Sind Wasserkastanien Gut Für Sie? Wie Man Sie Isst?

2024 Autor: Cecilia Ryder | [email protected]. Zuletzt bearbeitet: 2023-12-17 14:19

Wussten Sie, dass einige Gemüsesorten auch unter Wasser wachsen ?

Wasserkastanien sind ein gutes Beispiel. Wenn man ihren Namen nennt, könnte man denken, dass sie zur Familie der Kastanien gehören. Falsch! Kastanien wachsen auf Bäumen, während Wasserkastanien unter Wasser wachsen.

Sie ähneln eher Früchten einer Wasserpflanze, die in seichten Gewässern wächst. Sie werden in der indischen, chinesischen und verschiedenen europäischen Küchen verwendet. Untersuchungen belegen, dass es sich um Lagerhäuser für Mineralien und Antioxidantien handelt. Aber wie helfen sie Ihrem Körper? Wie können Sie sie konsumieren? Sind sie sicher? Wie schmecken sie?

Scrollen Sie weiter, um die Antworten zu finden!

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Was sind Wasserkastanien? Was sind ihre Sorten?
• Warum sind Wasserkastanien beliebt?
• Was sind die Vorteile von Wasserkastanien?
• Ernährungsprofil von Wasserkastanien
• Verwendung / Konsum von Wasserkastanien
• Wie man Wasserkastanien kauft
• Wie man Wasserkastanien lagert
• Wie können Sie feststellen, ob Wasserkastanien schlecht geworden sind?

Was sind Wasserkastanien? Was sind ihre Sorten?

Wasserkastanien sind keine Nüsse. Es handelt sich um Wasser- / Unterwassergemüse (oder Knollen), das in China, Indien und Teilen Europas wächst. Zwei Arten werden unter dem Namen Wasserkastanien gezüchtet - Trapa natans (auch bekannt als Wasserkalrops oder Jesuitennuss) und Eleocharis dulcis (1), (2).

Trapa natans (Wasser caltrop oder ‚ling‘) in Süd angebaut Europa und Asien. Eleocharis dulcis wird in China extensiv angebaut. Daher wird Trapa natans als europäische Wasserkastanie bezeichnet, während letztere als chinesische Wasserkastanie bekannt ist (1), (2)

Die europäische Kastanie hat drei bis vier stachelige, abgewinkelte, orthogonale, große Früchte. Der essbare Teil ist der nussartige innere Kern. Die chinesische Wasserkastanie hingegen sieht eher aus wie eine rübenförmige Knolle - rund und weicher.

Beide Arten sind invasive und aggressive Unkräuter. Sie wachsen schnell und bilden dichte Matten auf Teichen, Seen und seichtiefen Gewässern (2).

Die Einheimischen essen dieses Wassergemüse jedoch gerne. Geschälte Wasserkastanien werden auf verschiedene Weise geröstet, gekocht, gedämpft, gemahlen und gekocht. Sie können sehen, dass es in der asiatischen Küche weit verbreitet ist, insbesondere in authentischem chinesischem Essen.

Haben Sie sich jemals gefragt, warum?

Weiter lesen!

Warum sind Wasserkastanien beliebt?

Wasserkastanien sind Lagerhäuser für Mineralien, Vitamine, Stärke, Ballaststoffe und Phenolverbindungen. Ihr Stärke- und Fasergehalt macht sie zu einer guten Ergänzung Ihrer normalen Ernährung.

Da Wasserkastanien einen hohen Nährwert haben, sind sie mit mehreren gesundheitlichen Vorteilen verbunden. Es ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil des Ayurveda. Es ist bekannt für seine harntreibenden, antiseptischen und verdauungsfördernden Eigenschaften.

Wasserkastanienpräparate können bei Ruhr, Durchfall, Blutungen, Frakturen und entzündlichen Erkrankungen helfen (3). Um mehr über die gesundheitlichen Vorteile von Wasserkastanien zu erfahren, scrollen Sie nach unten!

Was sind die Vorteile von Wasserkastanien?

Wasserkastanien sind reich an Antioxidantien und entzündungshemmenden Verbindungen. Diese Verbindungen helfen bei der Korrektur von Verdauungsproblemen, Anämie und Müdigkeit. Sie können auch helfen, Fieber, Schmerzen und Entzündungen zu reduzieren.

1. Schmerzen und Entzündungen lindern

Laut klinischen Studien hemmen Wasserkastanienextrakte die Produktion von entzündlichen Verbindungen wie Interleukinen und Stickoxid. Die aktiven Chemikalien in dieser Frucht regulieren die Gene, die für die Herstellung dieser Verbindungen verantwortlich sind, herunter (4).

