Cashew Nuts: what they are for, how to use them, benefits and harms

Cashew nuts are rich in nutrients and provide a wide variety of health benefits.

Plus, cashews are delicately sweet, yet crunchy, delicious and packed with energy, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for health.

Kaju, or “cashew” in Portuguese, is one of the popular ingredients in sweet and savory dishes around the world.

The cashew nut is native to the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.

It was spread across the planet by Portuguese explorers and today, it is cultivated on a commercial scale in Brazil, Vietnam, India and many African countries.

The cashew tree has many edible, pear-shaped, false fruits or “accessory fruits” called “cashew apples”.

The cashew nut which is a “true fruit”, firmly attached to the underside of the cashew apple, appearing as a valve in the bell.

Botanically, this small bean-shaped “true fruit” is a drupe, with a hard outer shell that includes a single edible seed known commercially as a “ cashew nut”.

The cashew nut measures about an inch long, 1/2 inch in diameter and shaped like a kidney or bean, with a smooth surface and smooth curvy pointed tip.

Each sow splits into two halves as in legumes. The creamy white kernel has a firm, crunchy texture and a sweet, buttery flavor.

Nutritional Value Cashew Nuts

Cashew  nuts  are one of the extremely nutritious nuts.

This delicate and sweet nut is packed with energy, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals.

It is rich in minerals like Manganese , Potassium , Iron , Copper , Zinc , Selenium and Phosphorus.

It also contains B vitamins like pantothenic acid, thiamine, pyridoxine, riboflavin and folate.

Cashew apples contain five times more vitamin C than most citrus fruits.

However, cashews are a high-calorie food and every 100 grams of cashews you serve provides 553 calories.

Selection and Storage of Cashew Nuts

Cashew nuts can be available on the market all year round.

In stores, only shelled cashews are sold as the shell contains phenolic resin, urushiol, which is a potent skin irritant toxin.

In stores, you can find raw, salted, sweetened or candied cashews .

Buy  shelled cashews with bright white creams, compact, uniform and feel heavy in the hand.

They must be free of cracks, mildew and stains and free of rancid smell.

At home, store cashews in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge to prevent them from going rancid.

Under ideal conditions, fresh walnuts should last for 5-6 months.

Uses of Cashew Nuts

Cashew nuts have a crunchy and buttery texture with a pleasant sweet fruity aroma. Here are some usage tips:

• Cashews can be enjoyed as a snack. They can also be eaten salted or sweetened.
• Cashews are nutty, but pleasantly yummy. They can be enjoyed as a garnish in various types of sweets and desserts.
• Cashews, along with almonds and other dried fruits, are being used in savory rice dishes, rice-pulao…etc, and in curry preparations (kaaju-shahi-paneer) in Indian, Persian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern. eastern regions.
• Split or crushed cashews, along with almonds, pistachios are often sprinkled over desserts, particularly sundaes, and other confections to enhance flavor.
• Cashew  nuts are widely used in confectionery, as an addition to cookies, candies and cakes.
• Cashew apples are among popular fruits; eaten on its own in many regions around the world. They are also being used to prepare healthy drinks.

The cashew nut besides being very delicious, it also comes with several health benefits.

• Prevent cancer.
• Reduces high blood pressure.
• Prevents gallstones.
• It helps digestion.
• Pleasant sleep.
• Healthy gums and teeth.

Cashew Nut Oil

The cold compression method is used to extract oil from cashew nuts .

This oil is extremely beneficial for keeping the skin healthy. The high concentration of essential fatty oil helps maintain skin moisture.

A rich source of Vitamin E cashew nut oil can help prevent signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles if used regularly in body massages.

Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts

Dental:

Researchers have found that the chemicals present in cashews can kill gram positive bacteria and penetrating mouth afflictions that cause tooth decay.

It is also believed that moderate consumption of cashew nuts can eliminate abscessed teeth, although this has not yet been proven.

For Eye Health: 

Cashews contain small amounts of zea-xanthine, an important antioxidant, which is selectively absorbed into the lutea of ​​the retinal macula in the eye.

This gives our eyes protection from UV ray filtering functions, preventing age-related macular degeneration in the elderly.

Weight loss: 

Cashew nuts are a highly fatty food, but with good fat and 75% of the fat is unsaturated.

Unsaturated fats provide more energy to the body, facilitating the body’s metabolism.

This can help you lose weight, only if consumed in moderation.

Brain Function: 

Our brain depends on two types of fats – polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats for the production of brain cells.

Cashews contain both fats . It also improves the circulation of oxygen to the brain, which helps improve memory.

