The birthplace of this delicious nut is Brazil, and it was brought to the countries of Europe and Asia by the Portuguese. During its popularity, it has acquired many names - it is called the Indian nut, the exotic “acajou”, the western cashew, and the literal translation of cashew is “yellow fruit”. It is believed that the most delicious nuts are those grown in India.

The Indian nut grows on a tree and consists of two unusual parts - a thick-skinned fruit and a soft cashew apple. But only nuts get to us, since apple pulp spoils very quickly and does not tolerate transportation. In warm countries where this exotic nut grows, about 25 thousand tons of orange cashew pulp are harvested per year. Delicious juices are produced from it, jams are made, and even alcoholic drinks are made.

The process of extracting cashews from thick shells is a difficult and even dangerous task! The fact is that between the core and the outer shell of the fruit there is a poisonous oil, which, if it gets on the surface of the skin, can cause a burn. Only experienced people know the rules for extracting cashews, and only they manually extract each nut. That is why cashew nuts are never sold in shells and are consumed only after heat treatment.

However, the poisonous oil has found application in the industrial sector. It is collected in special containers and lubricated with wood products. This treatment allows you to preserve the original appearance of the tree for a long time, protecting it from rotting and pests.

Cashew composition

The Indian nut tastes very oily and fatty, but it contains much less organic fat than walnuts or almonds. The benefits of cashews lie in their rich composition, as well as in an amazing combination of polyunsaturated fats and vitamins.

Cashews contain:

• Fatty acids (Omega 3, 6 and 9 groups)
• Polyphenols
• Vitamins B6, B2, B1, A, E, PP
• Starch
• A nicotinic acid
• Alimentary fiber
• Antioxidants
• Ca, K, Na, Mg, P, Fe

Nutritional value of cashews

Exotic cashews are considered high-calorie, nutritious foods - one hundred grams of nuts contain about 600 calories, including:

• Proteins (12.3)
• Carbohydrates (15.0)
• Fats (72.7)

This nut is widely used in cooking, especially as an ingredient for salads, vegetable dishes and baked goods. The beneficial properties of cashews lie in its oiliness and fat content - amazing oil is produced from ripe fruits, which is used in the fields of cosmetology and medicine.

Harm

Harm of cashews

The greatest danger can await consumers who risk eating acajou nuts raw. Under its dense shell contains a dangerous poison - cardol, which, when it comes into contact with the surface of the skin, causes severe pain, redness and burns. But if this poison gets inside our body, it will cause a severe allergic reaction, including swelling of the larynx and suffocation. Therefore, it is better to fry the nuts before use to completely eliminate the harm of cashews.

People who have been diagnosed with:

• Stones in the urinary tract.
• Allergy or intolerance to individual components of the nut.

Despite the obvious benefits, cashews can be harmful if consumed in large quantities. If the body is oversaturated with this nut, symptoms of a banal food allergy may occur: rash, itching, swelling. In this case, it is better to stop using nuts and take special antihistamines.

Cashews may be harmful if introduced into the diet of children under 3 years of age. Since Indian nut is an allergen, its dosage should be strictly controlled and the child’s body’s reaction to this product should be monitored.

Benefit

Benefits of cashews

The popularity of this attractive-looking nut is rapidly growing in our country. Thanks to its exquisite taste and unique properties, it is used for cooking and consumed independently. It has been proven that the benefits of cashews for the body are not at all exaggerated. Japanese scientists, after a series of studies, have found that this nut is able to fight gum disease and even resist the destruction of tooth enamel.

Surprisingly, in African countries this nut is used as an intoxicant and used during tattooing, and in South America cashew is considered a powerful aphrodisiac that can ignite passion and increase potency. Walnut oil is also used to neutralize snake bites and lubricate cracks in the skin and warts.

However, the enormous benefit of cashews for humans lies in the huge content of polyunsaturated acids. Regularly consuming the exotic “comma nut”, a person supplies the body with a portion of useful substances necessary for brain activity, reliably protects the cells of all organs from the effects of harmful factors and normalizes cholesterol levels.

Cashew nuts have a number of healing effects on the body, namely:

• Reduce the likelihood of heart disease.
• They saturate the joints, bones and blood vessels of the body with useful substances that promote their strength and elasticity.
• Protect the body from the effects of harmful radicals from the environment.
• Helps with anemia, reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
• Strengthens the body's immune forces.
• They are an excellent therapeutic agent for respiratory diseases.
• Recommended for diabetes and hypertension.
• Strengthen the reproductive functions of the body and have a positive effect on libido.
• Effectively fight cancer.
• Regulate metabolism in the body.
• Suitable as an additional source of energy when following a diet.
• They relieve skin problems (acne, psoriasis, eczema), nourish and rejuvenate the epidermis.
• They have a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach and liver, and normalize intestinal motility.
• Relieve irritation, help relieve depression, insomnia, stress

Just 50 grams of cashews provide the body with 37 of the daily requirement of copper and magnesium, and regular consumption of these nuts eliminates the occurrence of anemia. The presence of cashews in the diet reduces the risk of gallbladder diseases. Indian nuts are recommended in the postoperative period - they help the body quickly recover, get stronger and gain strength.

