Why are cashew nuts so popular? Guide to nuts

Cashews are one of the world's most popular nuts. And no wonder, they are incredibly tasty and can be used in a thousand different ways in the kitchen. But have you ever wondered what health benefits they have and what you can make with them? In our next installment of our nut guide, we're going to take a look at cashews and tell you all about them.

Article content:

• What are cashews?
• What are the benefits of cashews?
• What are the benefits of cashews?

What are cashews actually like?

Cashews are the edible nuts of a tropical tree called the Western Kidney Tree. The name itself is probably not surprising - just as walnuts resemble the brain, cashews are strikingly similar in shape to human kidneys. The interesting thing about cashews is that they grow in a fruit known as a cashew apple. This has several properties, including containing a large number of potentially harmful compounds, which is why cashews themselves must always be roasted before consumption. Although commonly referred to as nuts, cashews are actually closer to stone fruit. This does not mean that they are not nutritionally very rich. On the contrary, in 100 grams of cashews from LifeLike you will find:

At first glance, it is obvious that cashews contain less fat and more carbohydrates compared to walnuts or Brazil nuts. In addition to these macronutrients, they also contain vitamins B, K and E, and minerals such as copper, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium.

Cashews are a great source of fats, carbohydrates and protein.

What are the benefits of cashews?

In addition to the nutrients mentioned above, cashews have a variety of other health benefits. And there are many different benefits associated with eating them. Scientific studies in connection with cashews very often state that:

They are beneficial for the heart

According to research, nuts in general are a very good food for maintaining our cardiovascular health and preventing a number of heart-related diseases. In addition, some studies have also found an improvement in the ratio of good to bad cholesterol in the body in people with diabetes, which may also be linked to better cardiovascular health. Although this effect has not yet been sufficiently confirmed, but due to the content of healthy fats, potassium, a number of antioxidants and various phytosterols , they may have a positive effect on our cardiovascular health.

They can promote musculoskeletal health

Cashews contain a large number of different minerals and vitamins, including calcium and copper. While the former is responsible for bone hardness and strength, the latter is essential for collagen synthesis. And it is collagen that contributes to the health of our joints, ligaments and cartilage. By eating cashews regularly, you can increase your calcium and copper intake and thus improve your musculoskeletal health.

Cashew nuts are found in a fruit referred to as cashew apple.

They are loaded with various antioxidants

Like other nuts, cashews are loaded with various antioxidants - in this case, it is mainly polyphenols and carotenoids, which, due to their antioxidant properties , have been shown to help fight free radicals and oxidative stress in general. We wrote a separate article on this topic on our blog, which we definitely recommend reading.

How do we recommend using cashew nuts?

Cashews contain quite a lot of calories, but they don't take up much space, so you can use them as a nutritious snack for school, work or hiking. At the same time, they can be used in a wide variety of dishes, and their flavour is particularly prominent in Asian cuisine. But it's no problem to add them regularly to salads, porridge, yoghurt and breakfast cereals.

The flavour of cashew nuts is great in salads, for example.

What to take away from today's article?

The main takeaway from today's article is that cashews are not nuts in the true sense of the word, but they are literally loaded with macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This is linked to their many health benefits - they can be beneficial for our cardiovascular health or promote musculoskeletal health. What's more, they are very easy to incorporate into your diet. You can get them in our shop either in the form of whole nuts, or you can reach for the delicious cashew butters.