Kas Veekastanid On Teile Kasulikud? Kuidas Neid Süüa?

2024 Autor: Cecilia Ryder | [email protected]. Viimati modifitseeritud: 2023-12-17 14:20

Kas teadsite, et ka mõned köögiviljad kasvavad vee all ?

Vesikastanid on hea näide. Nende nime järgi võib arvata, et nad kuuluvad kastanite sugukonda. Vale! Kastanid kasvavad puudel, vesikastanid aga vee all.

Nad on rohkem nagu puu kohta veetaim, mis kasvab madalas vees. Neid kasutatakse India, Hiina ja mitmetes Euroopa köökides. Uuringud tõestavad, et nad on mineraalide ja antioksüdantide varud. Aga kuidas need teie keha aitavad? Kuidas saate neid tarbida? Kas nad on ohutud? Kuidas nad maitsevad?

Jätkake vastuste leidmiseks!

Sisukord

• Mis on veekastanid? Mis on nende sordid?
• Miks on veekastanid populaarsed?
• Mis kasu on veekastanist?
• Toitumisprofiil veekastanitest
• Kuidas veekastaneid kasutada / tarbida
• Kuidas osta veekastaneid
• Kuidas veekastaneid säilitada
• Kuidas saab aru saada, kas veekastanid on halvaks läinud?

Mis on veekastanid? Mis on nende sordid?

Vesikastanid pole pähklid. Need on vee- / veealused köögiviljad (või juuremugulad), mis kasvavad Hiinas, Indias ja osades Euroopas. Vesikastanite nime all kasvatatakse kahte liiki - Trapa natans (teise nimega vesikaltropid ehk jesuiidipähklid) ja Eleocharis dulcis (1), (2).

Trapa natans (vesikaltrop ehk molva) kasvatatakse Lõuna- Euroopas ja Aasias. Eleocharis dulcis kasvatatakse laialdaselt ka Hiinas. Seetõttu nimetatakse Trapa natansi Euroopa vesikastaniks, viimast aga hiina vesikastaniks (1), (2)

Euroopa kastan on 3-4 turris, nurga, ortogonaalsed, suur puu. Söödav osa on pähklitaoline sisemine südamik. Hiina Vesipähkli, teiselt poolt, näeb välja rohkem nagu naeris-kujuline mugula - ümmargune ja pehmem.

Mõlemad liigid on invasiivsed ja agressiivsed umbrohud. Nad kasvavad kiiresti ja moodustavad tiikidel, järvedel ja madala sügavusega veekogudel tihedaid matte (2).

Kohalikele inimestele meeldib neid veeköögivilju siiski süüa. Kooritud veekastanid röstitakse, keedetakse, aurutatakse, jahvatatakse ja küpsetatakse mitmel viisil. Näete, et seda kasutatakse Aasia köögis, eriti autentses Hiina toidus, laialdaselt.

Kas olete mõelnud, miks?

Jätka lugemist!

Miks on veekastanid populaarsed?

Vesikastanid on mineraalide, vitamiinide, tärklise, kiudainete ja fenoolühendite varud. Nende tärklise- ja kiudainesisaldus muudab need tavapärase toidusedeli heaks täienduseks.

Kuna neil on kõrge toiteväärtus, on vesikastan seotud mitmete tervisele kasulikega. See on Ayurveda oluline komponent. See on tuntud oma diureetiliste, antiseptiliste ja seedetrakti omaduste poolest.

Vesikastani preparaadid võivad aidata düsenteeria, kõhulahtisuse, verejooksu, luumurdude ja põletikuliste häirete ravis (3). Vesikastanite tervisele kasulikkuse kohta lisateabe saamiseks kerige alla!

Mis kasu on veekastanist?

Vesikastanites on palju antioksüdante ja põletikuvastaseid ühendeid. Need ühendid aitavad seedeprobleeme, aneemiat ja väsimust korrigeerida. Need võivad aidata vähendada palavikku, valu ja põletikku.

1. Valu ja põletiku leevendamine

Vastavalt kliiniliste uuringute Vesipähkli ekstraktid pärsivad tootmist põletikuliste ühendid nagu interleukiinid ja lämmastikoksiidi. Aktiivseid kemikaalid selles puu- allareguleerivatel geenid vastutavad toodavad neid ühendeid (4).

