Vol. 11, Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Pasala Rajkumar and Madhiraju Rajithasri

Abstract:
Water chestnut (Trapa natans), also known as Singhara in India, is one of several free-floating plants of the Trapaceae family that thrives in shallow water. Water chestnuts are found across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Chestnut provides a variety of nutrients and antioxidants. Water chestnuts have a high flavonoid content and are low in calories and fat-free despite containing a number of beneficial nutrients. The value of this crop has recently been increasing due to its yield and nutritional content, such as proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and minerals. A short-duration annual crop can be incorporated into low-input cropping systems as a viable alternative crop for sustainable horticulture. Freshwater chestnuts have double the number of antioxidants as conventional chestnuts. There is a higher amount of potassium, zinc, vitamin B, and vitamin E in water chestnut kernels compared to the canned varieties. A large amount of protein is found in water chestnut kernels. A list of water chestnut health benefits is also presented.