Tamarind for Diabetes

Diabetes is on the rise worldwide, with about 25 percent of the world's population suffering from the disease, according to a 2010 article in "Pakistan Journal of Pharmacological Science." In America, some 20 million people are diabetic and another 40 million people have pre-diabetes. This disease is characterized by high blood sugar levels, which can lead to complications ranging from nerve damage to stroke to coronary artery disease. Interest in herbs that may help prevent or control diabetes has risen along with the incidence of this disease. Tamarind, which has carb-blocking potential, is one of many plants being studied for this purpose.

Significance

Using tamarind and other plants with carb-blocking properties may be one method to help prevent diabetes and obesity, says Harry G. Preuss in a 2009 "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" article. Excessive consumption of processed carbohydrates may play a role in the development of diabetes and insulin resistance. Inhibiting carbohydrate absorption may be one alternative to a planned diet that features only small portions of refined carbohydrates or a diet that is high in fiber, which slows carbohydrate absorption. Such diets are not popular among the general public, Preuss notes.

Function

Tamarind has carb-blocking potential because it inhibits alpha-amylase, an enzyme your body needs to absorb carbohydrates. It is among numerous plants that inhibit this enzyme, including blueberry, lemon balm, rosemary and green tea extract. White kidney bean extract is the most-studied amylase inhibitor, with both human and animal studies confirming that it works as a carb blocker, notes Preuss.

Diabetes Management

Amylase inhibitors like tamarind have potential for aiding you if you already are diabetic because the carb-blocking effect helps lower your post-meal blood glucose levels. Tamarind already has a history of traditional use as a diabetes aid. The 2010 study in the "Pakistan Journal of Pharmacological Science" notes that plants with hypoglycemic, or blood-sugar-lowering, potential may ultimately be better options than medicines used to manage diabetes because they are more harmonious with your biological systems. The insulin therapy often used to treat diabetes has numerous drawbacks associated with long-term treatment, according to lead study author Hamidreza Mahmouzadeh-Sagheb. These include insulin resistance, fatty liver, anorexia nervosa and brain atrophy. Tamarind, on the other hand, may protect against oxidative damage in the pancreas associated with diabetes thanks to the plant's tannins, which have antioxidant properties, Mahmouzadeh-Sagheb notes.

Tamarind Use

More study on effective dosages and considerations like possible side effects is needed before tamarind or other amylase inhibitors can be recommended for use in managing or preventing diabetes, note M. F. and I. Funke, authors of a 2007 study published in the German medical journal "Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift."

Tamarind is commonly used in Indian cooking. It is a souring agent for dishes such as chutneys, the Indian seafood pickle named "tamarind fish," and in rice and fish dishes. Sugared tamarind pulp frequently is used as a confection. Tamarind contains fiber, niacin, calcium, iron, phosphorus, thiamine and riboflavin. This tropical plant produces bean-like fruits in abundance that are cinnamon or grayish-brown. This plant is native to tropical Africa, but was introduced to India so long ago that some reports mark it as being indigenous to the latter area, according to Purdue University in Indiana.

Tamarind for Diabetes

Significance

Function

Diabetes Management

Tamarind Use

References

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