Popularly called Awin in Yoruba, Icheku in Igbo and Tsamiyar
kurm in Hausa land the black velvet tamarind fruit has much more
significant benefits than the pleasure derived in playfully removing it
from its shell.
This beautiful fruit can also be found in some West African countries
such as Ghana where it is known as Yoyi, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Also
scientifically called Dialium guineense Wild, the black velvet tamarind
is potentially a great source of nutrients for human food.
Analyzing the proximate composition of this wonder fruit, it contains a
set of selected inorganic ions and vitamin C. The sweet tangy taste of
this fruit no doubts can be addictive, thus endearing one to it every
day. However, according to Nutrition and you, here are a few health
benefits of this ‘potent’ fruit…
1. Its sticky pulp is a rich source of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP)
or dietary-fiber such as gums, hemicelluloses, mucilage, pectin and
tannins. 100 g of fruit pulp provides 5.1 or over 13% of dietary fiber.
NSP or dietary fiber in the food increases its bulk and augments bowel
movements thereby help prevent constipation. The fiber also binds to
toxins in the food thereby help protect the colon mucus membrane from
cancer-causing chemicals.
2. Black Velvet Tamarind is rich in tartaric acid. Tartaric acid is a
powerful anti-oxidant, thereby protecting the human body from harmful
free radicals.
3. This black velvet tamarind fruit contains many volatile
phytochemicals such as limonene, geraniol, safrole, cinnamic acid,
methyl salicylate, pyrazine and alkyl¬thiazoles. Together these
compounds account for the medicinal properties of tamarind.
4. This fruit is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium,
calcium, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium. Potassium is an important
component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and
blood pressure. Iron is essential for red blood cell production and as a
co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.
5. It is also rich in many vital vitamins, including thiamin (36% of
daily required levels), vitamin-A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, and
vitamin-C. Much of these vitamins plays antioxidant as well as co-factor
functions for enzyme metabolism inside the body.
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