Despite being called a chestnut, the water chestnut is not a nut at all. It is a tuber vegetable that grows in swamps, ponds, paddy fields and shallow lakes. Water chestnut benefits include aiding weight loss, inhibiting the growth of cancer, and improving digestion.
It is a vegetable native to many islands in Southeast Asia, Southern China, Taiwan, Australia, Africa, the Indian and Pacific oceans. It can be used raw or cooked in meals. It can be added to foods such as french fries, cutlets and salads. It has a white flesh.
What is water chestnut?
It is an aquatic/underwater vegetable grown in China, India and parts of Europe. Two species are grown under the name water chestnut – Trapa natans (aka aquatic plants or Jesuit nut) and Eleocharis dulcis.
Trapa natans (water caltrop or 'ling') is cultivated in Southern Europe and Asia. Eleokaris dulcis is grown extensively in China. Because,Trapa natans is called the European water urchin, while the latter is known as the Chinese water urchin.
Nutritional value of water chestnut
It is full of nutrients. The nutritional content of 100 grams of raw water chestnut is as follows:
Calories: 97
Fat: 0.1 grams
Carbs: 23.9 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 2 grams
Potassium: 17% of the RDI
Manganese: 17% of the RDI
Copper: 16% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 16% of the RDI
Riboflavin: 12% of the RDI
What are the benefits of water chestnut?
It contains high levels of antioxidants that can fight diseases. HE ISIt is especially rich in the antioxidants ferulic acid, gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate and catechin gallate.
It helps lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
It is low in calories and high in water content. Therefore, it helps to lose weight by keeping it full for a long time.
Water chestnut contains very high levels of the antioxidant ferulic acid. Ferulic acid suppresses the growth of breast, skin, thyroid, lung and bone cancer cells.
It relieves pain and inflammation.
CIt can be used to treat skin irritation, stomach ulcers, fever and age-related brain ailments.
Eating this water vegetable helps manage diabetes.
hemorrhoids, intestinal ulcer, diverticulitis and can help treat digestive problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease.
It is a flavor widely consumed in Asian countries. It is versatile and can be consumed raw, boiled, fried, grilled, pickled or candied.
For example, water chestnuts are peeled and sliced, and this sliced form is consumed alongside other dishes such as stir-fries, omelets and salads.
Because it has a crispy, sweet, apple-like flesh, it can also be eaten fresh after washing and peeling. Interestingly, the meat remains crispy even after boiling or frying.
Harms of water chestnut
It is a healthy and nutritious vegetable when consumed in moderation. However, it may not be suitable for everyone.
Water chestnuts are in the starchy vegetables group.Starchy vegetables It's relatively high in carbs, so it's important to consume it in moderation to avoid unwanted spikes in blood sugar levels, especially if you have diabetes.
Some people may be allergic to water chestnut, which can cause food allergy symptoms such as hives, itching, swelling, and redness.
