The water chestnut, also called the Chinese water chestnut or the water caltrop, is a tuber vegetable that resembles a chestnut in color and shape. Although it is most commonly associated with Chinese cooking, it is now gaining in popularity as a cooking ingredient in many different ethnic meals. Originating in Southeast Asia, water chestnuts are the roots of an aquatic plant that grows in freshwater ponds, marshes and lakes, and in slow-moving rivers and streams. Currently, water chestnuts are grown in Japan, Taiwan, China and Thailand as well as in Australia. When harvesting water chestnuts, much labor is involved. Because of this, water chestnuts are fairly expensive to purchase, especially in a processed or canned form. However, processed and canned water chestnuts are the most common form used for producing and mass-marketing water chestnuts to consumers. You can easily purchase these products in most supermarkets and grocery stores. You can also purchase fresh water chestnuts, which are more difficult to find, at some specialty vegetable stores and ethnic markets. When purchasing fresh water chestnuts, however, know who your supplier is first to ensure that the tubers, which you are buying, are fresh.
Health Benefits of Water Chestnut
- Water chestnuts are just the perfect food for those who want to lead a healthy life. They are almost fatless and are therefore, a healthy food option. Half a cup of water chestnuts contains only 0.1 g fat.
- Water chestnuts are an excellent source of potassium, which is a very important mineral for human health. Half a cup of water chestnuts contains 350 to 360 mg of potassium.
- Water chestnuts are known to have cooling properties and as such, they are just perfect to beat the summer heat. They are also known to have numerous curative and supplementary properties.
- Drinking water chestnut juice can help alleviate the problem of nausea and bad appetite in kids.
- Water chestnuts are also known to contain detoxifying properties and are considered to be good for people suffering from jaundice.
- Water chestnut powder helps to relieve cough. Grind water chestnuts to make a powder. Consume this powder with water twice a day. This dosage will bring quick relief in cough.
- Water chestnuts are also good in treating conditions like measles. Boiling them in water makes the best drink for the measles patients, which can be given from the third day till the ninth day of the cycle.
