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| Photo by Wilvia Dsouza; Garcinia indica |
- Endure the balance of the savory
Garcinia indica, also known as kokum, or red mango, is a tropical evergreen tree endemic to the Western Ghats of India that has maroon hard skin on the exterior and seeds covered with white flesh. These fruits are used in the culinary, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Traditionally used in tropical regions, as they grow mostly on the western coast of India.Brinda, Brindan, bhirand, panarpuli, amsool, etc. are the names given to this fruit. Most of our parents would prepare the drink panarpuli for guests or themselves, especially in summer. It tastes heavenly with a mix of sweet and sour tastes.
Kokum juice is heavily used in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and other places where there is too much heat, as kokum is the cooling ingredient in both food and drinks.
Red mangoes have a very attractive look inside and out. It can be eaten raw, or one can prepare juice, or it can be cooked. In Asia and Antarctica, there are almost 200 species of Garcinia Indica, the term mainly used for the tree. Chocolates, medicines, and cosmetics are prepared with the seeds of the fruit.
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| Photo by Wilvia Dsouza; Ripe raw Mangoe (Brinda) |
10 Health Benefits of Kokum
- Body Cooling & Heatstroke Prevention: To keep your body cool, drinking a glass of kokum juice on summer days helps reduce internal body temperature, prevent dehydration, and replenish lost electrolytes.
- Acidity & Indigestion: Kokum is known for its digestive ailment that helps in reducing gastric production. Cellulose and natural acids in them help clear up flatulence, bloating, and extreme indigestion, which soothes the stomach lining.
- Weight Management: Hydroxycitric acid is present in kokum in high levels and acts as a natural appetite suppressant, inhibiting the enzyme citrate lyase that converts carbohydrates into fats, making it the best weight management regimen.
- Antioxidant: Due to its high concentration of anthocyanins, it hunts down harmful free radicals in the body that help in reducing oxidative stress and protect cells from premature aging and diseases.
- Heart Health: Garcinol is present in Kokum, an anti-inflammatory compound that minimizes the oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol) and reduces arterial inflammation. Kokum juice keeps the cardiovascular system healthy and maintains balanced blood pressure.
- Boosts immunity & Fights Microbes: Reinforce your body's natural defense mechanism as it contains Vitamin C, citric acid, and essential minerals. Possessed by anti-bacterial properties, it fights food-borne pathogens and minor infections.
- Liver Protection: Garcinol helps in shielding the liver from toxic damage and reduces lipid peroxidation. Kokum is a natural detoxification as it breaks down harmful chemicals.
- Anti-inflammatory: Aging cannot be prevented, but many modern diseases arise from living longer, and chronic inflammation is the real cause of them (like arthritis or metabolism). As a powerful source of phenolic compounds, Kokum inhibits pro-inflammatory enzymes to naturally relieve joint pains and System-wide inflammation.
- Promotes Skincare: Kokum butter, which comes from the seeds of the kokum fruit, can be applied to skin or consumed as a fruit to help restore damaged skin cells. This pleasingly emulsifying, non-comedogenic, and curing nature makes it an incredible fruit to cater to skin burns, allergies, and cracked heels.
- Blood sugar level regulations: Kokum improves insulin sensitivity and promotes optimal glucose metabolism. It helps to slow down the immediate absorption of sugars, thus avoiding sudden glucose spikes, which put a strain on the pancreas.
Quick Tip: While dried kokum rinds are excellent for souring curries, a fresh, unsweetened kokum extract or sherbet is the most effective way to reap its intense cooling and digestive benefits. Be mindful of store-bought versions, which are often loaded with refined white sugar.
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| Photo by Wilvia Dsouza; Garcinia indica or Amsool |
Medicinal Use of Kokum
Kokum (Garcinia indica): A ʺsuperherbal remedy. Its rind is high in hydroxycitric acid (HCA), and garcinol is a top Ayurvedic treatment for hyperacidity, ulcers, and intestinal worms, which suppress gastric acids and calm the gut. This ensures X improved skin cell regeneration and enhanced wound repair that heals eczema, dermatitis, and cracked heels, while seed butter provides deep, non-comedogenic, and intense hydration.
HCA acts by blocking fat synthesis in favor of a healthy body mass, while garcinol has great cardioprotective relevance as well as interesting anticancer activity via inducing apoptosis and evolution of malignant cells. All these anti-inflammatory and microbial properties make it a medicinal regular.
Conclusion
When the fruits are dried completely, they are called kokum, which is used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Kokum is used mainly in fish curries, or it is added to chutney and pickles.
Kokum and tamarind are similar in taste and looks; both are sticky, sweet, and sour. When this dried fruit is added to the dish turns a pinkish-purple color.
There are lots of benefits to using this fruit. It’s used as a treatment for burns, skin allergies, insect bites, sun exposure, etc. Most importantly, it’s a refrigerant for our bodies that shields us from heat.
Watch this short video:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Padhye, S., Ahmad, A., Oswal, N., & Sarkar, F. H. (2009). Emerging role of Garcinol, the antioxidant chalcone from Garcinia indica Choisy and its synthetic analogs. Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 2(1), 38. doi: 10.1186/1756-8722-2-38
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Garcinia+indica
Kokum. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2020, from http://theepicentre.com/spice/kokum/
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