Cashews during pregnancy

Indian nut enriches a woman’s body during pregnancy with a huge amount of organic acids and valuable vitamins, which are not found in their natural form very often. The benefits of cashews for a pregnant woman have no limits - they can be consumed in any trimester, and the only contraindication can be the intolerance of the expectant mother to any nuts or their components.

The beneficial properties of this “overseas” nut during pregnancy are as follows:

• Cashews significantly strengthen the body's immune forces, which allows a pregnant woman to resist colds and seasonal viruses.
• Promotes the strength of the skeletal system, thanks to which the expectant mother’s body copes with a “double” load.
• Stabilizes the activity of the heart and nervous system, eliminates surges in blood pressure, which is very important for a woman in this difficult period.
• Cashews enrich the pregnant woman's body with iron, which reduces the risk of anemia.
• A huge number of vitamins of different groups that make up the Indian nut allow a pregnant woman not to feel a deficiency of useful microelements even during periods of vitamin deficiency.
• Cashews normalize the functioning of the intestines and stomach, relieving pregnant women of dysbacteriosis and digestive problems.

A pregnant woman should carefully choose this exotic nut. It is necessary to avoid crushed, overdried, overly shriveled cashew nuts and give preference to shiny whole fruits. You should not purchase nuts that are covered with mold - in this case, the harm to the cashews will be significant, and consuming such a product will lead to poisoning!

Cashews during breastfeeding

During the period of lactation, a young mother needs to eat well and avoid foods that can negatively affect the well-being of her baby. The benefits of cashews during breastfeeding have been repeatedly discussed, but in the course of analyzes and studies it has been proven that these nuts can and should be consumed during lactation.

A woman’s body in the postpartum period lacks vitamins and needs to quickly recuperate. Cashews contain a colossal amount of valuable substances that have a beneficial effect on cell regeneration and provide energy to the body.

Cashew in the diet of a nursing woman will only bring benefits - it very rarely causes allergies, and the baby receives with milk a sufficient amount of vitamins and natural microelements that he needs in the first months of life. Therefore, young mothers can safely introduce Indian nuts into their diet and enjoy the taste of this wonderful fruit.

Roasted cashews: benefits and harms

Ready-made, roasted cashew nuts are most often sold on store shelves. But you can buy them raw and cook them to your liking. For those who are not too concerned about their figure, such nuts will be a good option for a snack.

However, the benefits of cashews for the body are manifested precisely in their raw form, since very often unscrupulous manufacturers use low-quality oils for frying and generously sprinkle the nuts with salt and other spices. In this case, the harm of cashews will significantly outweigh the benefits - after consuming such a product, heartburn and bloating may occur.

Roasted cashews, just like raw ones, have a positive effect on the condition of the gums, strengthen the immune system, and have bactericidal, antimicrobial, tonic and antiseptic properties. Cashews are also an excellent diuretic - it removes excess fluid from the body and prevents swelling.

Cashew is a nut that is truly unique in its properties. It is less allergenic than other nuts, which makes it incredibly popular. It also combines a huge amount of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and iron. It is the fusion of usefulness and safety that brings it to the top of the popularity rating among nuts. However, before use, it can (and sometimes even needs) to be fried (in a frying pan, in the microwave, or using other methods). This procedure gives it unforgettable shades of taste. In this article we will tell you how to fry cashews correctly in different ways!

How to preserve beneficial properties when frying cashews

Cashew nuts are truly special because when properly roasted, they practically do not lose any of their beneficial substances. Vitamins, proteins and much, much more will enrich your body if you master this art (and there is no other way to call it).

In order to properly roast nuts (regardless of the method), you need to distribute the cashews evenly throughout the cooking area. The frying itself should take place at a low temperature! Yes, it will take longer, but the result is undoubtedly worth it.

Do not fry them at high temperatures under any circumstances! This way you destroy beneficial compounds that your body needs so much! This way you quickly get roasted cashews. Is it possible to fry it this way? Of course not!

How to fry cashews?

As they say, it's time to move from theory to practice. Let's look at all the methods of cooking cashew nuts, starting from the banal - in a frying pan and ending with an unusual method - in rosemary. It is worth noting that fried is superior to its fresh counterpart in some characteristics, so its preparation is not a meaningless process.

In a frying pan

Take fresh nuts, rinse thoroughly, peel and dry. After this, distribute the nuts evenly throughout the pan. Fry the cashews over low heat until they turn brown. Don't forget to stir constantly! Otherwise, your creation will consist of coal and undercooked nuts. After cooking, let cool.

Ingredient ratio:
Cashews – 450 – 500 grams;
Oil (vegetable, olive or coconut) – 3 teaspoons;
Salt – to taste, but don’t get too carried away – it can overwhelm the taste of the nuts.

