Description
- Daily intake of cashews (and other tree nuts in general) was found to reduce the risk of developing gallstones.
- Cashews contain fiber . Fiber is one nutrient that promotes digestive health .
- Cashews contain healthy fats that may promote the health of nerves,
- It helps prevent premature greying of hair by providing the hair and skin an important pigment known as melanin.
- Cashews contain zeaxanthin, an important antioxdiant that may help prevent macular degeneration.
Cashew nuts are actually seeds that adhere to the bottom of the cashew apple, the fruit of the cashew tree, which is native to the coastal areas of northeastern Brazil. Cashew apples, are regarded as delicacies in Brazil and the Carribean. The seed we know as the kidney-shaped cashew "nut" is delicate in flavor and firm, but slightly spongy, in texture. You have probably noticed that cashews in the shell are not available in stores. This is because these nuts are always sold pre-shelled since the interior of their shells contains a caustic resin, known as cashew balm, which must be carefully removed before they are fit for consumption. This caustic resin is actually used in industry to make varnishes and insecticides. Cashews, known scientifically as Anacardium occidentale, belong to the same family as the mango and pistachio nut.