Can Type 2 diabetic patient and orthopedic patient can eat makhana

Yes, Makhana is beneficial for type 2 diabetic patient and orthopedic patients.

Can I eat makhana boiled in milk any time?

Yes, Makhana can be eaten boiled in milk any time similar to other snacks.

Makhana is cold or hot

According to Ayurveda Makhana is cold in potency.

Benefits of Makhana | Makhana nutrition

Benefits of Makhana is huge that is why it is said as dietary powerhouse and is widely used for medicine to cure a numerous disease including problems of kidney, diarrhoea, excessive leukorrhea and underfunction of the spleen.

The edible part of Makhana is, its starchy kernel and which cannot be separated so easily. That is why it is popped manually to make it edible.

The bioactive present in Makhana possess antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-ischemic, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, anti-melanogenic, anti-cytotoxic and several others properties.

Makhana contains a wide range of the nutrients which promotes vitality and also boost the immune system.

What is Makhana

Makhana (Euryale ferox) is water lily seeds and being used since ancient time for health benefits.

Makhana is also known as Phool Makhana, Fox nut or gorgon nut.

Different names of Makhana

Hindi – Makhana
English – Fox nut, Gorgon nut, Lotus Seeds, Prickly water lily
Punjabi – Kamala dā bīja
Telugu – Melluni padmamu
Bengali – Padma bīja
Chinese – Qian Shi
Japanese – Hasu no mi

Ayurvedic properties of Makhana

Makhana is very similar in property to Padma Beeja (lotus seeds) but it is different than it.

In Ayurveda, Charaka has placed Makhana under “Shaka varga” (vegetable varieties) and classifies as an aquatic “Shaka” (vegetable).

It is one of the important ingredients of Indian Prasad prepared during the Hindu puja.

RASA (Taste)- Madhura (sweet)
GUNA (Main Quality) – Guru (heavy in nature) and Snigdha (oily or unctuous)
VIRYA (Potency)- SHEETA (Cool)
VIPAKA (Resultant) – Madhura (sweet)
DHATU effect – RASA, MAMSA, and SHUKRA

In Ayurveda it is considered as Vrushya (i.e., vigour improving and an aphrodisiac), Bala (promotes immunity), Grahi (absorbent and reduces watery diarrhoea), and Garbha Samsthapaka (i.e. ensures a safe pregnancy).

Makhana nutrition values

As for Makhana nutrition is concerns, it contains following components in the percentage wise,

Digestible protein -9.7%
Carbohydrate – 76%,
Fat – 0.1%
Total minerals – 0.5%
Phosphorus – 0.9%
Moisture – 12.8%,
Iron – 1.4%

Presence of low saturated fats, low sodium, and low cholesterol and high levels of magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus make Makhana unique as for it nutritional values is concerns.

As compared to other cereals, amino acid index is significantly high and its arginine + lysine/proline ratio is in range of 4.74–7.6.

It has more essential amino acids compared cereals like rice & wheat, and soybeans or fish.

Makhana comes under the category of the Superfood.

Calories in Makhana

Makhana has lower glycaemic index and low in calories. A 50 grams of dry-roasted Makhana provides 180 calories.

Use of Makhana

Popped Makhana is being used in preparation of several Indian sweet (Makhana Kheer) or salty (Aloo Makhana, Makhana Paratha, Palak Makhana, Makhana raita, Makhana aloo tikki, Makhana Moongphali kadhi, Aloo makhana sabji) dishes.

Since it is analgesic and aphrodisiac, it is being used in several preparations of Ayurvedic medicines.

Makhana recipes

It is used in a variety of products starting from snacks to gravy and finally several sweet dishes.

Makhana snacks recipes

It is very good and healthy snacks because it is rich in calcium, protein, carbohydrates, phosphorous, iron, thiamine and zinc. It can be consuming any time for the light snacks.
One of the very common question by everyone is how to make makhana snacks at home. Several roasted makhana recipes can be very easily prepared at home.
Name of the some of these recipes are Namkeen Makhana, Spicy Makhana, and Sweet Makhana

Makhana kheer (pudding)

It is simply roast plain makhana are crushed and added to the kheer around five minutes of the last part of cooking

Makhana health benefits for babies

Since Makhana is loaded with countless essential nutrients, so is an ideal choice for the growing baby by a better health.

Makhana is gluten free seed, so is an ideal superfood for kids having intolerance to gluten.

It can be included in baby’s food from 6 months onward.

Two of the quick Makhana recipe for kids over 6 months are as follow;

Makhana cereal powder– It can be prepared by grinding 1 cup makhana seeds with 4 to 5 cashew nuts and ¼ teaspoon cardamom seeds. Each serving included ½ cup.
Makhana Porridge – It can be prepared by mixing ½ cup of makhana powder with 1 tsp of the ghee, organic sugar (as per taste), and ¾ cup of water

Makhana benefits in pregnancy

Because it is high in minerals like magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium so it is very good superfood during pregnancy for a better foetal development.
It also protects against pregnancies associated complications such as development of gestational diabetes, increase in the blood pressure others.
In breast-feeding mother, it aids in increase in the supply of breastmilk.