Cashew Nut: Every Thing You Need To Know About it

Contrary to popular belief, cashew nuts are a kind of seed. They are extracted from cashew apples and are well-known for their great nutritional content and health advantages. The majority of the health advantages associated with them are due to the healthful antioxidants and fatty acids found in them. Copper, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and selenium are abundant in them.

Raw and uncooked cashews are dangerous and should not be consumed without being treated and cleaned. However, once processed, they are healthy and tasty, with several health advantages. Cashew eating has been associated to improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, and cholesterol reduction.

This article will look at all of the health advantages and nutritional worth of cashews.

What exactly are cashews?

Cashews
Cashews are derived from cashew trees, which are native to Brazil but are now grown in a variety of nations across the world.

They are not, however, nuts, but rather seeds that develop on the bottom of cashew apples, also known as cashew fruits. Cashew nuts and seeds are covered in kidney-shaped shells, which are surrounded by a number of poisonous layers.

Cashew nuts are generally shelled by hand since mechanical shelling causes harm. This laborious processing is one of the reasons cashew nuts can be costly to purchase.

Cashew nuts are beneficial to your general health since they are high in vitamin K, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and a variety of other beneficial minerals. They are a good source of energy, and 18 cashew nuts provide around 5 grams of protein, which is about 10% of the typical daily requirement.

Cashews vary from peanuts in that they contain minerals such as copper, manganese, and magnesium. Cashews are thought to be a better option to peanuts since they contain less omega-6 and more omega-3 fatty acids. An imbalance of these fatty acids has been linked to inflammation and chronic illnesses. (1)

Are Cashews Harmful?

Cashews are not hazardous in and of themselves, but they are encased by a shell made of the deadly oil urushiol.

According to the National Institute of Health, the urushiol in cashew nuts can induce contact dermatitis. When exposed to urushiol, it can cause itching, blisters, and skin rashes. The good news is that simply roasting the cashews, the toxins may be removed. (2)

Because raw cashews are handled so carefully and meticulously, it is quite unlikely that someone may consume a contaminated nut and get dermatitis.

Can Cashews Be Harmful to Pets?

dog
Cashew nuts may be used to produce healthy and nutritious dog treats. Antioxidants, fatty acids, and other nutrients that are beneficial to people can also be beneficial to dogs.

Cashews are not harmful to dogs, unlike macadamia nuts, which can be. Despite the fact that cashews are high in calories, you should use caution while feeding them to your dog. An ounce (28 grams) of cashews has around 157 calories and 12 grams of fat.

What exactly are Cashew Apples and Cashew Fruit?

cashew nuts
You may eat fresh cashew apples, which are high in antioxidants. Some describe their flavor as sweet and pleasant. Cashew apples can taste similar to tropical fruits like mango, with citrus undertones.

People in places where cashew trees thrive utilize the apples from them in cooking and to make jam and chutney. Cashew apple juice has therapeutic properties.

Antioxidants in Cashew Apple Fruit Juice
Cashew apple juice is high in antioxidants and has several health advantages.

According to the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, cashew apple juice is high in antioxidants. Cashew apple juice also has anti-inflammatory effects and has the ability to speed up injury healing. Cashew apples are high in minerals, vitamin C, and have antimicrobial characteristics. (3)

Nutritional Value of Cashew Nuts
Cashew nuts have a significant nutritional content, making them healthy. According to Cleveland Clinic researchers, each ounce/28 grams of cashew nuts includes around 18 cashew nuts.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one ounce of cashews has 157 calories and 8.5 grams of carbohydrates, implying that each cashew nut contains around 8 calories.

(4)

Cashew nuts are also good for digestion since 18 cashews provide just under a gram of dietary fiber (4 percent of your RDI).

The monounsaturated fatty acid content of cashew nuts is what makes them so nutritious. These fatty acids have been proven to contain linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitoleic acid in cashews, which provide a variety of health advantages. According to researchers, eating only one ounce of cashews every day can help avoid heart disease.

Cashews are also abundant in amino acids and proteins, which help to keep muscles and bones healthy. 100 grams of cashews provide 18 grams of protein, which is around one-third of your total RDI. Of course, because 100 grams of cashews have 553 calories, eating so much is not recommended.

Cashews include the majority of the minerals that the body requires to be fit and healthy. An ounce of cashews includes 0.6mcg of copper (31% RDI), 0.5mcg of manganese (23% RDI), 82mg of magnesium (20% RDI), and 166mg of phosphorous (17 percent RDI).

Cashews contain iron, which helps to maintain blood healthy and prevents iron deficiency anemia. An ounce of cashews has 2 milligrams of iron, which is 10% of the RDI.

According to a Harvard research, cashews contain crucial nutrients for blood health. They are high in iron and also include minerals such as magnesium, calcium, selenium, and zinc. All of these minerals have been proved to have health advantages. (5)

Minerals including zinc, selenium, and magnesium have been related to illness prevention via boosting the immune system. The majority of the minerals present in cashew nuts are also anti-inflammatory.

Cashews do not contain sodium, therefore be cautious while eating salted cashews, as too much salt might be harmful to your heart’s health.

Antioxidants in Cashews

Cashews are high in antioxidants and can help protect the body from the effects of oxidative stress.

According to the Food Science and Nutrition journal, cashews contain fatty acids and vitamin E, both of which have antioxidant characteristics. Researchers think that vitamin E’s antioxidant capacity aids in the prevention of degenerative brain diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Researchers have also discovered that include cashews in your diet enhances your body’s total antioxidant levels.

Roasting cashew kernels is an excellent technique to boost their antioxidant content. According to one study, roasting cashews over high heat boosted their flavonoid and phenolic levels. These are necessary antioxidants for a healthy body.