In recent years, pharmacologists have conducted research on it and found that it contains a large amount of beneficial ingredients for the human body, such as proteins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B2, C, dietary fiber, and carotene, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that water chestnut is sweet in taste, with a neutral property. It enters the spleen, kidney, and stomach meridians and has the functions of nourishing and strengthening the body, replenishing qi, consolidating the kidney and securing essence, invigorating the spleen and stopping diarrhea, nourishing the kidney and relieving thirst, stimulating appetite and aiding digestion, and promoting the cultivation of qi and essence.
1. Water chestnut contains abundant starch, which provides thermal energy for the human body. It also contains various vitamins and carbon substances to ensure the necessary nutrients in the body;
2. Water chestnut can enhance the absorption function of the small intestine, increase the urinary mannitol excretion rate, and increase the concentration of serum carotene. Experimental studies have shown that an increased level of serum carotene can reduce the incidence of lung cancer and gastric cancer, greatly reducing the chances of developing cancer.
[Methods of eating water chestnut]
(I) Recipes for beauty and nourishment using water chestnut
1. Strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach soup
Cook lotus seeds, poria, yam, and water chestnut together to make a soup that strengthens the spleen, removes dampness, and nourishes the kidneys. It is suitable for most people. For those who stay up late often, have acne, have mouth sores, or have constipation, drinking this soup can nourish yin, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and stabilize the digestive system.
2. Whitening and beauty soup
8g longan meat, 30g lotus seeds, 30g water chestnut, 50g coix seeds, add 500ml water, simmer for 1 hour, season with a little honey, and drink it all at once. You can also drink the lotus seeds with the soup. This soup can be used for blood nourishment and skin moisturization, whitening and beauty.
3. Pumpkin and water chestnut porridge
Take a small piece of pumpkin, one cup of millet, and a handful of water chestnut. Cut the pumpkin into small pieces, wash the millet and water chestnut, add enough water, press the button on the rice cooker, and the next morning, you will have a pot of fragrant and nutritious pumpkin porridge to drink.
4. Water chestnut and pig stomach soup
Water chestnut can be added to soups as a less prominent ingredient. However, its effectiveness should not be ignored. You can make a soup by boiling water chestnut, lotus seeds, red dates, and pig stomach. This soup can invigorate the spleen, remove dampness, and strengthen the kidney and essence.
5. Osmanthus and water chestnut sweet soup
In Suzhou and Nanjing, when the autumn wind blows, every household will cook a large pot of sweet soup with water chestnut, dried osmanthus, and rock sugar. This Osmanthus and Water Chestnut Sweet Soup has a fresh osmanthus aroma, and the addition of a little water chestnut powder makes the taste even more pure and sweet.
(II) Health-preserving medicated food
1. Water chestnut porridge
In autumn, the simplest way to supplement with water chestnut is to make water chestnut porridge: pour 50g roasted water chestnut into a pot, boil for a moment, then add 100g washed rice, and the porridge is ready to be eaten. Regular consumption can strengthen the body, strengthen the muscles and bones, and improve hearing and vision.
2. Water chestnut paste
Water chestnut paste can also be made: grind 1000g roasted water chestnut into powder, and when taken, take 50-100g of the powder with hot water. According to personal preference, you can add sesame, peanuts, walnuts, etc. It is commonly used to cook 60g roasted water chestnut, 100g lean beef, and seasoning until they are cooked and then consumed, which can also achieve good results.
3. Water chestnut and mung bean porridge
For the elderly with weak spleen and stomach and diarrhea, regular consumption of water chestnut and mung bean porridge is recommended. The method is to take 30g roasted water chestnut, 20g roasted mung beans, 10 red dates, and 100g glutinous rice, cook them into porridge with water, and consume once a day.
4. Water chestnut and semen euryales porridge
For the elderly with weak kidney qi and frequent nocturia, regular consumption of water chestnut and semen euryales porridge is recommended. The method is to take 50g raw water chestnut, 20g semen euryales, 100g glutinous rice, and cook them into porridge with water over low heat.
5. Water chestnut stewed duck
For patients with senile bronchitis and asthma, when not suffering from a cold, water chestnut stewed duck can be eaten. The specific method is to slaughter the duck, remove the feathers and internal organs, wash away the blood, and then stuff 200g of washed raw water chestnut into the duck belly. Put it in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring it to a boil, add green onions, ginger, cooking wine, and simmer over low heat for 2 hours until the duck meat is cooked and tender. Add a little salt and monosodium glutamate when eating, and eat the meat and soup. This dish can strengthen the kidneys, secure the essence, and is suitable for nocturnal enuresis, impotence, and diarrhea caused by kidney deficiency.
6. Water chestnut Eight Treasures cake
Ingredients: 30g water chestnut, 30g yam, 30g poria, 30g white atractylodes rhizome, 30g lotus seed, 30g coix seed, 30g mung bean, 30g lentils, 8g ginseng, 500g rice flour.
Method: First grind the above herbs into powder and set aside. Mix the herbal powder with rice flour, add an appropriate amount of water, and make it into a cake. Steam until cooked.
Medicinal properties: This dish can tonify the kidneys and solidify essence, invigorate the spleen, and remove dampness.
7. Lotus seed and water chestnut lotus leaf porridge
Ingredients:
Main ingredients: 30g lotus seeds, 30g water chestnut rice, 60g glutinous rice,
Auxiliary ingredients: 50g lotus leaf,
Seasoning: 10g white sugar
Method:
1) Wash the lotus seeds, water chestnut rice, and glutinous rice, and roll the lotus leaf into 3-4 small rolls;
2) Put all the ingredients into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1 hour. Remove the lotus leaf and season with salt for savory porridge or add sugar for sweet porridge, and consume as desired.
(III) Suitable population for water chestnut
It is suitable for consumption by the general population, especially for women with excessive leucorrhea and weak kidneys, children with weak constitution and frequent urination, the elderly with frequent urination, nocturnal emissions, and premature ejaculation, patients with chronic diarrhea and chronic enteritis. However, water chestnut has a strong astringent effect, so it is not suitable for constipation, hematuria, and women after childbirth.
