After having cancer some 37 years ago, I have always loved almonds...but I have also fallen in love with Cashews.. Here is some great info concerning my latest addiction...RAW Cashews!!!
Nutritional Benefits of Raw Cashews
Cashews
are actually the seed of a fruit called the cashew apple . Cashews are
never sold in the shell because the shells contain a caustic resin. Raw
cashews can be eaten as a snack or tossed into salads.
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BASIC NUTRITION
One
oz. of raw cashews, approximately 28 g, contains 157 calories. In a
1-oz. serving, there are approximately 5 g of protein and 9 g of
carbohydrates, of which 1 g is fiber. One oz. of cashews has 12 g of
fat, including 2.2 g of saturated fat, 6.7 g of monounsaturated fat and
2.2 g of polyunsaturated fat. Most of this fat is in the form of
heart-healthy oleic acid. The fat content also includes 2,179 mg of omega-6 and
17.4 mg ofomega-3 fatty acids . Cashews are a cholesterol-free food and
are low in sodium, containing only 3 mg per 1-oz. serving.
MICRONUTRIENTS
Cashews are high in magnesium, with 83 mg in 1 oz.,
about 20 percent of the daily recommended intake. Other minerals in raw
cashews include iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, calcium,
copper, selenium and zinc. Vitamins in raw cashews include vitamins K,
B6 and E, pantothenic acid, folate, niacin and thiamin.
PHYTOCHEMICALS
Raw
cashews are high in phytosterols, which lower LDL cholesterol and may
help prevent cancer. The antioxidant carotenoids beta-carotene,
beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin are present in cashews.
Cashews also contain phenols including phenolic acids, flavonoids and
stilbenes. Proanthocyanidins in cashews provide further antioxidant
activity.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Cashews,
along with other nuts, help provide protection against coronary heart
disease, diabetes and gallstones. Nut consumption two or more times a
week is also linked to a reduced risk of weight gain, explains World's
Healthiest Foods. The monounsaturated fat oleic acid found in cashews
lowers blood triglyceride levels and boosts heart health. The high
antioxidant levels in cashews may be protective against a wide range of
diseases, including cancer, stroke, heart disease and immune disorders.