Cashew Nut - Flowers
Cashew Nut - Tree
Unripen Cashew Nut
Cashew Nut
CASHEW NUTS
Cashews are believed to have originated in the northeast of Brazil, near the Equator. It is likely that Spanish sailors first introduced the cashew to Central America in the sixteenth century. Later, Portuguese colonists brought cashews to territories in East Africa (Mozambique) and India (Goa), where its cultivation extended to Indonesia and the Philippines.
The cashew fruit consists of two distinct parts: a fleshy stalk in the form of a pear - also called the cashew apple - with a brilliant yellow or red skin that can measure from 5 to 10 cm; and a gray-brown colored nut (the cashew) in the shape of a kidney, which hangs from the lower end of the stalk or "apple."
Today the principal producing countries of cashews are India, Brazil, Vietnam and Mozambique. Juices, syrups, preserves, wine or liquors are obtained from the stalk or "apple." However, the main commercial use is the cashew nut itself. Cashews are marketed in the shelled, roasted and salted forms for use as a snack and as an ingredient (delicacies, chocolate, etc.)
The cashew is a
tree in the family Anacardiaceae. Its English
name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew
tree, caju, which in turn derives from the indigenous Tupi
name, acajú. Originally native to northern South America, it is now
widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew seeds and
cashew apples.
Cashew nuts, a richly sweet product of the cashew tree, have gained
popularity in North America and Europe not only for their succulent flavor but
for health benefits, too. Whether roasted, salted, sugared or covered in
chocolate, the cashew nut, often used as a flavorful complement to appetizers,
main dishes and deserts, packs a mix of nutrients and minerals not found in
many common foods.
Cashew nuts, native to equatorial South America, are actually seeds,
found growing on the end of the cashew apple, an edible and nutrient rich South
American treat that is too fragile to export to North America or Europe .
Also known by the botanical name Anacardium occidentale, the cashew is a
close relative of mangos, pistachios, poison ivy and poison oak. It was first introduced
on a worldwide scale by Portuguese explorers in South America in the 16th
century, but international trade didn’t take off until the 1920s.
Sometimes called “nature’s vitamin pill,” cashew nuts, which now rank #1
among nut crops in the world with 4.1 billion pounds produced in 2002, have
been used to promote wellness for centuries.
Mildly
sweet yet crunchy, delicious cashew nut is packed with energy, antioxidants,
minerals and vitamins that are essential for robust health! Cashews, or
"caju" in Portugese, are a popular ingredient in sweet as well savory
dishes.
Botanically,
cashew is an average size evergreen tree belonging to the Anacardiaceaefamily
of the genus: Anacardium.
Scientific name: Anacardium occidentale.
Scientific name: Anacardium occidentale.
The cashew tree is native to Brazil’s Amazon
rain forest, which spread all over the world by Portuguese explorers. Today, it
is grown commercially in Brazil, Vietnam, and India and in many African
countries.
Cashew
tree bears numerous, edible, pear shaped false fruits or “accessory
fruits” called "cashew apples." A small bean shaped, grey color “true
fruit” is firmly adhering to lower end of these apples appearing like a clapper
in the bell. This true fruit is actually a drupe, featuring hard outer shell
enclosing a single edible seed or the “cashew nut.” The outer shell
contains a phenolic resin, urushiol, which is a potent caustic skin irritant
toxin. It is, therefore, the outer shell is roasted in the processing unit in
order to destroy the resin, urushiol and
then, the edible nut is extracted.
Cashew
nut measures about a inch in length and 1/2 inches in diameter with kidney or
bean shape, and smooth curvy pointed tip. Each nut has two equal halves as in
legumes. The nuts are cream white color with firm yet delicate texture and
smooth surface. Cashews have buttery texture with pleasant sweet fruity aroma.
Cashew
Nuts are found at the bottom of a Cashew tree. The Cashew nuts is
actually hidden at the bottom of a fruit that also grows on that tree and the
fruit is known as Caju. The caju fruit is also known as the cashew apple. This
fruit is pear shaped and is either the color of yellow or red.
The
tree is native to the coast lines of the north eastern area of Brazil and dates
back as far as the sixteenth century when some Portuguese explores introduced
cashew nuts into India and some African countries. Today, the leading producers
of cashews are India, Tanzania, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Brazil.
The
cashew nuts itself is kidney shaped and has a delicate flavor. Putting the
cashew nuts into a food processor and processing them into small slivers that
can be used on top of salads, pastas, soups, stews, desserts, and some fried
dishes.
BENEFITS OF CASHEW NUTS
Cashews
contain more iron per gram than lean rump steak. And if you want to
increase the absorption rate of iron, eat them with a glass of orange juice, as
the vitamin C in the juice significantly improves its absorption. They also
provide lots of zinc and potassium.
