How Bihar’s Humble Makhana Became Global Super Food; Entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath Says He Is Hooked To The Nutritional Snack

Nikhil Kamath, entrepreneur and Zerodha co-founder, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share how he has been “hooked on Makhana” lately. In his long and detailed post, he talked about the history, nutritional value, and growing demand for this Indian superfood. Scroll on to learn more about this post.

Nikhil Kamath Talks About Makhana’s Growing Demand & Nutritional Value

A few years ago, when we thought about snacking, our minds always went towards all the unhealthy options available in the market! Now, however, we can snack on something delicious and healthy like makhana, all thanks to the amazing flavours present in the market. Nikhil Kamath recently shared his two cents on this growing demand for makhana worldwide.

In his post, “How India’s makhana is becoming a superfood for the world,” he spoke in great detail about the snack’s nutritional value. Packed with proteins and minerals and low on calories, makhana is a favoured snack for people with heart issues, diabetes, and those trying to lose weight and even take care of their skin.

Here are some nutritional facts of makhana (100g) that everyone should know about –

Carbohydrates – 79.8%
Protein – 8.7%
Phosphorus – 53.2mg
Fat – 0.5%
Iron – 1.4mg
Magnesium – 13.9mg
Calcium – 18.5mg
Potassium – 42mg
Calorific value – 358 Kcal

He further mentioned that India is the world’s leading producer of makhana. Seeing its amazing health benefits, the demand for the humble fox nuts has surged significantly in China, Korea, Thailand, the US, and even European countries.

Also Read: Give Your Favourite Ladoos A Nutritious Twist With This Makhana Ladoo Recipe By Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

More About Bihar’s ‘Black Diamond’

Now, did you know that Bihar produces 90% of the world’s makhana? Yes, as mentioned in Nikhil Kamath’s post, Bihar produces 10,000 tonnes of popped makhana every year and it thrives in the state’s flood-prone climate. Its soaring demand has boosted the profit margin of these crops by over 30% in the last two decades.

However, there are many challenges for makhana farmers as well. The crop is not very high-yielding and only 40% of the gathered seeds are edible. Farmers also have to work on thorny fields and muddy ponds to gather these seeds and it is very difficult for them.

Also Read: Regular Coffee Consumption Can Add Almost Two Years Of Healthy Living To Your Life, Reveals New Study

What are your thoughts on makhana’s growing demand over the years? Let us know in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/nikhilkamathcio & Canva