Tamarind

Tamarindus indica · अम्लिका

Fruits. Ayurveda, African, Caribbean and Modern nutrition.

Also called Indian date, Tamarindo, Imli

Pinyin: Luó Wàng Zi

Spanish: Tamarindo

Sanskrit: अम्लिका (Amlika)

May lower blood sugar

Tamarind is a sour-sweet pod fruit with brown pulp, used in cooking, sauces and drinks, and in folk medicine as a mild laxative.

Did you know? Tamarind is one of the main sour flavors in Worcestershire sauce and in Thai pad thai.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Constipation. Tamarind pulp is a traditional laxative. Good human trials are lacking.
Traditional proof
Blood sugar. Animal and lab studies suggest tamarind may lower blood sugar. Human trials are small, if they exist.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Gut & intestines, Pancreas & blood sugar

Traditional use

Tamarind has long been used in Ayurveda and in African and Caribbean folk medicine. The pulp is used as a mild laxative and for digestion, though these uses are not well tested.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Laxative, Nutritive. Energy: warming.
Ayurveda: Calms Vata. Can raise Pitta. Taste (rasa): sour, sweet. Energy (virya): heating. After digestion (vipaka): sour. Rechana (laxative).

How people take it

Eaten as a sour-sweet pulp in drinks, sauces, curries and candy. Traditional laxative use is a small amount of pulp or drink. No standard dose is set.

Food and juice.

Where to get it

Grows on tall evergreen trees in tropical Africa, South Asia, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Sold as pulp blocks, paste, concentrate, dried pods and candy. Key nutrients: potassium, fiber, thiamine (vitamin B1) and tartaric acid (the sour compound).

Be careful

Large amounts can cause stomach upset or diarrhea. Tamarind may lower blood sugar, so people on diabetes medicines should check with a doctor before taking large amounts. Unripe tamarind is very sour and can irritate the stomach.

Avoid if: diabetes medicines.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Tamarind and cumin appear together in many Indian and Mexican dishes and chutneys.
Use caution
Diabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Animal studies suggest tamarind lowers blood sugar. Combined with diabetes medicines, the effect could be too strong.

Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.

The honest take

Tamarind is a tasty sour fruit with real traditional use in cooking and as a mild laxative. Most claims about blood sugar and cholesterol come from animal studies. Ayurvedic qualities vary between sources, so treat them as tradition, not proof.