A water chestnut is, despite its name, an aquatic tuberous vegetable. Widely consumed in Asia, especially in Chinese recipes, it is still not very popular in Brazil. It can be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted, and is therefore part of many tasty dishes.

Properties of the water chestnut

The water chestnut has a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture. Its edible part, the seed, is full of nutrients in its composition. It is harvested when its outer part (the shell) is brown. However, the seed is white.

Basically, it is a water vegetable that is especially rich in minerals, such as potassium and zinc, and is also packed with vitamins, such as vitamin B1 and E. Furthermore, it is low in calories: 100 g of the nut contain approximately 97 calories.

Benefits of the water chestnut

Protects heart health

Rich in fibers In this way, it helps control the level of cholesterol in the body and regulate blood pressure.

Read more: High-fiber diet can prevent heart disease and diabetes

Helps in weight control

Rich in minerals directly linked to the thyroid, it helps to control possible disorders in the gland.

Read also: Foods that support the gut microbiome and weight loss

Detoxifies the body

Whether in its raw or cooked form, it is an excellent way to detoxify the body naturally. In fact, it acts in the body as a small 100% natural tonic, helping to remove toxins from it.

Helps in the treatment of diabetes

Not only that, the water chestnut has no fats or gluten in its composition. In this sense, its glycemic index is low and does not cause large spikes of sugar in the blood. Therefore, it helps in the secretion of insulin and the control of glucose levels in the blood, which can be beneficial for patients diagnosed with diabetes.

Prevents disease

Among other factors, it is oxidative stress that causes diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. Thus, it is possible to say that the aquatic vegetable helps to prevent diseases like these.

Among the antioxidants present in its composition it is possible to mention some very powerful ones: ferulic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, catechin gallate, and others.

How to consume the water chestnut

At first, it can be found for sale especially in stores specializing in Asian food and products. Restaurants specializing in the following cuisines also usually include recipes with this nut on their menu: Filipino, Australian, Chinese, and Thai.

• Chop suey - Chinese recipe;
• Thab Thim Crob - Thai dessert;
• Curry;
• Salads.