31 Days of Raw: Day 12 - Cashews!

31 Days of Raw: Day 12 Cashews!

Oh yay, these are definitely my favorite nut.  Probably the only one I can just eat plain in large quantities. They are also AMAZING at mimicking dairy products.  If I want a cheese sauce, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, ricotta, blah blah blah…they are fantastic!!!  In fact…I’ll give you a little taste in the recipe at the bottom.  Even before I went raw I used to buy them roasted and salted and devour them…but now I know a better way. ;) They are ridiculously healthy for you and crazy yummy.  I think you’ll enjoy learning about these beauties because then when people ask about your massive bowl of cashews or your container of cashew cheese that your tongue got stuck in getting that last lick…you can say, “hey! I’m preventing cancer!”  And no…that has never happened to me.... ;)

Cashews

(Did you know that Cashews are actually a seed?!  Yup..they grow on the end of a fruit – known as the Cashew Apple!  So if you have tree nut allergies…give these a little nibble and see if it’s an allergen.  Who knows?!)

  Diet and Weight Management
Cashews do have a relatively high fat content (12 grams per ounce, 2 grams saturated fat), but it is considered “good fat.” This is due to the agreeable fat ratio in the nut, 1:2:1 for saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated, respectively, which scientists say is the ideal ratio for optimal health. Cashews also have a fatty acid profile that contributes to good health through phytosterols, tocopherols, and sqaulene, all of which lower the risk of heart disease, combined with the nut's zero percent cholesterol content. Even with the relatively high fat content, cashews are considered to be a “low-fat” nut. In fact, cashews contain less fat per serving than many other popular nuts commonly found in grocery stores and health food stores, including almonds, walnuts, peanuts and pecans.
Recommendations vary for cashew nut consumption in diet and weight loss. Cashews have a high energy density and high amount of dietary fiber, both which have been attributed to a beneficial effect on weight management, but only when eaten in moderation

Cardiovascular and Circulatory Health
With no cholesterol, a rarity for such a tasty and pleasing treat, cashews are a healthy fat food for heart patients. And because of their high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, they also help support healthy levels of low good (HDL) cholesterol.  The cashew’s high magnesium content also takes the credit for its healthy heart qualities. In their raw form, cashews contain 82.5 milligrams of magnesium per ounce, or 21 percent of the daily recommended value of the heart healthy mineral, which also protects against high blood pressure, muscle spasms, migraine headaches, tension, soreness and fatigue.  Magnesium also works with calcium to support healthy muscles and bones in the human body.

Antioxidants
And with a high copper content, too, cashew nut consumption helps the body utilize iron, eliminate free radicals, develop bone and connective tissue, and produce the skin and hair pigment melanin. Copper, which is an essential component of the enzyme superoxide dismutase , is vital in energy production and antioxidant defense, producing greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.

Diabetes
Recent clinical trials have shows that cashews and other nuts work with a person's lipid profile to have a beneficial effect on those with diabetes or at risk for diabetes.  And with 37.7 percent of the daily recommended value of monounsaturated fats, cashews can reduce triglyceride levels in diabetics, protecting them from further complications.  Integrating frequent nut consumption into your diet, especially raw cashews, may lower the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, the most commonly diagnosed form of diabetes in America today.

Gallstones
All nuts, including the cashew nut, have been associated with a reduced risk of gallstone disease. According to the Nurses' Health Study, looking at the dietary data of 80,718 women, integrating at least one ounce of nuts a week, such as cashews, gives women a 25 percent lower risk of developing gallstones.

Dental Health
Research has also shown that chemicals in cashews kill gram positive bacteria, a pervasive mouth affliction that causes tooth decay, acne, tuberculosis and leprosy. Eating cashews at moderate levels, some say, can eliminate abscessed teeth, though this has not been proven yet by proper clinical trials.

Topical Uses
While the cashew is most enjoyed when eaten, it also possesses astringent qualities that are now used in topical creams and gels. A Philippine scientist who has made a career out of studying the health benefits of cashew nut extract markets the extract in a cream for warts, moles and other skin growths.  The Philippine-produced cream is also reportedly effective on basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, though this too is not yet available in the U.S.

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Fruit N' Cream

• 2 cups Cashews
• 1 Lemon, Juiced
• 1 Apple
  
• 5-50 Strawberries
• 5-50 Grapes or Blueberries
  
• 5-50 Slices of Pineapple

Spear a strawberry, grape, and pineapple on a toothpick and place on a fun platter.  Do so until all are used up. To make the cream: Blend the cashews, lemon juice, and apple until nice and creamy (adding water for a smoother consistency if needed).  Now you have a cream to dip your little fruit kabobs into!  Great snack, wonderful for children, and a hit at any party!

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