Banana vs Tamarind

Per 100 g, Banana has 89 kcal and 1.1 g protein, while Tamarind has 287 kcal and 2.7 g protein.

Banana

89
kcal per 100 g
1.1 g protein

Tamarind

287
kcal per 100 g
2.7 g protein

Nutrition compared, per 100 g

Both foods are shown per 100 g so the numbers are directly comparable. A single serving of each is a different size, so serving-for-serving figures would not tell you much.

Nutrient Banana Tamarind Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 89 kcal better 287 kcal 69%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 1.1 g 2.7 g better 59%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 22.9 g better 67.3 g 66%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 0.3 g 0 g better 100%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 2.6 g 5.3 g better 51%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 11.9 g better 52.7 g 77%
"Better" marks the more favourable value for a general healthy-eating goal, not a judgement about the food overall. Differences under 5% are treated as equivalent.

Which is better for weight loss?

Banana

Banana is the lighter choice at 89 kcal per 100 g against 287 for Tamarind — about 69% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Tamarind a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Tamarind

Tamarind is the stronger protein source, with 2.7 g per 100 g against 1.1 g for Banana. To match that from Banana you would have to eat roughly 2.5 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target. Worth noting the trade-off: Banana is more efficient per calorie (1.2 g of protein per 100 kcal against 0.9 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Banana vs Tamarind — common questions

Tamarind has more calories — about 287 kcal per 100 g compared with 89 kcal for Banana.

Tamarind has more protein — 2.7 g per 100 g against 1.1 g for Banana.

Banana is the lighter choice at 89 kcal per 100 g against 287 for Tamarind — about 69% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Tamarind a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Tamarind is the stronger protein source, with 2.7 g per 100 g against 1.1 g for Banana. To match that from Banana you would have to eat roughly 2.5 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target. Worth noting the trade-off: Banana is more efficient per calorie (1.2 g of protein per 100 kcal against 0.9 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 376 kcal and 3.8 g protein per 100 g of each. Indian meals are usually built from pairs like this, and mixing a grain with a protein source generally makes for a better-balanced plate than either on its own.

For most everyday goals Banana has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Banana has 89 kcal and 1.1 g protein, while Tamarind has 287 kcal and 2.7 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Banana nutrition & serving sizes
Full Tamarind nutrition & serving sizes

Data source: nutrition values are drawn from the Indian Nutrient Databank (INDB), Vijayakumar et al., Curr Dev Nutr 2024;8(7):103790, used under CC BY 4.0, and derived from the ICMR-NIN Indian Food Composition Tables. Values vary with recipe, oil used and regional style.

General information only, not medical advice. See our disclaimer.