This post will provide information on "What are the health benefits of cashew (Anacardium occidentale)?" as well as provide answers to questions like: What is the origin of cashew? Where are cashews indigenous to? Who discovered cashew tree? When did humans start eating cashews? How many cashews can I eat a day? What happens if we eat cashew daily? Is eating cashew everyday good? What happens when you eat too many cashews? Why are cashews bad for you? What are the health effects of cashews?
The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit. The tree can grow as high as 14 m (46 ft), but the dwarf cultivars, growing up to 6 m (20 ft), prove more profitable, with earlier maturity and greater yields. Its English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree: caju (Portuguese pronunciation: [ka'?u]), also known as acaju, which itself is from the Tupian word acajú, literally meaning "nut that produces itself".The generic name Anacardium is composed of the Greek prefix ana- (???-, aná, 'up, upward'), the Greek cardia (?a?d?a, kardía, 'heart'), and the New Latin suffix -ium. It possibly refers to the heart shape of the fruit, to "the top of the fruit stem" or to the seed. The word anacardium was earlier used to refer to Semecarpus anacardium (the marking nut tree) before Carl Linnaeus transferred it to the cashew; both plants are in the same family. The epithet occidentale derives from the Western (or Occidental) world. The cashew seed is commonly considered a snack nut (cashew nut) eaten on its own, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. Like the tree, the nut is often simply called cashew. Cashew allergies are triggered by the proteins found in tree nuts, and cooking often does not remove or change these proteins. In 2019, four million tonnes of cashew nuts were produced globally, with Ivory Coast and India as the leading producers. As well as the nut and fruit, the plant has several other uses. The shell of the cashew seed yields derivatives that can be used in many applications including lubricants, waterproofing, paints, and, starting in World War II, arms production. The cashew apple is a light reddish to yellow fruit, whose pulp and juice can be processed into a sweet, astringent fruit drink or fermented and distilled into liquor.
- Cashew nuts are rich in essential fatty acids, potassium, and antioxidants that are beneficial for heart health
- It helps reduce blood pressure drastically by dilating your blood vessels
- It is a good source of fibre, a nutrient that helps prevent blood sugar spikes
- Cashew nuts are rich in zinc and vitamins which is an immune-boosting compound that is vital for basic cell processes
- Cashew nuts are rich in copper and calcium that gives strength to our bones and make them stronger
- Cashew nuts contain brain booster nutrients that may help boost brain functions and keep your memory sharp
- Cashew nuts are high in calories, proteins, and fibres that make you fuller for a longer time and kill your cravings for more food thereby controlling your weight
- Cashew nuts contain a natural oil that is rich in selenium, zinc, iron, and antioxidants that keeps your skin young and fresh
- Copper present in cashew helps produce hair pigment-melanin that enhances hair colou
- Cashew nuts are rich in zinc that is essential to improve sperm count in males and fertility chances
- Cashews contain zeaxanthin and lutein that are antioxidants that protect from UV rays
Cashew nuts may also cause bloating, constipation, weight gain, and joint swelling in some people. But these side effects are rare. When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cashew is safe. If the unroasted cashew is used it might cause skin irritation, redness, and blisters.