However, everything has its own characteristics. Cooking cashews in a frying pan is no exception. Write down a few tips for getting the best flavor and benefits from your roasted nuts:

• Use a thick cast iron skillet. It will prevent the cashews from burning, and the cast iron will heat all the nuts evenly;
• If you are on a diet, then try not to use oil, spices, salt or sugar when frying. Yes, it’s tasty, but it’s more harmful than a regular nut, because when roasted this way, various carcinogens and other harmful substances are produced;
• If you decide to fry in oil, then after cooking, be sure to spread the cashews on a napkin. This way, excess oil will be absorbed into it, and the nuts will be minimally fatty, and the taste will appear brighter.

In the oven

Not everyone can boast of having an oven, but those who have one will definitely not miss the opportunity to use it when roasting cashews. It's faster and doesn't require constant supervision, and the kitchen will be cleaner.

The preparation procedure is still the same (clean, rinse and dry the nuts). Also, preheat the oven to 180 degrees before frying. This will allow the cashews to brown faster and more evenly.

Place the nuts on a baking sheet in one layer (if there are a lot of them, it is better to use several baking sheets). Don’t worry, they won’t burn, but if you can’t cope with your fear, then lay parchment paper first. Fry the nuts on one side for 5 minutes, remove, stir and place back in the oven. Usually in 8 – 14 minutes they are ready!

You can also add oil, this will add flavor to the nuts, but increase the oiliness. The extra calories are right there!

Cooking tips:

• Check the nuts frequently to ensure they are done. This way you eliminate the possibility of cashews burning;
• Also stir them gently throughout cooking. This way you will only get uniform roasting;
• After cooking, you can salt the cashews. So their taste acquires a certain contrast (sweet nut and salt).

In the microwave

The microwave can truly be called a miracle. Heating without fire - amazing! Is it possible to fry cashews in the oven (microwave)? Of course you can! It is worth noting that this way the nuts turn out crispier and fried on the inside than when cooked in a frying pan or oven. Go for it!

In fact, the preparation procedure is not much different from the previous options, although there are certain nuances here too. Prepare the nuts for frying, spread evenly throughout the plate in 1 - 2 layers. The microwave should fry the cashews for 6 - 7 minutes (the mode does not matter).

Before microwaving cashews, be sure to consider the following:

• Don't lump cashews into one pile. It is better to divide it into several servings and cook separately. This way you will get the most delicious product;
• You should stir the nuts every minute and a half. This way they will cook more evenly;
• Before you remove the cooking nuts completely from the microwave, try one nut. This way you will know for sure whether they are ready or if you should leave them for a couple more minutes.

Regular roasted cashews

Now you are familiar with all the possible ways to fry cashews without additives. So what is the difference between “fry” and “fry”? The answer is simple - cooking time. To get both the crust and the core intact at the same time, reduce the cooking time by 4 minutes. This way you will get a “new taste” that will definitely not leave anyone indifferent!

Cashews roasted in honey

Do you like sweets? Then the recipe for delicious and healthy cashews is in front of you! Cooking it in honey couldn't be easier!

Mix honey and butter (you can add maple syrup). Melt in a frying pan or in the microwave. The butter should melt completely. Mix this with fresh cashews and place in the oven for 5-6 minutes. After cooking, sprinkle with sugar.

Cooking tips:

• Use parchment paper for baking. The baking sheet will be cleaner and will not burn;
• Also, arrange the nuts in one layer, otherwise you will get something like chak-chak. It will be impossible to separate the nuts.

Cashews roasted in rosemary

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Roast the nuts for 10 minutes until hot. At the same time, mix rosemary, sugar, salt and butter in a bowl. Stir the nuts into the resulting mixture. Ideally, it should completely cover the nuts.

Sweet and spicy cashews

Remember the recipe for cashews in honey? Remember and start experimenting! Add other nuts, chocolate chips and much, much more to the sweet mixture! Don't forget that cashews are non-allergic, this opens up a huge world of taste for you!

Since the beginning of the crisis, the quality of goods sold in Russia cashew nuts it started to get worse and worse. More and more of them are crushed and covered with spots: sometimes these are traces of mold, sometimes, probably, that same caustic poisonous resin contained in the shell of the nut. I also sometimes came across some wormy games. In stores you can also buy good quality cashew nuts produced by some companies, but they are quite expensive. So I turned my attention to the online store and, as usual, found a high-quality natural product there at an affordable price. I’ll tell you about it in this review. I will also supplement my review with information about the best way to fry cashews, how to soak them properly, how many of them you can eat per day and in what form it is best to do this.

And if you like almonds, then take a look at mine - it’s also available on iHerb and very inexpensive.

Organic whole "raw" cashews from the company Now Foods(released under their brand Now Real Food):

Really very good quality. They also come across with spots, but there are very few of these in the package. Basically, nuts are a treat.

It’s not for nothing that I put the word “raw” in quotation marks. Yes, the manufacturer indicated “raw” on the packaging. However, he did this, I quote: “to distinguish the product from fried cashews” - they say, it is generally accepted to do this. In reality, the nuts are pasteurized before being removed from the shell, that is, they are treated with steam to neutralize that same caustic, dangerous resin. So, in fact, Now Foods cashews are not raw in the sense that, for example, raw foodists understand it, but they are cooked.

