Our goal at Etnia Nativa is to create cultural awareness, promote education and safeguard our heritage by guiding our readers to become the next and new guardians of the island. In this episode we would like to raise awareness regarding this wonder tree called the Tamarind, Tamarindus indica .
A tree that we can find in many gardens on our island and from which we like to enjoy not only the deliciousness of its fruit but also the number of benefits it has for our health. Well in this episode we are going to share some details with you.. The tamarind tree is native to the island of Madagascar in Africa, however today you will find it everywhere. For example in its adaptation to tropical areas of India, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean isles has been a total success. This tree produces bean-like pods which contain seeds surrounded whit pulp, held together by fiber sting. As these pods ripen, the pulp becomes paste-like and takes on a sweet-citric sour taste. It was the Dutch who brought its seeds to Aruba and around the world as medicine to mitigate scurvy during their long maritime voyages.
Since processed Tamarind comes in so many forms and is consumed in countless ways, We will walk you through its wide usage and excellent health benefits and as ingredient in the cuisine of Aruba and different parts of the world. From boosting your immunity to keeping your liver and heart safe from diseases, tamarind does your health a world of good. Helps in weight loss, with digestion and also effective in managing diabetes, aids a healthy heart and takes care of your liver and as if this were not enough It can help you deal with allergies.
Tamarind is rich in fiber and has no fat content. Studies suggest that eating tamarind daily might actually help in weight reduction since it contains flavonoids and polyphenols. The Tamarind is also loaded with hydroxycitric acid, which reduces your appetite by inhibiting amylase, an enzyme responsible for converting carbohydrate into fat. Tamarind has been used since ancient times as a laxative because of its acids and potassium content. Its ability to relax abdominal muscles is why it is also used as a remedy for diarrhea. So, while the fruit is used to relieve constipation, the leaves provide treatment from diarrhea, and the root and bark can be consumed to alleviate abdominal pain, while the leaves can be boiled in an anti-flu tea. It is believed that the Tamarind seed extracts contains qualities which offer great defense against diabetes, since in addition of being anti-inflammatory, it can stabilize blood sugar levels and reverse pancreatic tissue damage due to the alpha-amylase enzyme found in it that reduces blood sugar levels.
Tamarind is a very heart-friendly fruit, has high potassium content which can help keep your blood pressure in check. Flavonoids present in tamarind lowers “bad” cholesterol and raise “good” cholesterol levels, thus preventing the build-up of triglycerides that are a type of fat in the blood. It turns out that tamarind can take care of your liver as well. A diet rich in calories leads to a fatty liver and studies suggest that daily consumption of tamarind extracts can also reverse this condition. At the beginning of our episode we also told you that tamarind can help with allergies, control asthma and with coughs due to its antihistamine properties, it has a high percentage of vitamin C and can stimulate the immune system to prevent colds and coughs.
Do you have planned to learn about Aruba its origins and cultural heritage all by a full blood Aruban? We recommend you to be part of the exclusive visitors at this cozy museum-home called “Etnia Nativa”. Native art, archaeological artifacts and colonial furniture, while the facility itself is the result of transforming recycled materials in to structure.
Make your appointment through Whatsapp + 297 592 2702- or mail: etnianativa03@gmail.com
