SAMBALPUR: This aquatic vegetable is packed with health, is beneficial for hair growth and also has the potential to fight malnutrition. Water Chestnut, popular as ‘paniphal’ or ‘singhara’ in India, the vegetable sells like hot cakes in festive season. The aquatic vegetable, native to China, is preferred by many due to its low price and high nutritional value.
Over the years the number of vendors selling the vegetable rich in carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins and minerals is declining while its demand in the global markets has increased. Water bodies in small towns and semi-urban areas were dedicated for cultivation of water chestnuts.
The vegetable grows at the roots of marshes and is small, rounded corn with crunchy white flesh. It is eaten raw, boiled and grilled after the outer skin is removed. With the water bodies shrinking, its cultivation is on the decline but on the contrary, the same is being sold in tins after processing. About a decade back, water chestnut was being grown in a big water body behind Balika Vidyalaya at Khetrajpur.
The water body was given to Balika Vidyalaya whose authorities filled it with soil and converted it into a playground. The vegetable was also grown in water bodies in Mayabaghicha, Commissioner’s Colony, located below Ramsagar tank but there too cultivation has long been stopped. Mohammad Hussain Raza of Kumbharpada, who has been selling the aquatic vegetable in Sambalpur since long, said he used to procure it locally and sold it between `15 and `18 per kg. Since its demand touched a high during festive season, the prices were jacked up temporarily. He reveals that it is no more locally available and they purchase it from Chhattisgarh.
The price too has increased from `40 a kg. Due to its anti-oxidants properties and just 0.1 gram of fat content, Water Chestnut has made its way to global menu. In Thailand, it is an important component of a popular dessert ‘Tab Tim Grob’. It is also ground into flour to make ‘Dim sum’ and an all-time favourite of water chestnut is when it is wrapped in bacon and salads. It is unusual product among vegetables as it remains crisp even after being cooked or grilled and give the required texture and crunch in delicacies.
Even Dominos was selling a pizza with base made from Water Chestnut flour during Durga Navratri. This apart, Water chestnuts are also beneficial for growth of hair as they contain essential nutrients such as potassium, zinc, Vitamin B and E. Moreover, they remove toxins from the body that can damage your hair as well. Thus, their nutritional value has a lot to contribute to healthy hair. It contains many biochemical compounds such as Catechins and epicatechins antioxidants. It also has adequate amount of potassium and low amount of sodium thus good for your blood pressure and heart. However, shrinking water bodies have denied the poor of this healthy food which has the potential to curb malnutrition in rural areas.