What do you know about water chestnuts? If you are drawing a blank, don’t be surprised. They aren’t a common ingredient in American households and are usually found in Asian food stores. Yet, the health benefits of this delicious aquatic vegetable might be enough to get on your radar.
Water chestnuts thrive in freshwater. When ripe, they have a distinctive nutty and sweet flavor. They also have a lovely, interesting texture. If you are intrigued by water chestnut products, here are 6 good health-related reasons for you to enjoy this delicious veggie.
1. Provide Vitamins And Minerals
Often, the key to making food exciting is to experiment with new ingredients. And if you’re looking for ways to fuel up on vitamins and minerals, water chestnuts might be the ticket. They’re a marvelous way to deviate from the same fruits and vegetables that you’ve had for years. These unusual veggies are rich in vitamin C and B6 along with potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium.1Plus, water chestnuts are extremely versatile. They can be used in savory foods or in exotic sweets like Thailand’s Thab Thim Krob, an iced water chestnut and coconut milk dessert. We’ll take seconds, please!
2. Boost Cardiovascular Health
If you are looking to elevate your heart health, consider water chestnuts. Each 100 gm serving of water chestnuts contains 3 gm of fiber.2And according to the American Heart Association, high fiber intake can promote overall cardiovascular health and weight loss.3
To top it off, the B6 in water chestnuts can contribute 4 percent (fresh) to 9 percent (canned) of your recommended daily intake.4This B vitamin aids in maintaining normal levels of amino acid homocysteine, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine at high levels is linked to heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, though the connection between the two is not yet fully understood.5
3. Ease Abdominal Pain And Dysentery
Water chestnuts have antibacterial properties and the ability to treat dysentery. They can also help your body fight abdominal pain by combating bad bacteria such as the notorious E.coli.6Specifically, the fiber in water chestnuts makes it useful for maintaining regular bowel movements and preventing constipation.7The juice of water chestnuts has also been shown to ease nausea and improve appetite in children, according to a Malaysian university journal.8Hernia, a painful condition, too can be eased by consuming water chestnut.9
4. Heal The Reproductive System
The water chestnut can come in handy to treat two distressing reproductive health problems in women. Amenorrhea (abnormal or absent menstrual periods) can be traumatic for the body and overall cycle. Surprisingly, water chestnut has been used to ease this problem.10
Vaginitis or leucorrhea, characterized by a yellow and often smelly discharge with pain or irritation, may be treated by consuming water chestnuts. They are also administered with milk to treat the problem. The same remedy is also suggested for improving seminal health.11
5. Soothe Liver Trouble
Water chestnuts are hepatoprotective and have been used in traditional medicine to treat liver disorders and diseases.12An animal study found that water chestnut extracts improved injured livers in animals with liver damage. Researchers suggest this hepatoprotective action may be closely linked to its antioxidant capability.13
6. Battle Bacteria
Amazingly enough, the juice extracted from a water chestnut has bactericidal properties, or the ability to not just stop bacteria’s progress but actually kill them too. Researchers have found that besides the antibacterial action of water chestnut peel extract against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, there is also bactericidal action against S. aureus, causing cell death of this bacteria.14
Water Chestnuts And Ancient Tradition
Ayurvedic Remedy
In Sanskrit, water chestnut is called “shrungataka.” It is used to calm aggravated pitta, helping with ailments resulting from what Ayurveda calls “pitta dosha” or a fiery constitution. It is also considered to be a superb diuretic. Furthermore, it aids in blood coagulation, particularly in hemorrhaging postpartum. This remedy is also a core ingredient in treatments for diseases of the head, building bone strength, fractures, and aphrodisiac and rejuvenation formulations.15
Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Chinese medicine, a hypertension treatment tea can be made with a blend of water chestnut and the peel of fresh mandarin orange. This aquatic vegetable is also used to treat diabetes, pink eye, jaundice, and sore throat. Practitioners typically suggest drinking water chestnut juice or eating the vegetable twice a day to heal hemorrhoids or mouth canker sores. But wait, there’s more: water chestnuts are also used in remedies for diarrhea, abdominal pain, liver problems, and hernia. 16
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