Makhana: Nikhil Kamath’s Top Snack, Emerging as India’s Superfood for Weight Loss and Diabetes Control, Now a Global Trend
Makhana: Nikhil Kamath's Top Snack, Emerging as India’s Superfood for Weight Loss and Diabetes Control, Now a Global Trend
Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha, admitted his love for foxnuts or makhana on social media. He even said that it should be India’s superfood. Advocating the fox nuts he said that people are becoming health conscious. It is the era that people seek for healthy food items. And makhana can become a brand. As per Nikhil, Indians like fox nuts. They are low in calories. They are water lilies or lotus seeds, which pop up in pods when they mature. Fox Nuts makes a great snack option. They after a healthy option for people who are suffering from diabetes, cholesterol or even blood pressure. Since diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure are the most commonly found diseases in India, fox nuts are a perfect snack of the times.
Why fox nuts:
As per Kanika Narang, nutritionist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, “Because Fox nuts are lightweight and fluffy in nature, 100 gm makhana can be easily picked and is filling. It can be picked easily. It’s low-calorie, that is, approximately 300 calories per 100 grams making it an excellent snack if you are keeping track of weight and sugar control needs to be done. It contains high fibre content, which helps in weight loss says”.
The protein it contains is said to enhance the thermic effect of food (TEF), meaning it has the energy required to digest, absorb and process nutrients. This can lead to a higher metabolic rate and increased calorie expenditure, stabilising blood sugar levels, which makes it a superfood.
According to researchers, “Foxnuts support a healthy heart by reducing cholesterol and keeping the blood pressure in control. It is rich in Potassium and Magnesium and the flavonoids and alkaloids present in it have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It cleans Kidneys too and has anti-ageing enzymes for greater skin. It is packed with nutrients like protein, fibre, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and zinc and is gluten-free.
Daily dose of Makhana:
When 25-30 gms of Fox Nuts are sufficient for adults, 10 to 20 gms of foxnuts can be taken by kids. Fox Nuts can be eaten roasted or it can be used in preparing desserts and smoothies. Combining with milk adds to its nutritional properties. But as per the doctors the packaged fox nuts should be avoided.
