Tannins are tannins that are contained, for example, in wine and tea. But the plant defense substances are much more widespread and have a positive effect on health. Here you can find all the important background information.
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What are tannins?
Tannins – or also: tannins – have a tart taste and are also called “anti-nutrients”. This is because they act as natural defenses against microbial pathogens or pests. For rams, tannins are harmful in excessive amounts and cause stomach and intestinal pain because they inhibit nutrient absorption.
Tannins react as acids and cause mucous membranes to contract. Tannins are a group of various acids derived from spherical growths on plants, also called galls or gall apples.
Where do tannins occur?
Many different plants produce tannins. Therefore, they are found in a variety of foods:
- Legumes
- cereals
- many fruits, including apples and pears, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries, bananas, grapes, peaches and plums
- green tea and black tea
- Red wine
- Beer (due to the tannin content of hops)
The property of contracting the mucous membranes provide a kind of dull, furry feeling. The taste can be described as tart. A good example is the bitter taste of dark chocolate.
Especially in wine, tannins affect shelf life, color, aging and texture. Tannins bind the oxygen in the wine. Daducrh the fine wine flavors do not dissipate so quickly.
How are tannins to be evaluated from a health point of view?
Tannins have long been undesirable in food because they can form complexes with digestive enzymes and proteins in the intestine. This hinders the absorption of certain minerals and vitamins. For example, tannins can impede the absorption of iron. Therefore particularly vegetarians and Veganer with very fruit and leguminous nutrition should test regularly their iron mirror, so it explains the nourishing encyclopedia of spectrum.
Meanwhile, however, the positive properties of tannins are also known and appreciated, which has upgraded the negative reputation of tannins, see the health portal Onmeda.de. However, these properties differ from tannin to tannin:
- Some tannins exhibit anti-cancer properties.
- In addition, some of them have an antimicrobial effect, i.e. they inhibit or kill microorganisms.
- In addition, tannins are popularly used to treat diarrhea.
- They can relieve inflammation on the skin or mucous membranes.
- Small injured blood vessels can also be closed with the help of tannin.
- Last but not least, they can lower blood sugar levels by slowing down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.