Cashews, otherwise known as Anacardiumoccidentale in botanical terms, are seeds that grow from a tropical evergreen plant which is closely related to the pistachio, mango and poison ivy plant. These heart-healthy nuts originated from Brazil then migrated to India during the sixteenth century by Portuguese sailors.
Cashews are quite unique when Cashews supplier Vietnam compared to most other seeds. Rather than situated inside of the fruit’s flesh, the cashews hangs from the bottom of the cashew apple. Unfortunately, as the cashew apple is highly perishable, this delicious and edible fruit is only available to local growers. Barely lasting 24 hours, they begin to ferment immediately after being picked. The cashew apple is highly valued by the locale and sometimes made into jams.
These kidney-shaped nuts are protected in a two-layer hard shell. A black substance, commonly referred to as cardol, is found in between these two layers. It has an extremely caustic property, and making skin-contact with it can cause blistering. While the cashew nuts undergo the de-shelling process, cardolis removed and saved as an ingredient for various products such as paint, insecticide and varnish. Due to the presence of this substance, cashews are always de-shelled before they are sold to consumers.
Cashew Nutrient Overview
One ounce of whole cashew nuts equals to 163 calories. Cashews are less calorie-dense when compared to most other nuts. For example, other common nuts such as hazelnuts, macadamia nuts and walnuts range from 175 to 204 calories for each individual ounce.These nuts are relatively protein-rich, and an ounce contains 4 grams of protein.
Fat Content
Each ounce of cashew nuts contains saturated fats (2.6 grams) and monounsaturated fats (8 grams). Monounsaturated fat proves various health benefits such as a controlling blood sugar levels. However, saturated fats may lead to increased cholesterol levels and an increased chance of heart disease.
To lower cholesterol levels, it is important to reduce the intake of saturated fats and to consume more monounsaturated fats.Cashews, as well as other nuts, are great choices. These nuts are abundant in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats which are heart-healthy and effective for reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
A form of monounsaturated fatty acids, known as oleic acid, is abundant in cashews. From research, oleic acid has been shown to be beneficial for reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart disease.