I’ll also tell you about really raw cashews in this review.

However, they were not treated with chemicals. And these nuts organic, that is, environmentally friendly. Those available for sale in Russia often have a chemical aftertaste.

Speaking of taste. These cashews are tasty on their own and precisely because they are pasteurized. Really raw ones, as far as I know, have practically no taste - it begins to appear as a result of heat treatment. And, besides, it is better not to eat any nuts raw - they need to be either fried or soaked, or even better, sprouted. More on this a little later.

Let's talk about the price now. The cheapest option in Russia is to buy cashews at the market. At our local they are 1000 rubles per kilogram. The quality, as I already said, is seriously suffering, and of those that I bought (until I started ordering them on iHerb), I threw away up to half. Thus, the cost sometimes rose to 2000 per kg.

The price on iHerb for this product (at the time of writing this review) per kilogram is around 1500 rubles. Considering the good quality of Now Foods cashews, as well as their organic origin, I find the price quite attractive and am willing to pay it. In addition, the product from Now Foods is the cheapest of its analogues on iHerb. By the way, let me tell you about them.

Whole cashews from other manufacturers on iHerb

All cashew manufacturers are more expensive than Now Real Food. The closest analogue in cost is presented from the company Navitas Naturals- here it is on iHerb. The price is about the same, but the weight is less. It is written that they were dried at a low temperature, but “raw” is not indicated anywhere, so, apparently, the shells were also treated with steam.

Firm Wilderness Poets states that their cashews are raw, printing "living raw foods" on the packaging. However, we managed to find out that they are again treated with steam while they are still in the shell. However, according to the manufacturer, after such processing the nuts remain viable, which is why they write “raw”. The nuts come from Brazil, and Naufud's, by the way, from Vietnam.

As it happens, the only real, real raw cashews in the world are produced by only one company - Big Tree Farms. However, they do not sell them at retail in their pure form, only in the form of a snack - a mixture with raw cocoa beans, coconut nectar and Balinese sea salt (this product was previously on sale on iHerb, but then disappeared). Apparently, this is precisely because real raw cashews have virtually no taste. However, they distribute them wholesale, and supply, in particular, to the online store “Gifts of the Earth” (ex-Raw Lunch). I checked with the manufacturer - these are definitely their nuts. You can purchase from them if it is important to you that the product be 100% raw food.

Company Ojio offers to buy large selected cashew nuts. After manually extracting the kernels, Ojio sorts out exactly these for themselves and is happy to indicate on their packaging: Extra Large. Here they are on iHerb.

Well, the company sells some outrageously expensive cashews Sunfood. I don’t understand why this cost is so high. Here's their product page if you're interested. You can order them in larger containers - here. It will be a little cheaper, but still expensive. Although the reviews are good - mostly five-star.

Is there some more inorganic cashews from the company Bergin Fruit and Nut Company. But I don’t see the point in buying them, because after calculating the price per kg, it becomes clear that they are more expensive than the organic ones from Now Foods. Plus, I read in the reviews that they are by no means the best in taste on iHerb. And which are the best - you can find out only by trying everything yourself, because there are enough rave reviews for each product.

It is possible on iHerb and fried buy cashews. But for some reason it was added to everything. They just don’t like it fried in America, apparently.

In general, here is a page dedicated to cashews on iHerb. Maybe you'll like something else. Although not all the products available on iHerb contain this nut. There is no, for example, snack from Big Tree Farms, which I wrote about above, no bars and much more. And the oil ( cashew butter- pasta, Urbech in our opinion) is in a separate subsection -. Therefore, go to the “Food” section and there, in the search for the section, enter: cashew. And this is what we see: 150 products - not all of them, but some of them contain cashews, including whole or halved ones.

And if you switch the iherb.com website to English and do a similar search for the word “cashew”, even more results will appear.

Now I’ll give you some useful information about these delicious nuts.

Cashews: how to fry, soak, how much to eat per day and how best to do it

Why and why any nuts need to be fried or soaked, and not eaten raw or dried, and how to do all this correctly, and wrote in. There are also details about how to wash them, how much you can eat per day, when and how best to eat them. Here I’ll tell you about the features that relate directly to cashews.

How to roast cashews

I roast cashews in the oven at 150 degrees. I don’t turn the temperature higher - I’m careful because I don’t know what the temperature of the oil is. 10 minutes is enough to bring the nuts to the degree of roasting I need.

They are fried, or rather baked, quite evenly, which is difficult to do if you fry cashews in a frying pan.

How to soak cashews

They write that it is enough to soak raw or dried cashews for 3-4 hours to get rid (hardly completely, but at least somewhat) of inhibitors. Maximum - 6 hours, otherwise they will become completely soft and lose their wonderful taste. I don’t soak fried ones - frying also helps destroy the inhibitors.

How many cashews can you eat per day?

I also heard about another daily norm: just 10-12 pieces per day. But they were based on the high calorie content of these nuts, while I am guided by their effect on digestion and the load on the liver. Being not inclined to be overweight, I don’t count calories.

