What Are the Benefits of Acacia?

Acacia trees are common in warmer parts of Australia, Asia and the Pacific islands.
i Anup Shah/Digital Vision/Getty Images

The acacia, a little tree with bright yellow flowers and a top that looks like the wind overtook an umbrella, offers many health benefits. For hundreds of years, people have believed that it helps treat problems like colds, congestion, diarrhea, fever, gallbladder disease, hemorrhoids, smallpox and tuberculosis. Although some of these claims are a bit over-the-top, acacia extracts taken from leaves, branches, seeds, flowers and sap may help you thwart illness and keep your teeth and digestive system in tip-top shape.

Acacia Flour and Protein

    Acacia flour is packed with protein and fiber, according to Nigerian researchers who published a study in "Nutrition and Health" in 2006. They studied the diets of 118 people in southern Niger and found that adding acacia seed flour to their regular diet significantly boosted their protein and fiber intake. The researchers concluded that some people benefit from adding acacia to their diets because it makes all their meals more nutritious.

Boosts Immune System

    The most common cancer treatments can damage the immune system, according to authors of an article published in "Journal of Experimental Therapeutics and Oncology" in 2012, but acacia may help fix that. The researchers reported that acacia extract increased the white blood cell count in mice, making their immune systems stronger. Because acacia extract decreases the side effects of chemotherapy, it may help cancer patients stay healthier and stronger throughout their treatment. Acacia also may reduce the effects of toxic ingredients in some synthetic drugs.

Dental Health

    Acacia may help keep your smile bright and pretty. In a study published in the "Chinese Journal of Dental Research" in 2012, researchers added an extract of Acacia arabica, a tree variety common in India, to toothpaste. After observing 60 adults who used either the Acacia-containing toothpaste or regular toothpaste for eight weeks, researchers found that those who used toothpaste with Acacia arabica had a lower risk of gingivitis and concluded that it may be a wise addition to daily oral hygiene.

Prebiotic Benefits

    Taking acacia with yogurt may benefit your digestive system. The fiber in acacia gum has carbohydrates with prebiotic effects, according to authors of a paper published in the journal "Nutrients" in 2012. Prebiotic carbohydrates work with probiotics, the "good" bacteria in yogurt and kefir, to fight the "bad" bacteria that can make you sick. According to the Mayo Clinic, prebiotic and probiotic agents may help you ward off diarrhea, yeast infections, irritable bowel syndrome and eczema.

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