Cashew
nuts have a lower fat content and a higher protein and carbohydrate content
than other types of nuts. The fat that they do contain is mostly (65%) derived
from oleic acid, a monounsaturated oil with known benefits in protecting
against heart disease and cancer.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CASHEW NUTS
STUDY NO. 1 : -
§ Cashews
are high in calories. 100 g of nuts provide 553 calories. They are packed with
soluble dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and numerous health-promoting
phyto-chemicals that help protect from diseases and cancers.
§ They
are rich in “heart-friendly”monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic and palmitoleic
acids
that help to lower or bad LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL
cholesterol. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet, which is rich in
monounsaturated fatty acids helps to prevent coronary artery disease and
strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
§ Cashew
nuts are very rich source of minerals. Minerals especially manganese,
potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium are concentrated in the
nuts. A handful of cashew nuts a day in the diet would provide enough of these
minerals and prevent deficiency diseases. Selenium is
an important micronutrient, which functions as co-factor for antioxidant
enzymes such as Glutathione peroxidases, one of the most powerful
antioxidant in the body. Copper is
a cofactor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and
superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are
manganese and zinc). Zinc is a co-factor in many enzymes
that regulate growth and development, sperm generation, digestion and
nucleic acid synthesis.
§ Cashews
are also rich in many essential vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5),
pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins
are essential in the sense that our body requires them from external sources to
replenish and essential for metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates at
cellular levels.
§ In
addition, the nuts are also containing small amount of Zea-xanthin, an
important flavonoid antioxidant, which selectively absorbed into the retinal
macula lutea in the eyes. It is thought to provide antioxidant and protective
UV ray filtering functions and helps prevent age related macular degeneration
(ARMD) in the elderly.
STUDY NO. 2 :-
Medical Benefits
The cashew tree’s leaves and bark as well as the popular cashew apple
possess herbal health benefits that include killing bacteria and germs,
stopping diarrhea, drying secretions, increasing the libido, and reducing
fever, blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature, but unfortunately the
byproducts of these parts of the cashew tree are not available in North America
and Europe, mainly due to their highly perishable qualities.
The cashew nut, a popular treat found on grocery and health food store
shelves across the world, is jam-packed with nutritional content. It packs 5
grams of protein per ounce and high levels of the essential minerals iron,
magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese, which are utilized in
holistic health solutions and healthy diets.
Diet and Weight Management
Cashew nuts do have a relatively high fat content (12 grams per ounce, 2
grams saturated fat), but it is considered “good fat.” This is due to the
agreeable fat ratio in the nut, 1:2:1 for saturated, monounsaturated, and
polyunsaturated, respectively, which scientists say is the ideal ratio for
optimal health.
Cashew nuts also have a fatty acid profile that contributes to good
health through phytosterols, tocopherols, and sqaulene, all of which lower the
risk of heart disease, combined with the nut’s zero percent cholesterol
content.
Even with the relatively high fat content, cashew nuts are considered to
be a “low-fat” nut. In fact, cashew nuts contain less fat per serving than many
other popular nuts commonly found in grocery stores and health food stores,
including almonds, walnuts, peanuts and pecans.
Recommendations vary for cashew nut consumption in diet and weight loss.
Cashew nuts have a high energy density and high amount of dietary fiber, both
which have been attributed to a beneficial effect on weight management, but
only when eaten in moderation.
Cardiovascular and Circulatory Health
With no cholesterol, a rarity for such a tasty and pleasing treat,
cashew nuts are a healthy fat food for heart patients. And because of their
high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, they also help support healthy
levels of low good (HDL) cholesterol.
Magnesium
The cashew nut’s high magnesium content also takes the credit for its
healthy heart qualities. In their raw form, cashews contain 82.5 milligrams of
magnesium per ounce, or 21 percent of the daily recommended value of the heart
healthy mineral, which also protects against high blood pressure, muscle
spasms, migraine headaches, tension, soreness and fatigue.Magnesium also works with calcium to support healthy muscles and bones
in the human body.
Antioxidants
And with a high copper content, too, cashew nut consumption helps the
body utilize iron, eliminate free radicals, develop bone and connective tissue,
and produce the skin and hair pigment melanin. Copper, which is an essential component of the enzyme superoxide
dismutase , is vital in energy production and antioxidant defense, producing
greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.
Diabetes
Recent clinical trials have shows that cashews and other nuts work with
a person’s lipid profile to have a beneficial effect on those with diabetes or
at risk for diabetes. And with 37.7 percent of the daily recommended value of monounsaturated
fats, cashews can reduce triglyceride levels in diabetics, protecting them from
further complications. Integrating frequent nut consumption into your diet, especially raw
cashews, may lower the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, the most commonly
diagnosed form of diabetes in America today.
