Good and Good for You -- Cashews

This week we’re going to get a little nuts and I’m going to talk to you about cashews. Not only are they a tasty delicious snacking item, but they are really really good for your health too!

CASHEWS

Like peanuts, cashews work well both as a savory or a sweet treat. And I’ve found that they work well as a substitute for pine nuts when you’re trying not to spend a fortune making homemade pesto (yes, cashews are not inexpensive, but still cheaper than pine nuts).

As far as the good for you part of cashews go:

Ÿ Cashews are energy rich, nutrient-filled and chocked full of minerals like magnesium (for strong bones and heart health), iron (for healthy blood), zinc (for giving your immune system a boost), and selenium (for antioxidizing).

Ÿ They are replete in monounsaturated fatty acids (like oleic and palmitoleic) which help to lower LDL (L bad cholesterol) and increase HDL (J good cholesterol) which makes them arterial-friendly.
Ÿ Cashews are packed with soluble dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help to protect against diseases and cancers.
Ÿ Cashews also rich in essential vitamins (B-1, B-5 and B-6 please take a bow) needed for metabolism of protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Ÿ They also containing a good amount of an important flavonoid antioxidant which is thought to provide protective light-filtering functions in the eye that help prevent age-related macular degeneration (ah, I see).

cashew apple with cashew seed pod (nut shell)

Cashews are a tree nut and grow on the tree as part of a pear-shaped cashew apple (why they didn’t just call them cashew pears is anyone’s guess). The cashew apple itself is a sweet edible fruit, but because skin of the apple is so VERY fragile and bruises quite easily, it can’t be exported. So the cashew apples are only enjoyed as a local treat in Brazil, Vietnam, Indian and some African countries where cashew trees are grown.

Cashew nuts are available year round. Although they may be labeled as raw, cashews are never completely so because heat is a necessity during the shelling and cleaning process. Cashews are highly perishable and because of their high oil content can turn rancid quickly. The best way to store them is in a cool dry place in an airtight container. At room temp, they won’t last long, but in the fridge they’ll be cool up to 6 months and up to a year if frozen.