Description of Cashew nuts
Cashew tree is native to Brazil’s Amazon rain forest, but today it is cultivated in Brazil, Vietnam, India and in many African countries as well. The tree bears “cashew apples” – pear shaped false fruits, inside it has a small grey bean, a single edible seed – cashew nut. Outer shell is roasted to destroy the urushiol resin and the edible cashew kernel is extracted. The nuts are cream white colour with delicate texture, smooth surface and have bean shape. It is about an inch in length and 1/2 inches in diameter. Each nut has two equal halves. Cashew nuts are high in calories (100 g of nuts provide 553 calories).
The health benefits of Cashew nuts
These nuts contain a lot of iron. If you want to increase the rate of iron – eat cashew nuts with a glass of orange juice (vitamin C improves its absorption). They are rich in monounsaturated-fatty acids (oleic, and palmitoleic acids) which helps to lower LDL cholesterol ad increases HDL cholesterol, helps prevent coronary artery disease, vitamins B-5, B-6, riboflavin, thiamin and pyridoxine (reduces the risk of homocystinuria, and sideroblastic anemia), niacin (helps prevent dermatitis).
Cashew nuts have a lower fat content and a higher protein, carbohydrate and mineral content than other types of nuts. It has lots of zinc (co-factor in many enzymes that regulates growth), potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper (a co-factor for many vital enzymes,), selenium (a co-factor for antioxidant enzymes). These nuts also contains a small amount of zea-xanthin, which selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes and helps prevent age-related macular degeneration and provides antioxidant and protective UV ray filtering functions.
More about Cashew nuts
Cashews have buttery texture and pleasant sweet fruity aroma. A handful of cashew nuts per day would provide enough of the minerals listed above and prevent deficiency diseases.