Gallstones
All nuts, including the cashew nut, have been associated with a reduced
risk of gallstone disease. According to the Nurses’ Health Study, looking at the dietary data of
80,718 women, integrating at least one ounce of nuts a week, such as cashews,
gives women a 25 percent lower risk of developing gallstones.
Dental Health
Research has also shown that chemicals in cashew nuts kill gram positive
bacteria, a pervasive mouth affliction that causes tooth decay, acne,
tuberculosis and leprosy. Eating cashew nuts at moderate levels, some say, can eliminate abscessed
teeth, though this has not been proven yet by proper clinical trials.
STUDY NO. 3 :-
Cancer Prevention
Cashews are ripe with proanthocyanidins, a class of flavanols that actually starve tumors and stop cancer cells from dividing. Studies have also shown that cashews can reduce your colon cancer risk. Their high copper content also endows the seed with the power to eliminate free radicals and they are also good sources of phytochemicals and antioxidants that protect us from heart disease and cancer.
Cashews are ripe with proanthocyanidins, a class of flavanols that actually starve tumors and stop cancer cells from dividing. Studies have also shown that cashews can reduce your colon cancer risk. Their high copper content also endows the seed with the power to eliminate free radicals and they are also good sources of phytochemicals and antioxidants that protect us from heart disease and cancer.
Heart Health
Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts and most of it is in the form of oleic acid, the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil. Studies show that oleic acid promotes good cardiovascular health by helping to reduce triglyceride levels, high levels of which are associated with an increased risk for heart disease. Cashews are wonderfully cholesterol free and their high antioxidant content helps lower risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases. The magnesium in cashews helps lower blood pressure and helps prevent heart attacks.
Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts and most of it is in the form of oleic acid, the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil. Studies show that oleic acid promotes good cardiovascular health by helping to reduce triglyceride levels, high levels of which are associated with an increased risk for heart disease. Cashews are wonderfully cholesterol free and their high antioxidant content helps lower risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases. The magnesium in cashews helps lower blood pressure and helps prevent heart attacks.
Hair
and Skin Health
Cashews are rich in the mineral copper. An essential component of many enzymes, copper plays its part in a broad array of processes. One copper-containing enzyme, tyrosinase, converts tyrosine to melanin, which is the pigment that gives hair and skin its color. Without the copper cashews are so abundant in, these enzymes would not be able to do their jobs.
Cashews are rich in the mineral copper. An essential component of many enzymes, copper plays its part in a broad array of processes. One copper-containing enzyme, tyrosinase, converts tyrosine to melanin, which is the pigment that gives hair and skin its color. Without the copper cashews are so abundant in, these enzymes would not be able to do their jobs.
Bone
Health
Cashews are particularly rich in magnesium. It's a well-known fact that calcium is necessary for strong bones, but magnesium is as well. Most of the magnesium in the human body is in our bones. Some of it helps lend bones their physical structure, and the remainder is located on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to use as it needs. Copper found in cashews is vital for the function of enzymes involved in combining collagen and elastin, providing substance and flexibility in bones and joints.
Cashews are particularly rich in magnesium. It's a well-known fact that calcium is necessary for strong bones, but magnesium is as well. Most of the magnesium in the human body is in our bones. Some of it helps lend bones their physical structure, and the remainder is located on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to use as it needs. Copper found in cashews is vital for the function of enzymes involved in combining collagen and elastin, providing substance and flexibility in bones and joints.
Good for the Nerves
By preventing calcium from rushing into nerve
cells and activating them, magnesium keeps our nerves relaxed and thereby our
blood vessels and muscles too. Too little magnesium means too much calcium can
gain entrance to the nerve cell, causing it to send too many messages, and
leading to too much contraction.
Insufficient magnesium leads to higher
blood pressure, muscle tension, migraine headaches, soreness and fatigue. Not
surprisingly, studies have demonstrated that magnesium helps diminish the
frequency of migraine attacks, lowers blood pressure and helps prevent heart
attacks.
Prevent Gallstones
Data collected on 80,718 women from the Nurses' Health Study demonstrates that women who eat at least an ounce of nuts each week, such as cashews, have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones.
Data collected on 80,718 women from the Nurses' Health Study demonstrates that women who eat at least an ounce of nuts each week, such as cashews, have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones.
Weight Loss
People who eat nuts twice a week are much less likely to gain weight than those who rarely eat nuts. Cashew nuts are indeed relatively high in fat, but it is considered "good fat." This is attributable to the ideal fat ratio in the nut, 1:2:1 for saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated, respectively, which is recommended by scientists for tip-top health. Cashew nuts contain less fat than most other popular nuts, including peanuts, pecans, almonds and walnuts. They are dense in energy and high in dietary fiber, making them a very valuable snack for managing weight gain.