What's the best way to eat cashews?

Either chew thoroughly or chop. I make it from cashews" yogurt", grinding fruits or berries in a blender with it. It tastes best with prunes (fresh, not), a little less tasty with regular plums, including frozen ones.

I use roasted nuts for “yogurt” with prunes/plums - then it tastes with a chocolate note. I especially like this because when I started, I stopped eating cocoa products, but sometimes I crave them. And if you add carob powder to the resulting “yogurt”, the taste becomes completely chocolatey. You can also do this with chocolate persimmons.

Another delicious recipe: roasted cashews, some sweet pear and blueberries (I use frozen). It tastes like eating blueberry pie. A godsend for those who have given up baking but sometimes miss it.

Dried, unroasted cashews can be used to make “yogurt” with a variety of fruits and berries, since its taste is softer and more neutral. The main tone in this case will be set by fruits/berries, while nuts will add a yogurt consistency.

I also sometimes make vegan food from these wonderful nuts. ice cream. Ingredients: Roasted or dried cashews, coconut milk and ingredients of your choice. I use this coconut milk:

Sold inexpensively at Perekrestok, I also bought it at Ecotopia once. It has the best composition of all that I have seen in such a product: only coconut pulp and water, no thickeners, stabilizers, etc., like other brands.

I made both “chocolate” ice cream - that is, again adding carob powder, and cherry, strawberry, and I’m going to make blueberry ice cream - all from frozen berries, because it’s winter outside. In terms of fat content, it’s even more like a ice cream.

After turning all the ingredients into a homogeneous mass, put it in the freezer. Before eating the ice cream, I take it out of the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes to soften. Hearty, high-calorie yum! 🙂

Well, that seems to be all about cashews. Eat them for your health! Be sure to follow the norm.

Happy shopping!

If you have never shopped at the iHerb online store, take a look at the section. There are a number of features.

Small, comma-shaped cashew nuts can be found in every store today. They have a pleasant sweetish taste and may seem oily. Unique in their composition, these nuts are often used as the main source of vitamins and minerals, replacing complex preparations. However, cashew is not a simple product; it can have both benefits and harm, and has its own contraindications and peculiarities of use.

Beneficial properties of cashews

Speaking about the beneficial properties of cashews, you need to start with its nutritional value: the nut contains a large amount of useful substances and vitamins that a person needs in his daily diet. It has a positive effect on brain function and the cardiovascular system due to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Regular consumption of cashews can improve intestinal function, blood composition, stimulate brain function, lower cholesterol levels, improve vision and strengthen the immune system and forget about seasonal colds forever.

Walnut improves the condition of gums and teeth due to its antiseptic properties. In some countries, cashews are used as a medicine for diseases of the upper respiratory tract (asthma and bronchitis).

The calorie content of the product also varies depending on the type of processing.

For women

Cashews are very useful for women and have many irreplaceable properties:

• reduces the activity of proteins that provoke the development of breast cancer;
• normalizes the functioning of the reproductive system;
• reduces discomfort during premenstrual syndrome;
• improves the condition of skin, hair, nails and helps you look younger;
• relieves anemia during pregnancy;
• helps prevent pathologies in the development of the skeletal and circulatory systems of the fetus during pregnancy.

For men

Eating cashews is no less important for men than for women. He helps:

• restore a man’s hormonal levels, eliminating gynecomastia;
• improve the quality and quantity of sperm;
• improve sexual activity;
• stimulate testosterone production.

For children

A few nuts, if there are no contraindications, will be an excellent snack for your baby.

In baby food, cashews are used as a source of vitamins and minerals necessary for the normal growth and development of the child. The nut has the following effects on the children's body:

• stimulates digestion and metabolism;
• regulates the development and growth of the skeletal system.

Comparison table with hazelnuts: calorie content and nutrients

A few words about the benefits in the video

Cashews in your daily diet

Cashew nuts are always sold unshelled and processed.

Which one to choose: raw or fried

This question usually arises among those who are just planning to introduce this vitamin-rich nut into their daily diet. Raw cashews are not found on sale at all; heat treatment is necessary for the product to remove toxic substances. But there are really many ways of frying - with sugar, salt, honey, hot pepper. These nuts can be eaten as a snack, dessert or added to salads.

Daily value for adults

During early and late pregnancy

Do not forget that it is easy to gain weight from an excess of nuts, which is not recommended during pregnancy.

How much is possible while breastfeeding

When breastfeeding, you should carefully introduce a new product into the diet, first consuming three to four kernels per day and carefully monitoring the baby’s reaction. If there are no allergies or problems with stool, then you can gradually increase the dose to 20–25 g per day.

In baby food: at what age should it be given?

It is not recommended to offer nuts to children under 2 years of age at all. If the child does not have food allergies, then you can try one or two nut kernels for the first time. If there is no allergic reaction, then after two or three days you can give a little more nuts. The maximum daily dose is no more than 20 g of cashews.

