10 Interesting Facts About Makhana You Probably Didn’t Know

Makhana is a wonderful superfood that can be eaten by anyone, at any time, in any place. You can buy roasted makhana online or pick them up from your local grocery story. While popular, there are many things people don’t know about this humble seed. Let us go through 10 interesting facts that you probably didn’t know about makhana.

1. Makhana Is Versatile

We’ve all enjoyed roasted makhana snacks. But did you know it can be used in savoury dishes as well as sweet dishes? Mix them in curries for a tasty savoury dish or with milk and bananas to make a pudding. They’ll taste great either way. 

Makhana can also be consumed with salt, pepper, and spices. You get ready made flavoured makhana, like ours, which are easy to eat, convenient to carry around, and delicious to taste. These days, you get flavours such as cheese, tomato, and many more.

2. Healthier Than Dried Fruits

Makhana are fat-free and low calorie, thus making them healthier than almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pistachios. It is perfect for fasting and can be eaten at any time in the day. Roasted makhana snacks have a low glycemic index, high fibre and protein, nutrient dense, and high in antioxidants like kaempferol. 

While dried fruits are highly nutritious, they are energy-dense and high in natural sugars or healthy fats. That requires strict portion control. 

3. It Comes From A Water Lily 

Makhana comes from the water lily, also called Euryale Ferox. This lily grows in freshwater ponds and has large and round leaves. The stalk is at the centre of the underside. 

The plants’ seeds are collected from the ponds. Then the raw makhana is dried and roasted, and turned into the crunchy puffed snacks that we all know and love.

4. Most Makhana Come From Bihar 

Around 90% of the world’s makhana are harvested and roasted from the Bihar region of India. Thousands of hectares of Bihar’s flood plains are used to cultivate this plant. They are mostly grown in the areas of Darbhanga, Madhubani, and Purnia.

This plant is cultivated for its seeds in China and Japan as well. In China, it is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

5. It Has Extensive History in Ayurveda

Makhana has multiple uses in Ayurveda. It is considered a sattvic, cooling, and nutrient dense superfood that balances the vata and pitta doshas. It acts as a natural rejuvenator to improve a number of factors. That includes keeping the body’s energy in check, being light on the stomach, and calming to the mind. 

6. Vegan and Gluten Free

Roasted makhana snacks ticks all the right boxes when it comes to being animal friendly and healthy. It is also packed with protein, low in fat, rich in antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron, and other essential minerals. That makes this a guilt-free snack.

7. Reduces Body Inflammation

Makhana, or Fox Nuts as they are also called, contain flavonoids that may reduce inflammation in the body. That can help combat the symptoms of a number of health problems.

8. Makhanas Are Used For Fasting

The Fox Nut is used for fasting in different countries, including India. They are healthy as well as filling. You can roast them, fry them, make them into pudding, and enjoy them any way they want.

9. Healthy Kidneys

Roasted makhana snacks can keep pressure under control, thus ensuring easy blood flow towards the kidneys. That helps keep them healthier.

10. Good for Diabetics

Being high in fibre and low in fats, makhana are good for people with diabetes. It is a great crunchy snack for diabetic people to munch on.

From health benefits to history, these interesting facts are sure to have left you wanting to know more about makhana. Learn more on our website. You can try our range of premium quality makhana in different flavours. You’re sure to find one, if not 10, reasons to enjoy makhana!