Vesikastanites olevad fenoolsed antioksüdandid puhastavad teie süsteemis vabu radikaale ja takistavad neil elundikahjustusi, põletikke ja valu. Seega on vesikastanil teie kehale tugev valu leevendav (analgeetiline) toime (4).

Nende omadustega saab seda veeköögivilja kasutada nahaärrituse, maohaavandite, palaviku ja vanusega seotud ajukahjustuste raviks (3), (4).

2. Võib aidata diabeedi juhtimisel

Juurköögiviljad, nagu vesikastanid, hoiavad vett ja toitaineid ning varustavad taime. Seega on neis palju kiudaineid, mineraale, antioksüdante ja tärklisi. Vesikastanite muutmine oma dieedi osaks võib aidata diabeedi juhtimisel (5), (6)

Kuigi selles köögiviljas on üsna palju tärklist, on selle kiudainete ja antioksüdantide sisaldus ülimuslik (5), (6).

3. Omavad antioksüdante ja vähivastaseid toimeid

Vesikastani erinevates osades on tuvastatud tugevat antioksüdantset toimet. Mitmed eksperimentaalsed uuringud näitasid, et vesikastanite puuvilja- ja kooriekstraktid puhastasid katsealustel vabu radikaale (7).

Seega võib vesikastan ära hoida / aeglustada lipiidide peroksüdatsiooni, tuumori proliferatsiooni (kasvu ja metastaase) ning vabade radikaalide põhjustatud DNA kahjustusi. Selle omaduse eest vastutavad flavonoidid, nagu luteoliin, fisetiin ja diosmetiin (7), (8).

Laboratoorsete uuringute kohaselt võivad Hiina ja Euroopa vesikastanid avaldada vähivastast toimet inimese rinna-, kopsu- ja käärsoolerakkude vastu (8).

4. Võib alandada vererõhku (hüpertensioon)

Vesikastanites on palju mineraale. Võrreldes nisu jahu, Vesipähkli jahu on kõrgem kaaliumi, magneesiumi, tsingi ja vase sisaldus. See jahu säilitab erinevalt nisujahust ka antioksüdantsed omadused. Selle lisamine oma dieeti võib aidata vererõhku reguleerida (9).

Koos vesikastanitega suurendab südame tervist ka tumeroheliste leht- ja ristõieliste köögiviljade lisamine. Selline kõrge kaaliumi toidud on tuntud lõõgastuda oma südame lihaseid ja vältida insult (10).

Moreover, these vegetables are low in calories and carbohydrates. They may help people with hypertension to lose weight (10).

5. Exhibit Antimicrobial Activity

Water chestnut extracts can eliminate bacterial strains like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Shigella sonnei and Bacillus cereus were also found to be susceptible in another study. Water chestnut extracts inhibited the growth of helminths (worms and insects) as well (11), (12), (13).

These studies prove the antibacterial nature of green and red water chestnuts. Since they can kill several pathogenic strains, their extracts can be used to treat bacterial infections (11), (12).

Moreover, this antibacterial activity is comparable to the effect of standard antibiotics (like kanamycin). Therefore, adding water chestnut to your food may increase its shelf life (11). This plant may also purify water bodies with this antimicrobial effect.

Such health and ecological benefits are attributed to the mineral, vitamin, and phytochemical content of water chestnuts.

Find out more about their nutritional value in the following section.

Nutritional Profile Of Water Chestnuts

The water chestnut plant contains minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.

The fruit kernels contain vitamins A, B, and C, and functional proteins.

The water chestnut fruits contain carbohydrates, minerals, and fair amounts of phenolic compounds. The flavonoids, flavones, saponins, phytosterols, oils, and tannins in them contribute to their antioxidant properties. It is these polyphenols that scavenge free radicals from your system (14).

Consuming water chestnuts means supplying your body with all these phytonutritional components.

How can you do it? Can you eat raw water chestnuts or should they be processed?

Keep reading for answers!

How To Use/Consume Water Chestnuts

Freshwater chestnuts can be eaten raw after peeling and washing them well. They are crispy and taste mildly sweet, similar to lotus root.

No matter how long you cook or steam them, these corns have a magical power to remain crunchy.

Therefore, you often see them added to soups, ramen, stew/stocks, and any broth-like preparation for a fresh and crunchy twist.

Don’t you want to taste water chestnuts? Let’s stir up something quick with them!

Here’s a simple recipe you can try in your kitchen right away!