Cashews and diseases

Diabetes mellitus type I and II

Doctors recommend consuming cashews for diabetes: a large amount of vitamins and minerals maintain normal blood glucose levels. The glycemic index of the product is 15, which is low. At the same time, do not forget that you can easily get fat from abuse. The daily intake of cashews for diabetics is 30 g.

Gastritis and pancreatitis

If you have pancreatitis, use with caution and better get your doctor's permission.

Roasted cashews, especially with salt or pepper, can cause discomfort due to gastritis and pancreatitis. However, some experts claim that the oil contained in the nut helps heal ulcers. However, during an exacerbation of gastritis, it is necessary to refrain from eating cashews.

Oncological diseases

On the one hand, the latest research has shown that cashews can stop the development of cancer due to the presence of a special element - proanthocyanidin, which belongs to the class of flavonoids. The substance stops the division of cancer cells and, accordingly, the growth of the tumor. On the other hand, there is evidence that this nut is harmful for oncology, which is confirmed by many scientific works and sources of medical literature. In each specific case, you should consult your doctor.

Diet food, do nuts make you fat?

Spanish scientists have come to the conclusion that cashews during a diet will help not only compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals in the body, but also maintain the results achieved. Three to four kernels of the nut satisfy hunger for several hours, so dieters who are losing weight can use cashews as a snack.

Products based on it: nuances of consumption

Cashew butter has a dense, viscous structure and a specific nutty odor.

Cashew butter is a viscous liquid with a specific odor. It is widely used in medicine and cosmetology, as it has nourishing, antiseptic and tonic properties and is used for:

• treatment of certain diseases, including respiratory organs, skin, rheumatism, diabetes;
• strengthening the immune system;
• normalization of pressure;
• improving skin condition (treating cracked heels, nourishing dry skin, improving complexion);
• wound treatment and healing;
• relief of toothache.

Cashew butter is sometimes used in cooking; it has a high calorie content (700 kcal/100 g), so it is recommended to consume no more than 50 g per day.

Cashew nut butter helps in the treatment of many diseases

Amazingly tasty, sweet paste - cashew urbech - used:

• in the treatment of anemia, depression, asthma and bronchitis;
• when restoring metabolism;
• while strengthening the cardiovascular system;
• in the prevention of osteochondrosis and atherosclerosis.

The product also improves vision, attention and memory. The calorie content of nut butter is 643 kcal/100 g, so the recommended daily intake is 50 g.

Cashews with honey

Nuts with honey are a healthy treat that helps strengthen the immune system and get rid of colds.

Chopped nuts mixed with honey are great for strengthening teeth and gums and getting rid of bleeding. Whole nuts fried in honey are not only a tasty treat, but also a great way to strengthen your immune system and get rid of colds. It is recommended for an adult to consume 70–100 g of this delicacy per day.

Contraindications

The main contraindication for consuming cashews is an allergic reaction, which usually manifests itself in the form of skin rashes, itching or other negative reactions. In addition, it is not recommended to consume the nut for people suffering from diseases of the liver and excretory system. Introduce a new product into the diet of nursing mothers and children with caution, carefully monitoring the body's reaction.

Peeling of nuts is carried out by specially trained people manually or using simple equipment: the toxic substance contained in the kernel shell can severely burn your hands and cause an allergic reaction

Since ancient times, cashews have been known not only for their medicinal properties, but also for some peculiarities of consumption and processing, which, if ignored, can lead to negative consequences. So, touching an unshelled nut, much less consuming it, is extremely dangerous. Between the shell and the cashew kernel is a thin, oily shell containing cardol. This substance causes severe burns and blistering on the skin, and if it enters the body, it causes swelling of the larynx and suffocation.

Cashew is a unique product containing a whole complex of vitamins and minerals necessary for human health. Healthy and tasty nuts diversify your daily diet, eliminating the need to take additional vitamin complexes.

Cashew or Indian nut is an evergreen, heat-loving tree native to Brazil. The plant belongs to the Sumacaceae family and a species of the Anacardium genus. It grows up to 15 m in height, has a wide-spreading crown and elliptical or ovoid leaves. Relatives of the plant are considered to be almonds, pepper trees, kaffir plums, mombins and pistachios. Perhaps cashews are the only fruit in the world that ripen not inside the fruit, but outside.

The leaves of the tree are leathery, up to 15 cm wide and up to 22 cm long, collected in a panicle about 26 cm long. The crown often has an irregular shape and can reach up to 10 m in diameter. Indian walnut blooms in a pale green color with a reddish tint. “Cashew apple” is the name given to the fruit of the tree, which is oblong or pear-shaped. The color of the stalk is yellow or red. Length - from 5 to 11 cm. Under the crust, there is an astringent substance, yellowish in color, sweet and sour in taste.

Anacardium occidentalis, which is the scientific name for cashew, is a truly waste-free tree. For example, “cashew apple”, the fruits of the tree are widely used in cooking, the bark and leaves are very popular as a medicine, and the nuts themselves have long been known for their taste and beneficial properties all over the world.