Die phenolischen Antioxidantien in Wasserkastanien fangen freie Radikale in Ihrem System ab und verhindern, dass sie Organschäden, Entzündungen und Schmerzen verursachen. Daher hat Wasserkastanie eine starke schmerzlindernde (analgetische) Wirkung auf Ihren Körper (4).

With these properties, this aquatic vegetable can be used to treat skin irritation, stomach ulcers, fever, and age-related brain disorders (3), (4).

2. May Help In Managing Diabetes

Root vegetables like water chestnuts store water and nutrients and supply them to the plant. Hence, they are rich in fiber, minerals, antioxidants, and starches. Making water chestnuts a part of your diet may help manage diabetes (5), (6).

Though this vegetable has fair amounts of starch, its fiber and antioxidant content have the upper hand (5), (6).

3. Possess Antioxidant And Anticancer Effects

Potent antioxidant effects have been identified in various parts of water chestnut. Multiple experimental studies showed that the fruit and peel extracts of water chestnuts scavenged free radicals in subjects (7).

Hence, water chestnut can prevent/slow down lipid peroxidation, tumor proliferation (growth and metastasis), and DNA damage induced by free radicals. Flavonoids like luteolin, fisetin, and diosmetin are responsible for this property (7), (8).

According to lab trials, Chinese and European water chestnuts may exert anticancer activity against human breast, lung, and colon cells (8).

4. May Lower Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Water chestnuts are high in minerals. Compared to wheat flour, water chestnut flour has higher potassium, magnesium, zinc, and copper content. This flour also retains its antioxidant properties, unlike wheat flour. Including it in your diet can help in regulating blood pressure (9).

Along with water chestnuts, adding dark green leafy and cruciferous vegetables also enhances heart health. Such high-potassium foods are known to relax your heart muscles and prevent stroke (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 hat strenge Beschaffungsrichtlinien und stützt sich auf von Experten begutachtete Studien, akademische Forschungseinrichtungen und medizinische Vereinigungen. Wir vermeiden die Verwendung von Tertiärreferenzen. Weitere Informationen darüber, wie wir sicherstellen, dass unsere Inhalte korrekt und aktuell sind, finden Sie in unseren redaktionellen Richtlinien.

• Wasserkastanie, NewCROP, Zentrum für neue Pflanzen und Pflanzenprodukte, Gartenbau und Landschaftsarchitektur, Purdue University.

  hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/WaterChestnut.html

• Wasserkastanie, Umweltdatenblatt, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Sciences.

  www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/bb/documents/bb-43.pdf

• Trapa bispinosa Roxb.: A Review on Nutritional and Pharmacological Aspects, Advances in Pharmacological Sciences, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3941599/

• Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Water Chestnut Extract on Cytokine Responses via Nuclear Factor-κB-signaling Pathway, Biomolecules & Therapeutics, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4286755/

• Non-Starchy Vegetables/Protein/Fat, Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Michigan.

  www.med.umich.edu/1libr/MEND/Diabetes-NonCarbFoods.pdf

• The pros and cons of root vegetables, Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.

  www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-pros-and-cons-of-root-vegetables

• Antitumor, Antioxidant, and Nitrite Scavenging Effects of Chinese Water Chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) Peel Flavonoids. Journal of Food Science, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27603811

• DNA scission inhibition, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of water chestnut (Trapa natans) extracted in different solvents, National Agricultural Library, United States Department of Agriculture.

  pubag.nal.usda.gov/catalog/1258235

• Wheat-water chestnut flour blends: effect of baking on antioxidant properties of cookies, Journal of Food Science and Technology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5223262/

• Potassium lowers blood pressure, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.

  www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/potassium-lowers-blood-pressure

• Characterization and antimicrobial properties of water chestnut starch-chitosan edible films. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23831899

• Umweltfreundliche antibakterielle Aktivität von Wasserkastanienfrüchten, Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, CiteSeerX, Pennsylvania State University.

  citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.654.4436&rep=rep1&type=pdf

• Anthelmintische Aktivität von Fruchtschalen- und Wurzelextrakten von Trapa natans L. var. bispinosa Roxb, Akademisches Journal für Pflanzenwissenschaften.

  citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.414.755&rep=rep1&type=pdf

• Pharmakognostische Bewertung und phytochemische Untersuchungen an ayurvedischen Nahrungsfrüchten von Trapa natans L. Internationales Journal für Kräutermedizin, Academia.

  www.academia.edu/19548752/Pharmacognostical_Evaluation_and_Phytochemical_studies_on_Ayurvedic_Nutritional_Fruits_of_Trapa_natans_L