Can Fresh Water Caltrop Be Eaten Raw? Understand This Clearly Before Eating It Raw

Water caltrop, also known as waist caltrop, water chestnut, water caltrop fruit, etc., is the fruit of the water caltrop, an annual herbaceous aquatic plant in the family Trapaceae and genus Trapa. It originated in Europe, and today it is cultivated most extensively in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Water caltrop has a crisp skin and delicious flesh, a unique taste, and is rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and various vitamins and trace elements. Regular consumption is very beneficial to the human body. So can fresh water caltrop be eaten raw?

1. Can fresh water caltrop be eaten raw

Fresh water caltrop can be eaten raw. Tender water caltrop has a very crisp and sweet taste and can be eaten raw as a fruit. However, if it is old water caltrop, the taste and flavor decline, so it is best to cook it before eating. When eating water caltrop, you only need to peel off the outer shell. It should be noted that it is best not to eat water caltrop from polluted waters, as it can easily cause parasitic infections.

Although water caltrop can be eaten raw, eating too much water caltrop may also cause indigestion and deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach. Water caltrop is a cold-natured food and contains a large amount of starch and protein, while the human body does not have the corresponding digestive enzymes. Eating too much raw may cause diarrhea and lead to deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach. In addition, water caltrop also has some dietary contraindications that need attention.

2. The benefits of water caltrop

1. Water caltrop is rich in starch, protein, glucose, unsaturated fatty acids, and various vitamins. Regular consumption of water caltrop can help tonify the spleen, replenish qi, and strengthen the spleen, strengthen the thighs and knees, boost strength and replenish qi, and also has effects such as fighting cancer and relieving skin diseases.

2. The Compendium of Materia Medica says: water caltrop can tonify the spleen and stomach, strengthen the thighs and knees, boost strength and replenish qi; water caltrop powder porridge is beneficial to the stomach and intestines and can relieve internal heat, and regular consumption is beneficial for the elderly. When used medicinally, it can assist in treating various skin diseases such as infantile head sores, yellow watery sores on the head and face, and skin warts, and can also promote urination, promote lactation, and relieve alcohol toxicity.

3. As an aquatic plant, water caltrop can be made into many medicinal dishes. Common ones include water caltrop powder cake, braised tofu with water caltrop, and red water caltrop juice, all of which are extremely beneficial to the human body.

That is all for water caltrop. This aquatic plant may not be easy to find in northern regions, but with today's highly developed e-commerce and logistics, interested friends can also try buying it online.