The Spring Festival is coming in a blink of an eye, and for many people, the most important thing at this time is to quickly replenish some nourishing food, so that they can be energetic in the new year. In fact, there is a common vegetable and fruit on weekdays - water chestnut, which is not only suitable for this season, but also has high nutritional value, especially rich in potassium and calcium, which can be called a rare good ingredient in winter.
Whether you make it into a variety of dishes or boil it directly with rice, you can eat it nutritious and delicious. So do you know where the yield of water chestnut is relatively high? What are its main nutrients? Today, let me take you to learn more about this "alkaline king" with high nutritional value.
1. What are the main production areas of water chestnut?
When it comes to the name water chestnut, many people may feel unfamiliar, but they will know it when they look at the picture. Water chestnut, also known as water chestnut and taro, belongs to the fern family, and the name water chestnut comes from its shape that resembles an erect horn. The whole is oval, angular and angular, with a black-gray skin wrapped around the white flesh and covered with fine hairs.
In mainland China, the cultivation area and yield of water chestnut are very impressive. It is mainly concentrated in southern regions such as Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, and Sichuan, while the production in the north is relatively small. This is mainly related to the environmental conditions for the growth of water chestnut, which is suitable for growing in a warm, humid and rainy climate, so the south is more suitable for the growth of water chestnut.
Among them, Jingzhou, Hubei Province is the largest water chestnut producing area in the mainland, accounting for more than one-fifth of the country's output. The Jianghan Plain has a warm and humid climate, which is very suitable for the growth of water chestnuts. The second largest output is Hubei in Hunan, especially in Changsha and Zhuzhou. In addition, Guangdong's water chestnut is famous for its high yield, large size and high quality, and Sichuan's water chestnut is known as "Sichuan is small and big water chestnut" because of its high output.
Then in the northern region, the places with higher water chestnut production mainly include southern Jiangsu, southern Shaanxi, etc. Among them, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province has the reputation of "the hometown of water chestnut", and Yancheng Dafeng, Dongtai and other places are famous for their excellent water chestnut.
2. What is the nutritional value of water chestnut?
Water chestnut is a high-protein, low-fat high-quality vegetable, rich in amino acids, and has excellent alkaline properties, which can well neutralize excess acids in the body, and is an excellent alkaline food. So what are the specific nutrients of water chestnut?
Potassium is abundant
The potassium content in water chestnut is extremely alarming, ranking first among vegetables. Every 100 grams of water chestnut contains up to 1,500 milligrams of potassium! five times that of bananas and three times that of sorghum. Moreover, all the potassium in water chestnut is organic potassium, which has a higher absorption and utilization rate.
Potassium is one of the important electrolytes in the human body, and potassium deficiency can cause symptoms such as palpitations and cramps, and in severe cases, it may also cause cardiac arrest and sudden death. Regular consumption of water chestnut can prevent and improve these conditions by supplementing with potassium, and it is also beneficial for the recovery of cardiovascular diseases.
Rich in calcium
The calcium content in water chestnut reaches 267 milligrams per 100 grams, which is twice that of green leafy vegetables. This means that water chestnut is not only extremely alkaline, but also extremely rich in calcium.
Eating water chestnut is especially important for the elderly with osteoporosis and calcium deficiency diseases. Almost all the calcium in water chestnut is organic calcium, and the absorption and utilization rate is as high as 80%. In this way, just eating a serving of water chestnut is equivalent to drinking a large glass of milk.
High protein content
The protein of water chestnut is mainly concentrated in the pulp, and every 100 grams of water chestnut pulp contains an average of about 10 grams of protein, which is much higher than that of ordinary vegetables. At the same time, the amino acid composition of water chestnut is excellent, containing 8 kinds of amino acids necessary for the human body, especially lysine has the highest content. Eating water chestnut often is good for improving malnutrition and promoting growth and development.
Rich in dietary fiber
Water chestnut is extremely rich in dietary fiber, mainly water-soluble dietary fiber, this type of fiber can not only promote intestinal peristalsis, but also reduce cholesterol, effective prevention and treatment of constipation, obesity, coronary heart disease and other modern common diseases.
In addition, water chestnut is also rich in vitamins, which can improve neurasthenia and enhance memory. The milk vetch tissue component in water chestnut has been proven to have anti-cancer effects, and can also lower blood pressure and lose weight. This is also one of the important reasons why water chestnut is so popular with the public.
3. What are the cooking methods of water chestnut?
According to research on Dietary Health and Nutrition, raw vegetables have the highest nutritional value. However, eating water chestnut raw can cause mild swelling and pain in the mouth and pharynx, so it is generally not recommended to eat it raw. Most of the nutrients are still well retained after cooking. So how can water chestnuts be cooked?
Qingxiangjiao
is the most common practice. Peel and slice the water chestnut and stir-fry in an oil pan until cooked. You can add a little salt to the fried water chestnut to enhance the freshness, or you can put a little monosodium glutamate according to your personal taste. Stir-fried water chestnuts are golden, crispy and delicious, making them a great choice for home-cooked dishes.
Braised water chestnut
The main ingredients are water chestnut, pork, mushrooms, etc. You can choose the method of braising or stewing, and the soup is delicious and nutritious. The fat in pork promotes the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients in water chestnut, and the two are the most suitable combination.
Mizuni Rhombic
Boiling is the easiest way to cook food. But for water chestnuts, this allows for maximum retention of nutrients. Cut the peeled water chestnut into pieces and cook it directly with boiling water, adding a little salt or chicken essence according to personal preference. After boiling, it can retain the original delicious taste and nutritional value of water chestnut, which is very suitable for white rice.
Fourth, the common misconception of eating water chestnut
Regarding eating water chestnut, many people still have some wrong ideas about eating, which need to be clarified.
First, raw water chestnut cannot be peeled and eaten. Many people think that the nutrition of water chestnut is mainly in the peel, and eating it raw can get more nutrients, which is not true. The cyanide component in the peel of water chestnut is very easy to cause poisoning, so raw water chestnut must be cooked before eating, and should not be eaten raw.
Second, you can't eat it with your skin on. Water chestnuts need to be cooked and then peeled off and only the pulp is eaten. Although most of the cyanide in the skin can be removed by cooking, the remaining content will still be harmful to the body. It is safest and healthiest to eat only the pulp.
Third, it should not be consumed in excess. Water chestnut is rich in nutrition, but it should not be overly dependent, and it is advisable to eat 100~150 grams at a time. Otherwise, trace elements such as selenium and zinc in the body are likely to be disordered, which is not conducive to balanced nutrient intake.
In addition, there are some misconceptions that raw water chestnut can lose weight, water chestnut can avoid oil and salt, etc., which are unscientific. Only by eating water chestnut correctly and reasonably can we maximize the abundant nutrients it contains.
Water chestnut, a peculiar food for both Chinese medicinal materials and wild vegetables, not only has a delicate and delicious taste, but also rich in calcium, high nutritional value, and is good for health!