Water Chestnut And Veggies Stir Fry

What You Need

• Olive oil: 1-2 tablespoons (enough for a stir fry)
• Water chestnuts: 1 ounce (canned or fresh), sliced
• Broccoli florets: 5-6, washed and cleaned
• Snow peas: 1 pound, fresh, trimmed
• Baby corn kernels: 6-8, fresh, sliced into halves
• Bell peppers: 1-2 medium-sized, sliced long
• Fresh mint: 1 tablespoon, chopped
• Sesame seeds: 2 tablespoons
• Salt: to taste
• Pepper: to taste
• Skillet: 1, medium-large

Let’s Make It

1. Place a large skillet over a medium-high flame and add olive oil.
2. Once the oil is hot, stir in the broccoli, snow peas, baby corn, and bell peppers. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Toss in the water chestnuts, mint, and sesame seeds.
4. Cook and stir well for about 3-5 minutes more, until the vegetables are tender.
5. Sprinkle salt and pepper and give a final stir.
6. Serve hot alongside rice, noodles, or flatbreads.

Such sides or stir-fries are a super healthy and tasty way of incorporating these nutty water vegetables into your diet.

This dish can give your body a boost of antioxidants and much-needed micronutrients.

You can find a horde of such quick, simple, and nutritious recipes with water chestnuts. They go very well with greens, chicken, and meat dishes.

You can dry water chestnuts and get them milled for flour. Water chestnut flour can be used in baking and cooking, similar to wheat flour.

But before you think about cooking with it, let’s talk about how to pick the best water chestnuts at the grocery store.

How To Buy Water Chestnuts

You can find fresh water chestnuts if you live close to a pond or a lake that has been invaded by this plant. If not, you can get them from supermarkets that sell international foods or Asian grocery stores.

Pick the hard and glossy ones. Ensure that they have no pits, bruises, or mushy spots. Good quality and healthy water chestnuts should look bright and white on the inside. They should taste sweet and nutty.

How To Store Water Chestnuts

After buying water chestnuts, store them unpeeled in paper bags in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze them in suitable containers. They last up to 5-6 months at 0ºF.

It is better to peel water chestnuts just before use. Storing peeled ones in water may rob them of their fresh taste and texture.

If you still wish to do so, keep them in this condition only for 2-3 days. Change the water every day.

Some of us find it convenient to cook and store such vegetables. The best way to do so is to boil water chestnuts, peel them, pack them in freezer bags/suitable containers, and freeze.

Label the bags with the date of packing. Leave enough headspace in each bag to prevent rotting or partial freezing.

Cooked, peeled, and frozen water chestnuts will last up to a year if stored the right way.

Another fuss-free option is using canned water chestnuts. Good quality water chestnuts are washed, peeled, and stored in brine (saltwater) before canning. You can buy them here.

You can use canned water chestnuts just like the fresh ones. They taste similar. Once opened, the leftovers need to be stored in fresh, filtered water. Change the water every day.

How Can You Tell If Water Chestnuts Have Gone Bad?

Water chestnuts spoil quickly if not stored well. Do not use the canned contents if they smell off and feel slimy.

Fungal molds may develop in the containers if you don’t change the water. This can also happen in the cans.

Be careful when you are buying water chestnuts – fresh or canned ones.

Sometimes, the fresh ones may be picked from a lake/pond that has polluted/contaminated water. Therefore, stick to a trusted source/brand.

Also, check the expiration date and storage conditions before purchasing canned water chestnuts.

In Summary

Water chestnuts are aquatic corns that grow in shallow water bodies. The plant and its fruits are rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and starches. This is why they have been traditionally used to treat dysentery, diabetes, and blood pressure.

Their antioxidant activity is also thought to reduce the risk of cancer. However, there is not enough information about its safety and side effects.

Hence, talk to your dietitian or healthcare provider about water chestnuts. If permitted, try cooking and baking with it. Follow our storage tips to recreate that favorite Chinese dish of yours any time of the year! Share your feedback in the section below.

14 sources

Stylecraze'il on ranged hankimisjuhised ja see tugineb eelretsenseeritud uuringutele, akadeemilistele uurimisasutustele ja meditsiiniliitudele. Vältime kolmanda taseme viidete kasutamist. Lisateavet selle kohta, kuidas meie sisu on täpne ja ajakohane, saate lugeda meie toimetuseeskirjadest.

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