So to speak, the “discoverers” of cashews were the ancient Indian Tikuna tribes living in the territory of modern Brazil. They were the first to discover all the beneficial and medicinal properties of the Indian nut, using not only the fruits, but also the leaves and bark of the plant. And it was these people who gave the name to Anacardium occidentalis - acaju, which translated means “yellow fruit”. The modern name cashew, proposed by the British, comes from the Portuguese caju (fruit) or cajueiro (the tree itself).

However, when visiting another country, for example Venezuela, you may not find those same cashew fruits, only for the reason that they are usually called merey. In other countries of Latin America, it is customary to call the nuts marañón, in honor of the state of Marañon in Brazil, where Anacardium occidentalis was discovered.

The birthplace of the tree is Brazil, but today the plant is cultivated in 32 countries of the world (Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, the Philippines, Mozambique, Benin, Thailand, Ghana, etc.). An important condition for successful nut growing is a warm but humid climate. It is for this reason that the largest suppliers of cashews in the world are Indonesia, Vietnam, Nigeria and, of course, Brazil. Apart from the fact that Western Anacardium requires a special climate, in all other respects the plant is quite unpretentious and does not require special care.

Up to 60 kg is collected per year from one healthy tree. nuts However, it is also noteworthy that in addition to the product that is familiar to us, so-called “Cashew Apples” are collected from Anacardium occidentalis, which are considered a kind of delicacy. Unfortunately, we, living in the post-Soviet space, are unlikely to be able to try these sweet and sour fruits without leaving our country. The reason for this is the speed at which the treat spoils. But, in Indian nut-cultivating countries, you can easily enjoy freshly squeezed juice, jelly, jam or even the famous liqueur made from the cashew apple.

The shell of cashew nuts, after grinding, is used as a component in the manufacture of brake pads. The liquid, toxic component, cardol and anacardic acid, are used in the development of medicines. In addition, with the help of these very toxic substances, phenylamine is produced, which is necessary in the production of rubber, varnish, and drying oil.

How do cashews grow? - a question whose answer is really interesting. As already mentioned, cashew nuts are the only ones in the world that ripen beyond the boundaries of the fruit. Thus, that same cashew apple is nothing more than an edible pedicel, pear-shaped and yellow-red in color. At the tip of it, and sprouts in the shell, is a product known to us, similar to a small squiggle. You can see a photo of how cashews grow on our website and admire this miracle of nature.

The appearance of this delicacy is known to us. But the question arises, why walnuts, peanuts, etc. We buy them in shells, but cashew nuts are sold already in shelled form. The familiar Anacardium fruits are covered with a double shell. External - has a green color, a smooth surface and contains a caustic phenolic resin. The second shell, a dense shell, looks like a honeycomb of cells. And the reason for processing before sale lies in the fact that under the outer shell of the nut there is a dangerous substance called cardol, which, upon contact with human skin, causes severe burns. And it is precisely because of the poison that the product goes through several stages of processing:

1. Shelling;
2. Heat treatment until all the oil has evaporated.

It is strictly not recommended to try to peel the fruits yourself, even if such an opportunity presents itself. Firstly, even the best specialists in their field occasionally get burned. Secondly, a small drop of oil that has not evaporated can cause severe poisoning in humans, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itching and skin rash.

Thus, cashews can be considered a real delicacy. Why is that? Firstly, despite the fact that the yield is quite high, to obtain one nut, it is necessary to pick the whole fruit. Secondly, in order to put nuts up for sale, they need to undergo complex heat treatment to eliminate a harmful substance called cardol. Thirdly, compared to others, cashews have a fairly low oil content, which allows the product to be used only as a treat. And finally, the harvest collected from one plant is very dependent on weather conditions. So it turns out that the cost of the delicacy is quite high, and it is for this reason that cashews can be classified as “elite nuts”.

Beneficial properties of cashews

For us, cashew nuts are nothing more than an edible fruit that delights with its taste. But, thanks to the large amount of vitamins and beneficial microelements, together with a pleasant treat, we get really great benefits for the body. The proof is that in various countries, in addition to complementing food, this product is used in other ways:

• Africa - used as a material for tattooing and a remedy for intoxication;
• For the people of Brazil, cashews act as an aphrodisiac and are used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, digestive tract problems and diabetes;
• In Haiti, it is an excellent remedy for warts and a pain reliever for toothache;
• Mexico - the fruits are used to remove freckles;
• Panama is a well-known remedy for hypertension;
• Venezuela – cashew is a cure for sore throat;
• In India, by drying the nut husk, the resulting “elixir” is used by the local population as an antidote for snake bites;

Thus, in alternative medicine it is a widely known remedy for many ills. However, traditional medicine has long recognized the medicinal properties of cashew nuts, identifying its antimicrobial, antidysenteric, antibacterial, tonic and antiseptic properties.

Why are cashew nuts so beneficial? - The answer lies in the content of this product:

1. Proteins;
2. Fats;
3. Carbohydrates;
4. Vitamins: PP, E and group B;
5. Saturated fatty acids omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9;
6. Minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, zinc, selenium and manganese;
7. Alimentary fiber;
8. Starch.

