water chestnuts from Kashmir's waters

Water chestnuts have long been the major crop for those living around Wular- one of Asia's largest freshwater lake. The marble-sized fruit must be shelled of its dark brown casings and dried until they are crispy and white. Then they are ready for market, where they are a popular item for Kashmiris who eat them raw, roasted, or fried during the harsh, snowy winter. Diabetic patients also use the nut ground into flour, as it is free of both cholesterol and fat. The shells are used as cooking fuel. Some researchers are investigating whether the fruit has cancer-fighting properties. Report- Rayees Shah~ TK