBP-1c concentration, Pharmaceutical Biology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23151094

• Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effect of Seed Hydromethanolic Extract of Tamarindus indica L. on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Rat, American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical Therapeutics, CiteSeerX, The Pennsylvania State University.

  citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.684.5252&rep=rep1&type=pdf

• Evaluation of the aphrodisiac potential of a chemically characterized aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica pulp, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28830817

• Isolation and structure elucidation of phenolic antioxidants from Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) seeds and pericarp, Food and Chemical Toxicology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16000233

• Six-Month Chronic Toxicity Study of Tamarind Pulp (Tamarindus indica L.) Water Extract, Scientia Pharmaceutica, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

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