Cashews are well known throughout the world for their buttery and mild salty and tasty flavor making it a food worth craving and eating.  These seeds (they’re not nuts), scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale, grow attached to the fruit. First found growing in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, these seeds began to gain much popularity as they got exported over time and now grow in a number of places with a subtropical climate. Cashews fit so perfectly for inclusion in quite a number of dishes. One can even make a butter of it — cashew butter, which is a splendid alternative for peanut butter.

Health Benefits of Cashews

Improved Blood Pressure

Cashews contain two essential minerals involved in blood pressure regulation — potassium and magnesium. These minerals ensure blood vessel relaxation and counteract the effects of excessive sodium. Excessive sodium levels promote retention of water, which raises blood volume and blood pressure. Potassium is great for heart muscle contractility via nerve conduction.

A Healthy Skin

Vitamin C  increases collagen synthesis in the body, while copper is a mineral that is involved in the maintenance of collagen and elastin. A deficiency of copper can lead to premature skin sagging. Consuming foods high in vitamin C  promises a youthful looking skin. Eat cashews for a healthy skin.

Boosting Testosterone Levels

Hello men, *smiles* Selenium, present in cashew has been proven to boost testosterone levels. Selenium also reduces the risk of prostate and testicular cancer, and is particularly beneficial to men’s sexual wellness.

Protecting The Eyes

Cashews contain some amounts of an anti-oxidant called zeaxanthin, which prevents damage to the macula within the eyes. This anti-oxidant has got a UV filtering effect, which ensures that rays don’t cause damage within the eyes.

Dealing With Migraines

Magnesium is highly effective in treating migraines, and cashews have got magnesium. Magnesium plays a vital role in relieving spasm of the blood vessels under the scalp and making the nerves less sensitive to painful stimuli. This makes cashew simply great for you to eat as you treat a migraine.

Cashews Are Your Heart’s Friend

Even though cashews have high fat levels, they are not the kinds of fat that are bad for you. Cashews actually contain lots of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are the kinds that are beneficial to the health of your heart, as they’re helpful in the reduction of cholesterol, and can keep blood vessels healthy. Just like Mediterranean diets which contain high levels of beneficial monounsaturated fats which are great for heart health, so is cashew. You can be sure to prevent heart-related illnesses by eating lots of cashews.

Cancer Prevention

Cashews contain essential compounds known as proanthocyanins, which are a class of flavonols that hinders cancer cell replication. This is an important function because immediately cancer cell replication begins, it becomes difficult to manage. What’s more? Cashews are rich in copper, a mineral which reduces the propensity of the cells to mutate. They’re also splendid in managing and preventing colon cancer.

Cashews Help Build Blood

Cashews possess loads of copper and iron which are undeniably important prerequisites in the production of red blood cells. What do red blood cells do? They carry hemoglobin, the protein to which oxygen binds and enables supply to cells throughout the body. Consuming cashews regularly will benefit your blood count, and will lead to increased energy levels in doing so.

Preventing Formation Of Gallstones

Gallstones are caused by low cholesterol levels and as a result of high circulating triglycerides. The rich monounsaturated fat content contained in cashews can reduce gallstone formation or risk.

Weight Loss

Now, this sounds ironical, but it’s true.  Even though cashews are high-calorie foods, when eaten in moderation, they can actually help you lose weight. How amazing! This is particularly due to the beneficially large servings of monounsaturated fats which help to move stored fats into free fatty acids where they can be burned, and to the presence of copper, a trace mineral with vital effects on your metabolism. Deficiency of copper can negatively affect thyroid function. Copper is also an essential element involved in the synthesis of numerous co-enzymes which are involved in the body’s essential biochemical processes.

Increasing Bone Mass Density

Copper, present in cashew does increase the mineralization of bones. This makes bones more structurally dense and less prone to fractures or unmentioned.

Liver Support

The liver, responsible for the processing and breaking down waste products, does get overworked sometimes. Liver support is then needed from health-friendly foods like cashew seeds which help enhance its natural antioxidant potential. What’s more? Cashews contain copper, which assists in the production of liver enzymes and superoxide dismutase.

Improved Fertility

Trace minerals such as zinc and selenium can be of excellent support to fertility, as they’re effective in increasing sperm count, boosting testosterone, and also improving the quality of sperm. What a friend we have in cashew seeds.

What Happens When You Eat Excess Cashew Nuts?

Presence Of Excess Sodium