What is Makhana?
Makhana, foxnuts, or more easily identified as lotus seeds are traditional snacks or one of the dry fruits in India that have now become a global snacking option. Though makhana is cultivated in Madhubani, a small region in Bihar, India, many celebrities across the globe have today acknowledged makhana benefits and love binging on this superfood conveniently.
What are the health benefits of makhana that are making this snack so popular around the globe? Take a dive to have a glance at the details.
Nutritional Value of Makhana
If you are consuming 100 grams of makhana, it will offer you energy of about 75 calories. Apart from this, there are several other makhana benefits such as a bowl of 100 grams of makhana contains 14.5 grams of fiber and 9.7 grams of protein. Also, you get other essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium from makhana.
Discover 11 Benefits of Makhana
There are several ways of consuming makhana such as in the form of salty evening snacks, desserts, and even certain savouries, There are countless health benefits of makhana, which is also tagged as a superfood.
Wish to know the various health benefits of makhana before you include it in your diet plan? Take a look below.
1. High in Antioxidants
Makhana is filled with antioxidants, especially some specific antioxidants such as epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, and gallic acid. As antioxidants are known to keep you safe from various harmful free radicals, consuming makhana also helps you keep safe from various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart-related issues. It is because of antioxidants that you may stay away from many other ailments too.
2. Maintain Sugar Levels
Makhana can be an excellent food for diabetic patients because makhana has got very low levels of glycemic when compared to other staple food items such as bread and rice. Also, as makhana is rich in magnesium, it is great for people who wish to keep their blood sugar in control. The low sodium levels in makhana are another reason to count makhana in your diet if you are diabetic.
3. Helps in Weight Loss
Makhana contains protein that keeps you full for a long time and prevents you from binge eating any other unhealthy food items. There are also many other makhana benefits for weight loss such as the presence of fiber and macromolecules in makhana again helps a lot in regulating your appetite and preventing you from food cravings throughout the day. So, when you are eating healthy, it definitely helps in losing weight.
4. Maintain Hormonal Balance
Often when women menstruate, their craving for different food items such as sweets or sometimes junk items increases. Replacing such food items with a bowl of makhana helps in keeping you full throughout the day so that you do not overeat. Also, experts mention that makhana can be a great remedy in keeping check your hormonal imbalance and your PCOD symptoms.
5. Prevents Inflammation
Makhana has got kaempferol compound that is known to be an anti-inflammatory agent. So, is makhana good for heart? Yes, makhana is great for heart because of its anti-inflammatory property. It helps in dead tissue regeneration and also in chronic inflammation treatment. Makhana also has flavonoids, that is also an antioxidant, great for curing inflammation and also offering anti-bacterial properties. Though there are many spices that heals inflammation , but makhana has good anti-inflammatory factors.
6. Good for Fertility
Makhana is great for fertility by increasing the quantity as well as the quality of sperm count in men. While foxnuts are great for treating sperm quality, it is mostly known for their amazing impacts on women's infertility. It helps in normalizing menstrual cycles and also helps in making the uterine lines strong. Moreover, makhana is a great food for curing fertility and also during pregnancy.
7. Keeps Digestive System Healthy
Many experts mention how makhana is good for digestion. We have seen above how makhana helps in keeping the appetite full for a long time. But how makhana is good for digestion?
This is because makhana has a good fibre content that helps in keeping your digestive tract working properly. If you have issues of constipation or even have issues of hard stool, you can include makhana in your diet to get relief.
8. Liver Detoxification
The liver is an essential organ of our body as it cleanses our body from toxic substances and helps our body work healthily. Earlier, we answered the question is makhana good for heart or not. Makhana is not just great for the heart but also for other organs in the body such as the liver because it helps in lowering cholesterol levels and prevents fatty liver symptoms.
9. Anti-aging Properties
Do you know one of the major makhana benefits that have made them a favorite binging snack of celebrities? It is because makhana is great in preventing aging signs. Makhana is filled with flavonoids that prevent signs of aging. So, the question should be - is makhana good for health and skin both? Yes, if you are looking for flawless skin, add makhana to your diet.
10. Maintains Kidney Health
Consuming lower sodium in your diet not just helps in maintaining blood pressure but also in maintaining your kidney health. Makhana is known for its low sodium levels and so, it is an amazing food for those who have kidney issues. Also, makhana has got astringent properties that help in cleansing of kidneys and also in maintaining the proper health of your kidneys.
11. Keep Bones Strong
Pediatricians and nutritionists often recommend mixing foxnuts in milk for children. This is because both milk and makhana are rich in calcium and calcium helps in developing stronger bones. Not just for children, makhana is also good for elders to maintain bone strength.
To the question of, is makhana good for health, the answer is, makhana is a superfood for health. Apart from preventing several health ailments and maintaining proper health, also makhana benefits for weight loss as well as your skin. You can consume roasted and flavored makhana as a binging snack or can cook kheer and pudding to relish in your main course.
Frequently Asked Questions About Makhana Benefits
How much makhana in a day should I consume?
You can safely consume 1 to 2 handfuls of foxnut or makhana in a day.
Can we eat makhana daily?
Makhana helps in releasing constipation and also in curing several other issues such as aging and maintaining the health of your body and organs. So, you can surely eat makhana on a daily basis.
What is the best way to eat makhana?
The best way to eat makhana is to dry roast them and eat them as a snack for health concerns. But you can also prepare delicious dishes such as kheer or makhana curry sometimes.