The Wonder Nut - Fox Nut

We are all amazed by the beauty of lotus flower, but it ha a lot more to offer that is its seed. Today let me tell you about the most healthy, nutritious, and delicious nut of all times, it's no other than Fox Nut or Popped Lotus Seeds. 

Making of Fox nuts from lotus seeds

It is mostly cultivated in wetlands or pool. It's a very laborious process from harvesting to cultivating of lotus seed and to the final conversion into fox nut. Farmers have to take the dip into the pond to extract the seeds and then they are manually washed and cleaned. After cleaning, when they are completely dried they are then fried and then we obtain the black seeds as shown in the picture below. Then they are cleaned manually until the white color is obtained. And then, they are ready for consumption.

Some Interesting Facts

1. It is also popularly known as Gorgon nut and Phool Makhana. 

2. Its mostly cultivated in India, Korea, Japan, and Russia.

3. 90 % of the total world's cultivation takes place in Bihar, India.

4. Being high in many minerals and nutrition properties, it is also used in Indian ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine.

Let's talk about its magical benefits

It is loaded with potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. It is one of the very good sources of carbs and protein. It is also rich in antioxidants, phenol, and ascorbic acid. It is low on the glycemic index and almost have negligible saturated fats. So you must also be wondering can a small nut can have so much in it. But actually, it can.

1. Pregnancy

Being rich in calcium and iron, it becomes an excellent treat for pregnant ladies throughout their before, during, and after pregnancy, as they lose a lot of calcium in the process and they need to be high on iron for a smooth pregnancy. 

2. Heart

It is also loaded with magnesium which helps in the absorption of oxygen and fellow nutrients in a much better way. It also keeps the cholesterol level in check, as it has low saturated fats. So , it becomes one of the ideal food for heart patients.

3. Weight - Loss.

Fox nut is a gluten-free snack. The high protein and fibre content and low saturation fat aids in digestion and increases metabolism. It also keeps you full for very long,  so you will not have hunger pangs. All of these will help in your weight loss.

4. Diabetes

Being low on the glycemic index, it will not have an adverse impact on blood glucose of the person. So it's even wonderful for diabetic patients.

5. Best for your bones.

After 30 as we grow up, we start loosing on calcium, so it becomes really important for us to rely more on natural sources of calcium and we all know by now that nothing beats fox nut in this. It is also useful in osteoporosis.

6. Anti - Ageing and Detoxication.

Being rich in antioxidants and fibers, this becomes a great nut that will save you anti-aging signs like fine lines and wrinkles Also being fibrous implies it will help us to get relived in the morning comfortably and also in releasing of the toxins from your body. It also helps in keeping your kidney health in check.

7. Anti-Inflammation

The presence of flavonoids helps in the reduction of inflammation in your body thus helps in relieving the pain. It is super recommended in arthritis.

8. Fights Infertility

It also helps in improving the quantity and quality of semen, It also completes the requirements of folic acid for women . Thus improves fertility.

Now, since we have talked so much about its benefits, you must be curious to know how you can have it .

A delicious way to have Fox Nut

In India, we consume fox nuts in both sweet and savor dishes. You can roast it and have that in form of tea time or mid-meal snacks. You can add this to Currys to make it for a delicious, rich, and crunchy texture. or you may add it to your desserts or puddings. Chinese people also make a soup out of it.

My favorite way to have it 

Roast them for 5-7 minutes in a pan with ghee or butter, add salt, pepper, and peri-peri masala.

Stay fit and Eat Healthy

Signing Off
Nidhi Bharkatiya