Cashew nut: benefits and harm

Cashew nuts began to appear for sale in stores and markets in our country relatively recently. At first, the strange nut was not popular, but then Russians tasted its pleasant taste and began to actively consume it. In addition, this nut is valued not only for its excellent taste.

Benefits of cashews

The homeland of this delicious nut is Brazil, but it owes its popularity to the countries of Southeast Asia. The cashew plant can bear fruit in any country with a tropical climate. The fruits of the tree are useful for maintaining the human body during illness; they contain a large proportion of useful microelements and vitamins. The components of the cashew nut include valuable amino acids, which have a beneficial effect on the immune system.

Based on the fruits of the cashew tree, drugs are made that have a preventive effect against colds and are useful for the treatment of depressive conditions. Nuts have an antibacterial effect, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, nervous system and normalization of metabolism.

In addition, the beneficial effects of cashews on human health are as follows:

• Nuts have a tonic effect, relieve inflammation, destroy microbes and stimulate recovery processes.
• Cashew is recommended for treating bleeding gums.
• They have a positive effect on the activity of the heart muscle and brain.
• They have a positive effect on blood vessels and reduce sclerotic plaques.
• They can be used to heal diseases of the lungs and other respiratory organs.
• Useful for the prevention of cancerous tumors and at the initial stage of oncology development.

Specific benefits of cashews for women

It is worth special mentioning the beneficial properties of the fruits of this tree for women’s health. Nuts contain aphrodisiacs and substances that normalize a woman’s hormonal levels. As a result of eating nuts, you can significantly increase your chances of pregnancy, as they have a good effect on the organs of the female reproductive system. Of course, it is impossible to completely cure infertility by eating nuts. This effect is to normalize women's cycles and make menstruation less painful. Also, with the systematic consumption of these nuts, the manifestation of PMS decreases.

Regular consumption of cashews increases libido. Moreover, this effect can be seen not only in women, but also in men. The substances responsible for this gradually accumulate in the body.

Cashews are called a natural antidepressant, as they help get rid of depression and prolonged emotional exhaustion. These nuts It is useful to eat under high stress, both physical and emotional. It is especially recommended to regularly consume nuts to normalize sleep and overcome insomnia.

Using cashews you can improve the condition of your skin. To do this, you can not only eat cashew nuts, but also use their valuable oil for a variety of cosmetic procedures. They can also treat some skin diseases, including psoriasis.

Harm of cashews

The cashew nut itself cannot harm human health. But there are a number of conditions in which you should refrain from consuming this product. First of all, this relates to individual intolerance to nuts and excessive enthusiasm for them. In the list of products that can cause anaphylactic shock, nuts are one of the first places, so if you are prone to allergic manifestations, it is better to avoid eating nuts.

It is strictly forbidden to eat cashew nuts that have not undergone heat treatment, as they have toxic properties. But keep in mind that cashews arrive on store shelves already fried.

People with stones or sand in the kidneys should not overuse cashews, as they have a diuretic effect. Also, a contraindication for consuming cashews is children under 3 years of age.

Cashew calories

The energy value of this nut depends on processing. For example, in a raw nut, the calorie content can range from 594 kcal to 635 kcal for every hundred grams. At the same time, most of it comes from fats, the second place in the composition is taken by protein, and the least amount of carbohydrates in nuts.

After roasting, cashew nuts lose a little calorie content, and their energy value is reduced to 572 kcal. In terms of the content of useful substances, the first place is also occupied by fats, but proteins and carbohydrates change places.

Of course, from a calorie point of view, it is much healthier to eat vegetables and fruits than cashews. But this product is undoubtedly healthier than fried, salty and spicy foods.

Cashews are highly valued in Asian countries. It is used for food not only in its natural form, but also to squeeze out excellent oil that tastes like peanut butter. Cashews are used to make salads, delicious sauces and confectionery products.

Since cashews are high in calories, you should not eat a lot of them. Just 75 grams per week is enough, according to nutritionists. It is best to store them in a tightly sealed container. In such a container they can last up to a month, and if they are put in the refrigerator, this period will increase to six months. The presence of bitterness in the taste indicates that the nuts have spoiled and should be thrown away.