If we dwell in detail on each component of the product, it will turn out that it will be useful for almost any person with various diseases or health problems.

With regular intake of cashews, the body is replenished with all the necessary vitamins and microelements, the level of cholesterol in the blood is stabilized, the functioning of the digestive tract is improved, and the protective properties of the body are increased.

Nutritionists around the world recommend eating cashew nuts, not only for overweight people, but also in the opposite cases. Why is that? The calorie content of cashews is within normal limits and is 600 kcal per 100 grams. product. Thus, for people with extra pounds, this is an excellent product due to its nutritional value and good digestibility. For those who are not gaining weight, nutritious cashew nuts again help. But, before going on a diet or vice versa, you should definitely consult a nutritionist, so as not to harm yourself. As the famous saying goes: “a little of everything is good”, so cashews should be taken in limited quantities. The recommended daily portion is no more than 30 grams. per day.

It has been repeatedly proven that the properties of cashew nuts allow this product to be used as an adjuvant in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, upper respiratory tract, digestive tract, etc. In addition, the fruits of Anacardium occidentalis are considered a powerful aphrodisiac that increases sexual potency and increases libido levels.

As a preventive measure, taking just one handful of cashews a day significantly reduces the risk of diabetes, arthrosis and problems associated with heart dysfunction. Phosphorus – promotes the proper formation of the child’s skeleton. Omega 9 acts as a kind of blocker for the occurrence of breast and colon cancer. Magnesium reduces the likelihood of blood clots and promotes normal blood circulation. In turn, the B group of vitamins are indispensable helpers for athletes who often need to quickly restore strength after grueling training or competitions.

One cannot fail to mention the product’s ability to stabilize the body’s nervous system and improve brain function. What else does a person who constantly experiences stress at work need? After all, you must agree that it is better to use what is produced by nature, and not by numerous pharmaceutical companies.

The use of cashews for dental health is also noteworthy. Indian scientists have proven that the microelements, vitamins and amino acids contained in fruits successfully resist harmful bacteria that destroy tooth enamel. But, in ancient times, crushed nuts were applied to a sore tooth and inflamed gum, thereby relieving pain. Today, toothpastes containing cashew oil have already been developed.

With nutrition, everything is clear. And due to the fact that this delicacy can be taken not only raw, but also used in the preparation of various dishes, from salads to various sauces, desserts and baked goods, improving your health is not difficult. But I successfully use the fruits not only in cooking. For example, nut oil is used in cosmetology in the preparation of various ointments, masks and creams. Using them, the skin is smoothed, the natural complexion is restored, and the aging process slows down. But for problem skin, it is enough to apply napkins soaked in oil for a few minutes. The effect will become noticeable within a few days. Cashew oil hair masks strengthen hair and add shine. All you need to do is rub the substances in every day for several weeks.

As a handy and environmentally friendly product, cashew nuts are used to treat sunburn on the body. In this case, two tablespoons of nut oil, combined with a small amount of geranium, rose or lavender oil, will help. Applying this mixture to irritated areas of the skin, relief occurs after a few minutes.

How to choose cashews so that they retain all their beneficial properties? Definitely, it is better to choose raw, but always peeled, fruits. All that is necessary for long-term storage is to purchase only whole, unchopped nuts. However, in the markets, you can mainly find fried and lightly salted cashews - the calorie content of such a product is an order of magnitude higher, but its beneficial properties are not greatly lost.

But in order for the fruits to be stored for as long as possible, they need to be kept at minimum temperatures. In the freezer, shelf life can increase to one year, in the refrigerator - several months, and in just a cold and dark place - only a few weeks. But if you place it in a warm and humid place, in a tightly closed container, after some time, the fruits will become bitter and completely unsuitable for consumption.

Are cashews harmful?

Of course, even the most useful product, if consumed in excess, can cause negative consequences. You should not eat nuts in any form, in quantities of more than one nut per day. It is also necessary to avoid fried cashews, salted and with food additives, in order to get maximum benefits and not overload your body with extra calories.

As previously mentioned, in order to use cashew nuts for food, it is necessary that it undergoes high-quality, thorough heat treatment. And even though you are unlikely to be able to purchase the product in its raw form, it is not recommended to give it to small children and people prone to allergies.

As for “overdose”, it can also occur. Have you eaten too much? Then possible consequences such as diarrhea, nausea, itching all over the body, swelling and the appearance of a rash. But in this case, there is no need to panic. Any antiallergic remedy that is at hand will help you.

Despite all the harm that cashew nuts can cause. There is no need to give up this truly useful and rich in nutrients product. After all, the benefits for the body many times exceed the negative aspects. The only thing that is individual intolerance to the fetus may prevent the use of this miracle of nature.

To summarize, we can say with confidence that cashew nuts are truly a universal remedy that has been used for many years to treat and prevent various diseases. Just a few times a week, use a handful of fruits, and your health will improve significantly. All you need to do is choose a high-quality, well-processed product and not overdo it with the quantity consumed.