11 Surprising Benefits of Water Chestnuts

Water chestnuts have many health benefits, such as increase immunity, prevent heart diseases, increase red blood cell production, lower blood pressure and ability to aid in weight loss. Water chestnuts are not nuts. They are vegetables which grow in shallow lakes, ponds and marshes. Water chestnuts are also known as corms. They are small, white and round corms which are sweet and crisp and they have a thick and dark brown skin. Water chestnuts are native to Africa, Australia, Asia (India, China, Japan, Indonesia) and certain islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Water chestnuts are popular in the Chinese cuisine and they are often called Chinese water chestnuts. You can eat the water chestnuts in raw form or you can cook them. In Indonesia, people are blending them and they make the water chestnuts into a delicious and healthy drink. Many people confuse water chestnuts with water caltrops (they are known as Trapa natans) but water caltrops are not sweet. They are shaped like bats and they taste like potatoes. Here are some health benefits of water chestnuts:

Water chestnuts increase immunity levels

The water chestnut fruit and peel have an antibiotic compound which is known as puchin and it acts as penicillin. There are some studies in which are said that peels of water chestnuts can be used as a food supplement to kill the foodborne bacteria.

Water chestnuts Help fight cancer

This vegetable can help in the fight against gastric cancer because it has powerful antioxidant known as proanthocyanidins. This element can help to inhibit the multiplication of cancerous cells and it can stop the spread of cancerous growth in the body.

Water chestnuts weight loss

This vegetable does not have cholesterol and fat and also it is rich in dietary fiber. It is low in calories and it is best to have it in soups and stir – fries. They are rich in nutrients which are making them an excellent addition to any weight loss regimen.

Water chestnuts prevent heart diseases

This vegetable can help to decrease the incidence of heart disease in 2 ways. It can help to reduce the water retention by regulating the sodium levels in the body which can help to reduce the incidence of hypertension. Water chestnuts do not have cholesterol, only a trace of fat and it has friction of the calories of other nuts, such as peanuts and cashew nuts.

Water chestnuts help lower blood pressure

Water chestnuts have high potassium levels which can help to reduce the blood pressure levels in the body. Potassium is acting as a vasodilator and it can help to dilate blood vessels which will ensure a smooth blood circulation in the body. People who have diet rich in potassium have lower chances of strokes and heart ailments.

Rich in antioxidants

Water chestnuts are rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds such as gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate and catechin gallate. It is known that antioxidants help scavenge free radicals in the body which will prevent the oxidative stress and it can inhibit the progression of chronic diseases.

Water chestnuts treat of measles

This vegetable is very effective home remedy for treating measles. You can boil them in water and use it as your home remedy for measles. You should have this drink on a regular basis for at least six to nine days because it will give you good results.

Beneficial for hair

This vegetable is beneficial for the hair because it has some essential nutrients, such as Vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc and potassium. These elements can help to remove the toxins from the body which can damage your hair as well. This is a reason why water chestnuts have positive effects on hair health.

Cooling properties

The juice from water chestnuts is one of the best ways to beat the heat of summer because it possesses cooling properties. Also it has many curative and supplementary properties.

Help to increase appetite

You can use the water chestnuts in raw form or juice because this can help to alleviate the problem of bad appetite in children and adults.

Water chestnuts good for thyroid gland

Water chestnuts are rich in manganese and iodine which can help to maintain the proper functioning of the thyroid gland.