People who eat nuts twice a week are much less likely to gain weight than those who rarely eat nuts. Cashew nuts are indeed relatively high in fat, but it is considered "good fat." This is attributable to the ideal fat ratio in the nut, 1:2:1 for saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated, respectively, which is recommended by scientists for tip-top health. Cashew nuts contain less fat than most other popular nuts, including peanuts, pecans, almonds and walnuts. They are dense in energy and high in dietary fiber, making them a very valuable snack for managing weight gain.
STUDY NO. 4 : -
- Cashew nuts are
rich in zinc,copper, potassium and magnesium. They are also a source of
vitamin K,vitamin E and vitamin B6.Therefore cashews are good for
developing healthy bones.
- Cashew nuts are
empowered with high fat content(monounsaturated fat) which reduce the bad
(LDL) cholesterol level and increase the good (HDL) level.And thus it
helps to maintain the heart health protecting against heart
diseases and strokes.
- Cashew nuts are
best nutritional snacks to boost up our energy levels and it also
helps to keep our stomach silent.
- Cashew nuts are
considered as brain food as it plays a main role in brain
development. Especially to build intelligent and sharp brain,
cashews must be included for kids in their diet.
- Cashew nuts
contains high amount of dietary fiber which helps in weight
management when consumed in moderation.
- Antioxidants in
cashews helps to reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and gallstones. It also helps to protect against tooth decay, acne, tuberculosis.
STUDY NO. 5 :-
Cashew
is high in calcium and magnesium. Magnesium helps the body in many ways and
here is just a few examples: Magnesium helps by giving physical structure to
the bones and the bones store some of the extra magnesium on the surface of the
bones, so that it can used whenever the bones need it, helps by regulate the
tone of the nerves and muscle, and is a natural calcium channel blocker. A
natural calcium channel blocker prevents extra calcium from entering into the
nerve cells and activates the nerves. Another words, a calcium channel blocker
helps the nerves relax. Although, lack of daily amounts of calcium can lead to
many different problems such as muscle spasms, migraine headaches, and high
blood pressure, eating a few serving of cashew a week can solve this problem.
The nuts also help to prevent muscle tension, soreness in the body, and
fatigue.
The
nuts are also rich in copper which helps in the removal of certain harmful free
radicals in the body, aids in the utilization of iron, help in the production
of skin and hair pigment, and proper development of bones and the connective
tissues. Copper also help with the bodies energy and acts as an antioxidant
defense and helps in the flexibility of blood vessels, joints, and bones. This
mineral also helps to prevent brain disturbance, osteoporosis, iron deficiency,
anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and irregular heartbeat.
Cashews
were linked to people gaining weight, but in new studies that was proving to be
untrue. People who eat cashews twice a week are less likely to gain weight as
compare to the one who never have eaten cashews in their life.
Cashews
are found to be a good source of Vitamin K which prevents blood coagulation.
Cashews
are known to be brain power boosters. They are rich in iron and zinc. Iron
helps to deliver oxygen to all your cells in your body which can prevent anemia
and zinc is critical to your body’s immune health and vision. It also helps
improve memory and protects the brain against age related memory loss.
STUDY NO. 6 :-
Diabetes:
Diabetics found high amounts of monounsaturated fat
for working beneficially for their lipid profile. These nuts aid in reducing
triglyceride levels in diabetes patients, that protect them from further
cholesterol and sugar related problems. Cashews if incorporated in your diet
can significantly lower the risk of developing diabetes type 2.
Heart Health:
Cashew nuts contain ample amounts of unsaturated fatty
acids and mono unsaturated fat (oleic acid) that promote cardiovascular health.
Often high triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk for heart
disorders and mono unsaturated fats reduce triglyceride levels.
Antioxidants:
These nuts are rich antioxidants that are essential
for eliminating free radicals. Free radicals are harmful to the cells. Damaged
cells and free radicals cause some cancer form, thus it is essential to inhibit
their growth.
Weight
Control:
Often, cashews are recommended for several diet plans,
which are a part of weight reduction programs. These have 0% of cholesterol. As
cashews are rich in dietary fiber and energy density, if consumed in moderate
amounts they may be satisfying and filling.
Copper:
Cashews have high amounts of copper that aid in energy
production and melanin. Melanin is a hair and skin pigment. Copper helps in
several physiological processes in body, cross linking of elastin and collagen,
development of connective tissue and bone, iron utilization and in the
elimination of free radicals, that gives greater flexibility in the blood
vessels.
Ensure Freshness
Always check your cashews for freshness before you dig in. While cashews have a high amount of the stabilizing oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, they should always be stored in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place.
And don’t eat too many at once. Because of their high fat content, over consumption of cashew nuts can cause unwanted weight gain in individuals. The oxalates in cashews cal also become concentrated in body fluids, crystallizing and causing health problems in people with preexisting kidney or gallbladder problems.
With cashew nuts, moderation is key in reaping the health and flavor benefits of nature’s treat.
