What Are Cashews?

Cashew nuts are kidney-shaped seeds derived from the tropical evergreen cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), native to Brazil but now widely cultivated in various parts of the world, including India. These seeds have become a favorite snack worldwide and are known for their creamy texture and nutty flavor. Despite of being categorized as nuts in culinary contexts, cashews are technically seeds attached to the base of cashew apples, the fruit produced by cashew trees. Apart from their delicious taste, what makes them worth incorporating into our Nutrition

Cashews boasts an impressive nutritional profile that contributes towards their status as a superfood:

• Rich in Vitamins: Cashew nuts are full of vitamins E, K and B complex that play vital roles in maintaining overall health.
• Packed with Minerals: These nuts contain minerals such as copper, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.
• High Proteins and Healthy Fats: The proteins and healthy fats found in cashew nuts help muscle growth and ensure sustainable energy.
• Full of Fiber: Fiber is essential for digestion and cashew nuts offer it in abundance.

Cashew Benefits

Let’s delve into some specific benefits of cashew nuts:

1. Reduced Cholesterol Levels: Cashews contain heart-friendly monounsaturated fats that help in reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This benefit of cashews is significant because high cholesterol can lead to heart disease.
2. Heart Disease Prevention: Heart disease remains a major concern worldwide. Consuming cashews can potentially help prevent it. Cashews contain oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat associated with reducing the risk of heart disease.
3. Stroke Prevention: Another benefit of cashews is their potential role in stroke prevention. The magnesium in cashews helps regulate blood pressure and thereby reduces the risk of stroke.
4. Diabetes Management: Cashew nuts play a beneficial role for diabetics as they are rich in dietary fibre which helps in controlling blood sugar levels. Cashew nuts help in managing diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels. This is possible thanks to the presence of healthy fats and low sugar content.