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Cashew Benefits
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Cashew benefits have long been known particularly for their 'heart-friendly' properties.
Cashew refers to the crescent-shaped seeds that are attached to the bottom of the cashew fruit of the tree that belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. Also referred to in the culinary sense as the cashew nut, botanically these are actually the seeds that grow from the true fruit of the cashew. It is quite delicate in flavor but spongy and firm in texture. Cashew nuts are always sold without their shell as the inside of the shells contain a caustic resin, known as cashew balm, which are not fit for consumption. Most cashew nuts eaten raw are either salted or roasted. |
Cashew nuts are commonly used in Indian cuisine. Cashew nuts are often used whole for garnishing sweets or curries, or ground into a paste that forms a base of sauces for curries. The nuts are also often used as garnishing for dishes in South America, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The fruit is oval-shaped and grows from the receptacle of the cashew flower. It is also known as a "cashew apple" due to its meat resembling that of the apple fruit. When this fruit ripens, it takes on a yellow to reddish color. It is edible, has a sweet taste, a juicy pulp, and typically measures about 7 to 10 centimeters in length. The cashew apple is a delicacy in its native South America where it is consumed raw or its juice consumed as a refreshing drink. The fruit is largely unknown outside of the growing areas of the cashew as most of the outside world only knows about cashew nuts.
The following are the health food nutrients found in cashew nuts:
Cashew nuts also contain high amounts of fats and oils. The se are composed of the following:
- 54% monounsaturated fat;
- 18% polyunsaturated fat;
- 16% saturated fat
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The following are the cashew benefits believed to be provided by this health food to its eaters:
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Cashew nuts may have heart-protective capabilities that may help lower the risk for cardiovascular ailments. This may be due to its large content of monounsaturated fat which is known as a 'heart-friendly' type of fat.
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Cashew may help enhance energy levels.
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Cashew may help strengthen bones.
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Cashew nuts may help fight free radical damage which may help lower the risk for the development of tumors and cancer.
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Cashew may help assist in weight loss.
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Cashew may help fight gallstones.
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