Heart Health: 

Cashew nuts  are rich in various mono unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic and palmitoleic acid.

These essential fatty acids help in reducing harmful low-density lipoprotein while increasing good cholesterol.

Monounsaturated fatty acids can help reduce triglyceride levels, preventing coronary artery disease.

For the Bones: 

Magnesium found in cashews promotes healthy bone structure. It also contains calcium which prevents the loss of bone mineral density.

Gum Health:

As mentioned earlier, the magnesium content present in cashews is very good for the bones . So it gives healthy teeth as well as strong gums to maintain them.

For a pleasant sleep:

After menopause, these cashew nuts can give you a relaxed and pleasant sleep at night.

Eliminate Free Radicals:

Cashew Nuts help our body to properly use iron and eliminate free radicals that cause health problems.

Protect Macular Degeneration:

Cashew Nuts have the ability to filter UV rays and protect us from macular degeneration.

Eliminate Free Radicals:

Cashew Nuts help our body to properly use iron and eliminate free radicals that cause health problems.

As Antioxidants:

What better way to give your ticker love than enjoying a nutritional snack? Few people know that delicious cashews are rich in antioxidants and have been proven to support significant cardio-protective qualities.

Like many other nuts, cashews contain a very high amount of alkyl phenols in their composition, but also co-factors for a wide variety of enzymes, such as copper, magnesium or selenium.

For Being Rich in Magnesium:

Although calcium is considered one of the most important factors in determining healthy bone structure, few people know the true value of magnesium from this point of view.

It is appreciated that about 2/3 of the amount of magnesium found in the human body resides in our bones , so we must really reconsider the importance of this vitamin if we are to maintain superhero bones .

Control Blood Pressure: 

Another reason why high magnesium intake from cashews can noticeably change your life is the impact it has on blood pressure.

A lack of magnesium can lead to alarming high blood pressure and even various muscle cramps, spasms and tensions.

Cashews are known to lower blood pressure and have a wonderful impact on patients suffering from this condition.

Even if you don’t have these types of problems, you should know that they also help you fight migraines and go about your day pain-free and with a clear mind.

As a  Healthy Snack:

Who thought eating could help you lose weight? Another health benefit of cashew nuts is their excellent cholesterol which has helped in weight loss countless times.

Research shows that people who eat cashews at least twice a week actually gain less weight than those who don’t!

Although most people are hesitant when they hear that cashews  are recognized as fats, studies have shown the existence of dietary trace minerals like manganese, copper, phosphorus and magnesium in these appetizing nuts.

The authors of a study carried out in Spain concluded that “frequent consumption of nuts was associated with a reduced risk of weight gain (5 kg or more)”.

Skin Health and Health:

Cashews  are world famous as being a miracle worker when approaching hair and skin care.

In addition to the fact that this oil enhances skin and muscle tone, it also provides a healthy dose of melanin, which is a significant pigment that aids in premature aging.

Cashews are also rich in copper, which enhances your hair color and can bring you the perfect black sound you’ve been dreaming of.

This fragrant oil also contains linoleic acid and oleic acid which gives your hair a silky smooth look and shines beautifully.

Having problems with hair loss or baldness? Believe it or not, cashew oil can be your lifesaver.

As an anti- inflammatory :

Numerous parts of the  cashew nut plant have proven successful in medicinal uses.

In Guyana, the Patamuna Amerindian tribe has incorporated cashew into their list of ingredients for traditional medicine with several health benefits.

By grinding cashew seeds, they obtain a remedy for snake bites that could otherwise prove fatal.

Also, they use cashew nut oil for cracked heels or often for anti-fungal activity.

The leaves and bark can protect your body from bacteria and fungi if prepared properly. Stomachache? You should know that cashews have high anti-diarrheal properties that could save you few trips to the bathroom.

For Healthy Nerves:

Magnesium is stored on the surface of bones which prevents calcium from entering nerve cells and thus keeps blood vessels and muscles relaxed.

Insufficient amounts of magnesium can lead to calcium entering the blood vessels causing them to contract. This also leads to hypertension, migraines, etc.

Harms of Cashew Nuts

Anaphylaxis is a common allergy caused by cashews.

The reaction can range from difficulty breathing, pain in the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea to hives.

Anaphylaxis is mainly caused due to the chemical compound urushiol present in shells, chestnut and cashew apples.

Cashews can cause swelling of the face and other areas of the body .

Other common side effects of over-consumption of cashews are vomiting and diarrhea, which are the body’s natural reaction to eliminate impurities. If left untreated, it can cause dehydration.