What are the Benefits of Eating Cashew Nuts?

Cashew nuts have been around for centuries, and many people eat them every single day. There’s lots of information out there about cashew nuts and their benefits.

Let’s sift through the information out there, and we will tell you why people are nuts about cashew nuts!

Reducing cholesterol and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease is just scratching the surface of how cashew nuts can improve your life. We take a deep dive into what sets cashew nuts apart from the rest.

How Many Cashews Can I Eat in a Day?

There is a right and wrong way to go about eating a hearty portion of nuts.

It may seem overwhelming and scary to know where to start. In this article, Dr. Helen Delichatsios from Harvard says

“Nuts are a great source of good fats and protein, but they should not be added onto everything you eat.”

The suggested amount of cashew nuts in a day is approximately 1 ounce (around ¼ cup).

One ounce of cashew nuts offers a wide variety of vitamins, healthy fats, and protein.

Here are the approximate amounts of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals in 1-ounce cashew nuts. 

Cashew nuts have many different vitamins. One of those is vitamin K, which helps bones grow stronger and stay healthy. Besides, vitamin k also helps with blood clotting regulation.

This can ultimately reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

It is important to not consume too many cashew nuts during the day. First of all, cashew nuts are high in calories.

This is why it is suggested that only around one ounce of cashew nuts are eaten in a day.

According to Dr. Kathy McManus from the Harvard School of Medicine, there are risks associated with eating too many cashews. McManus alerts us,

“If you eat more than one or two handfuls of nuts per day, you’re adding extra calories — maybe too many — that can take the place of other healthy foods and add weight.”

Extra calories can have adverse side effects like weight gain which doesn’t help improve heart health. 

Let’s be honest, cashew nuts taste so much better when they are roasted and coated in a layer of salt.

So, we have discovered that one ounce of cashew nuts a day is beneficial.

However, there is a difference in consuming raw, unsalted cashew nuts and salted cashew nuts. In this day and age, many people may be worried about the effects of consuming too much salt when eating cashew nuts. Dr. Kathy McManus has some advice for those wanting to have a bit of salt with their cashews.

She explains, “But salted nuts are fine if you eat less than an ounce. For 1 ounce of most nuts, the sodium content is less than 100 milligrams.”

It is comforting to know that there is no reason to sacrifice taste, for health.

The main fats found in cashews like polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. These two types of fats are the main fighters in reducing diseases from high LDL cholesterol.

Certain diseases that are life-threatening such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, can be avoided by eating a handful of cashews each day.

Nuts and more specifically cashew nuts are known to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

This disease is primarily caused by the build-up of cholesterol on the inner walls of the main arteries in the body. Overall, blood is not able to flow through the body anymore when this disease progresses. Luckily, our cashew nuts act like superheroes and can combat this disease.

This study shows that for people who consume nuts including cashew nuts, the probability of developing coronary heart disease is 37% less than those who don’t consume cashew nuts. Isn’t that nuts?!

Specifically, eating cashews every day is a great way to increase magnesium intake. Magnesium helps the brain relay messages to muscles and can improve brain-muscle mechanisms and movement.

Eating cashews every day can help improve brain-muscle communication and will keep your brain and body sharp.

Copper is a metal that you probably thought could only be found in pennies.

Did you know it is important to consume minimal amounts of copper?

We were always told to drink our milk because calcium helps form strong bones. But no one ever talked about copper, which is just after calcium in important nutrients for healthy bones.

Certain diseases such as osteoporosis can develop due to a lack of copper. Cashew nuts offer a significant source of copper in our diet.

There is a significant difference between eating little to no copper, and an average amount of copper every day. Simply by eating cashew nuts every day, can help prevent osteoporosis and keep bones strong and healthy!

We’ve discussed all of the benefits of cashew nuts, however not everything that concerns cashew nuts is beneficial.

Cashews are high in calories.

If you are looking to lose weight and restrict caloric intake, then cashews may not be your best bet.

It is important to be cautious when devouring handfuls of cashew nuts because this can result in weight gain. Also, cashew nuts are high in this one particular “anti-nutrient” called oxalate.

Lastly, it is important to be aware of allergies to cashew nuts. Allergies to tree nuts including cashews are one of the top 10 reasons for allergic reactions in the United States.

Signs of allergic reactions to cashews include itching, sneezing, trouble breathing, and coughing.

Even if you know you are not allergic to cashews, be sure to take precautions when eating them. Wash your hands after consuming cashews and try not to eat them around people you don’t know.

Although cashews are a delicious, healthy snack, it could be life-threatening to some. 

After this article, you are probably nutty about getting your hands on some cashews. There are many ways to incorporate cashews to fit your lifestyle.

Incorporating Cashews into Your Diet

One handful (and no more) of unsalted or salted cashews is great on the go snack.

Make sure to buy from more ethical sources, like East Bali Cashews.

There are also programs around the world that help others through this wonderful cashew nut.

This company called Liberation helps give opportunities to women through cashews. They help trace cashew nut sources and research which cashew nuts are produced through fair trade methods. 

Cashews are Expensive, How Can I Afford Them?

It is no doubt that cashews and other nuts can be on the pricey side.

This is a great option for a convenient way to get your hands on the healthy benefits of cashews.

The in no time, adding cashews will become a common occurrence in the household. Companies also offer subscription services to make sure you never run out of the health benefits from cashews.

Why Cashew Nuts and Not Other Tree Nuts?

Also, cashews are a convenient and practical way to help reduce health risks and major health-compromising diseases.

Cashews have a unique flavor and texture and are chock-full of copper, the main nutrient needed for building red blood cells and strong bones.

It’s nuts how many benefits cashew nuts have to offer! 

Chris Watson

I’m Chris Watson & the Founder of EatForLonger.com.  I’m a food and wellbeing enthusiast researching and sharing foodstuffs and simple food-based concepts, such as fasting and clean eating.
I hope it inspires you to make tiny changes to what you eat and when you eat while optimizing your healthspan and all-around well-being.

Read more About Me here.