How to have makhana for weight loss and 5 other health benefits

Makhanas, also called fox nuts in English, make for one of the tastiest snacks. The best part about these puffed lotus seeds is that they are not just tasty but are nutritious as well. They have recently become a popular healthy snack, and are being sold by a variety of food brands. From flavoured to roasted, several varieties of this healthy snack are available in the market.

What if we tell you that these tasty and healthy makhanas serve another important purpose too? Wondering what? Weight loss!

Makhanas can help you lose weight. Yes, you read that right. Though it’s recommended to eat home-made makhanas for the purpose as they do not have any artificial flavours, unlike the packaged ones.

Here is how makhanas can aid your weight loss journey.

50 grams of dry-roasted makhanas have 180 calories with no saturated fat or sodium. Because they are so low in calories, makhanas have gained immense popularity as a weight-loss snack.

Makhanas are rich in proteins and good carbohydrates. They contain a flavonoid called kaempferol, which has anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties. They are gluten-free, high in magnesium, which makes them suitable for heart patients. Despite being rich in carbs the GI index of these puffed white balls is lower than our regular food like bread and rice. Makhana is rich in iron, which is important for the formation of haemoglobin in the blood.

As makhanas are low in calories, with no cholesterol and saturated fats, they make for one of the healthiest snacks to lose weight. Their low GI index helps in keeping you fuller for longer and stops you from binge eating later.

According to Ayurveda, makhanas not only aid weight loss but also help in keeping your kidneys in good shape. Multiple researches have found that makhanas boost metabolism by detoxifying the liver.

Other health benefits

Fox nuts have anti-ageing properties. The presence of enzymes in these nuts inhibits the process of ageing and helps in fixing and preserving the impaired cells that lead to ageing.

Makhana is high in magnesium, which is important for a healthy heart and for the regulation of potassium, sodium and calcium in the blood.

Consuming a handful of makhanas daily helps in improving the sleep pattern as well as corrects any sleeping disorder. It has nerve-stimulating properties that help in inducing sleep by reducing stress.

Regular consumption of fox nuts is excellent in curing and fighting infertility, especially amongst women. It helps by strengthening the lining of the uterus. It is also known to improve the sperm count as well as the quality of sperm in males.

Ayurveda prescribes makhanas for infertility issues and erectile dysfunction.

The low GI index of fox nuts helps in keeping you energetic throughout the day.

How to eat makhanas for weight loss

As the name suggests, dry roasted makhanas do not involve any ingredient like oil or ghee. For making these, simply place your makhanas in a non-stick pan and roast them on a low flame until they become slightly brown. You can store them in an air tight jar and consume them later as well.

To add more flavor to Makhanas, you can add a tablespoon of ghee or coconut oil to your pan for roasting them. Additionally, you can add salt or chat masala to make them tastier.

If you do not like plain roasted makhanas, you can make flavoured makhanas at home too. All you need to do is roast them in ghee and add spices and condiments like mint leaves, curry leaves, garlic powder, coriander powder, green chillies, turmeric powder, etc. You can also add almonds, cashew or peanuts to add more crunch to this healthy snack.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician's advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details.