Move over, raw almond! The mighty raw cashew is my new bff.
A critical part of clean eating is ensuring that you consume two to three healthy fats every day. That's easy, right? Without a doubt, when it comes to healthy fats, cashews stands in the front of the pack. A true gift from nature. While I love the succulent taste of raw cashews, I even more so love the magnitude of health benefits they bring and their overall versatility in the kitchen!
Health Benefits
The word on the street is that cashew nuts have a relatively high fat content. While true, it's a healthy fat...meaning good for you! It's time to stop avoiding raw cashews and, instead, start incorporating them in your daily diet. From protecting your heart to helping you lose weight, raw cashews provide some amazing health benefits. Only a single ounce of raw, unsalted cashews showcases an impressive array of raw minerals, ready to nourish the cells of your body, including potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, manganese, zinc, copper and selenium. Cashews are also rich in folate and vitamin K.
Consuming heart healthy monounsaturated fats can reduce "bad" LDL cholesterol and decrease heart damaging inflammation. The type of monounsaturated fat in cashews -- oleic acid -- is the same heart-healthy fat found in olive oil. Cashew nuts 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. Yep, you read that right - zero as in 0% cholesterol - making cashew nuts a healthy fat food for everyone - including heart patients.
Even with the relatively high fat content, cashew nuts are considered to
be a “low-fat” nut. In fact, cashew nuts contain less fat per serving
than many other popular nuts, including almonds, walnuts, peanuts and pecans.
The cashew nut’s high magnesium content also takes the credit for its healthy heart qualities. In their raw form, cashews contain 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.
Cashews also have a high copper content. Copper is vital in energy production and antioxidant defense, producing greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints. With cashew nut consumption, you can help your body utilize iron, eliminate free radicals, develop bone and connective tissue, and produce the skin and hair pigment melanin.
The fat content of raw cashews - and other nuts in general - help to satisfy your hunger and fills you up while helping to keep the weight off. Like with anything - good or bad - moderation is the key to healthy, balanced eating!
Suggested Uses
Eat by the handful
Blend in smoothies
Great additions to salads and stir fry dishes
Yummy in your morning oats
Use as a creamy base for raw deserts
Makes a tasty nut butter -
the list goes on and on :)
Keep it Clean & Enjoy Some Raw Cashews Today!
Mrs. Skinny Fat
A critical part of clean eating is ensuring that you consume two to three healthy fats every day. That's easy, right? Without a doubt, when it comes to healthy fats, cashews stands in the front of the pack. A true gift from nature. While I love the succulent taste of raw cashews, I even more so love the magnitude of health benefits they bring and their overall versatility in the kitchen!
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| Did
you know that a couple of handfuls of raw cashews a day will treat the body for depression, naturally, the same as a prescription dose of Prozac? That's just one of the amazing tips I learned while watching Food Matters. |
The word on the street is that cashew nuts have a relatively high fat content. While true, it's a healthy fat...meaning good for you! It's time to stop avoiding raw cashews and, instead, start incorporating them in your daily diet. From protecting your heart to helping you lose weight, raw cashews provide some amazing health benefits. Only a single ounce of raw, unsalted cashews showcases an impressive array of raw minerals, ready to nourish the cells of your body, including potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, manganese, zinc, copper and selenium. Cashews are also rich in folate and vitamin K.
Consuming heart healthy monounsaturated fats can reduce "bad" LDL cholesterol and decrease heart damaging inflammation. The type of monounsaturated fat in cashews -- oleic acid -- is the same heart-healthy fat found in olive oil. Cashew nuts 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. Yep, you read that right - zero as in 0% cholesterol - making cashew nuts a healthy fat food for everyone - including heart patients.
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| Great snack idea: A cup of fruit paired with a handful of raw cashews. |
The cashew nut’s high magnesium content also takes the credit for its healthy heart qualities. In their raw form, cashews contain 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.
Cashews also have a high copper content. Copper is vital in energy production and antioxidant defense, producing greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints. With cashew nut consumption, you can help your body utilize iron, eliminate free radicals, develop bone and connective tissue, and produce the skin and hair pigment melanin.
 |
| To me, the combination of a raw cashew and a fresh strawberry is 10x more tastier than "strawberry shortcake" - swear! It is no wonder that the cashews nut is shaped like smile. :) |
Suggested Uses
Eat by the handful
Blend in smoothies
Great additions to salads and stir fry dishes
Yummy in your morning oats
Use as a creamy base for raw deserts
Makes a tasty nut butter -
the list goes on and on :)
Storage tips
Cashews spoil quickly at room temperature and should be refrigerated. If refrigerated in a tightly sealed container, they will keep for six months or up to a year if frozen.
Cashews spoil quickly at room temperature and should be refrigerated. If refrigerated in a tightly sealed container, they will keep for six months or up to a year if frozen.
Keep it Clean & Enjoy Some Raw Cashews Today!
Mrs. Skinny Fat
Love!
ReplyDeleteMakes me think of that movie ratatouille. The cheese with the strawberries. Except this is the healthier option. :)
ReplyDelete