Botanically speaking, cashew are not actually nuts but merely seeds. Within the true fruit of the cashew tree is a single seed, which is often considered a nut, in the culinary sense.
Cashew trees are native to Brazil’s northeastern coastal region but are also cultivated in the tropical regions of India and Africa. The fruit of the cashew tree is an accessory fruit (sometimes called a false fruit). What appears to be the fruit is an oval or pear-shaped structure, a hypocarpium, that develops from the pedicel and the receptacle of the cashew flower. Called the cashew apple, it ripens into a yellow or red structure about 5–11 cm long. It is edible, and has a strong “sweet” smell and a sweet taste. The shell of the cashew nut is toxic and this the reason why the nut is never sold in the shell.
Cashews nuts are lower in calories and higher in carbohydrates than any other nuts. Cashews are rich in protein, iron, magnesium, vitamin K and zinc and contain big amounts of potassium and folate. An ounce of raw cashews provides 157 calories, 5.2 grams of protein, 12.4 grams of mostly monounsaturated fat and 8.6 grams of carbohydrates, of which about 1 gram is fiber. This also supplies about 21 percent and 12 percent of the daily values for magnesium and vitamin K, respectively, and roughly 11 percent each of the daily values for iron and zinc.
Health Benefits of the Cashew Nuts:
– Prevent Cancer. They contain Proanthocyanidins that are are a class of flavonols which fight against tumor cells by stopping them to divide further.
– Lower High Blood Pressure because of the Magnesium they contain.
– Keep your heart healthy. They contain low fats and are rich in antioxidants that prevent heart diseases.
– Good for hair. Cashew nuts contain a lot of Cooper that helps at the production of hair pigment called melanin, good to prevent greying of hair.
– Healthy bones. Magnesium that is found in Cashew helps your bones to remain healthy.
– Prevents Gallstones. Daily intake of cashew nuts can reduce the risk of developing gallstones up to 25%.
– A good digestion.
– Healthy Gums and Teeth. Magnesium gives healthy teeth as well and also strong gums to hold them.
