Top 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Cashews

The cashew tree is native to Brazil, where its fruit is considered a
delicacy. In the 16th century, the Portuguese introduced them to India
and some African countries, where they are now also grown. What we
call the cashew nut is actually the seed of this fruit. Cashews are
rich in iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium and zinc. They are also
good sources of phytochemicals, antioxidants, and protein.

Here are seven health benefits of cashews.

1. Cancer Prevention:
Cashews are ripe with proanthocyanidins, a class of flavanols that
actually starve tumors and stop cancer cells from dividing. Studies
have also shown that cashews can reduce your colon cancer risk. Their
high copper content also endows the seed with the power to eliminate
free radicals and they are also good sources of phytochemicals and
antioxidants that protect us from heart disease and cancer.

2. Heart Health:
Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts and most of it
is in the form of oleic acid, the same heart-healthy monounsaturated
fat found in olive oil. Studies show that oleic acid promotes good
cardiovascular health by helping to reduce triglyceride levels, high
levels of which are associated with an increased risk for heart
disease. Cashews are wonderfully cholesterol free and their high
antioxidant content helps lower risk of cardiovascular and coronary
heart diseases. The magnesium in cashews helps lower blood pressure
and helps prevent heart attacks.

3. Hair and Skin Health:
Cashews are rich in the mineral copper. An essential component of many
enzymes, copper plays its part in a broad array of processes. One
copper-containing enzyme, tyrosinase, converts tyrosine to melanin,
which is the pigment that gives hair and skin its color. Without the
copper cashews are so abundant in, these enzymes would not be able to
do their jobs.

4. Bone Health:
Cashews are particularly rich in magnesium. It's a well-known fact
that calcium is necessary for strong bones, but magnesium is as well.
Most of the magnesium in the human body is in our bones. Some of it
helps lend bones their physical structure, and the remainder is
located on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to
use as it needs. Copper found in cashews is vital for the function of
enzymes involved in combining collagen and elastin, providing
substance and flexibility in bones and joints.

5. Good for the Nerves:
By preventing calcium from rushing into nerve cells and activating
them, magnesium keeps our nerves relaxed and thereby our blood vessels
and muscles too. Too little magnesium means too much calcium can gain
entrance to the nerve cell, causing it to send too many messages, and
leading to too much contraction.
Insufficient magnesium leads to higher blood pressure, muscle tension,
migraine headaches, soreness and fatigue. Not surprisingly, studies
have demonstrated that magnesium helps diminish the frequency of
migraine attacks, lowers blood pressure and helps prevent heart
attacks.

6. Prevent Gallstones:
Data collected on 80,718 women from the Nurses' Health Study
demonstrates that women who eat at least an ounce of nuts each week,
such as cashews, have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones.

7. Weight Loss:
People who eat nuts twice a week are much less likely to gain weight
than those who rarely eat nuts. Cashew nuts are indeed relatively high
in fat, but it is considered "good fat." This is attributable to the
ideal fat ratio in the nut, 1:2:1 for saturated, monounsaturated, and
polyunsaturated, respectively, which is recommended by scientists for
tip-top health. Cashew nuts contain less fat than most other popular
nuts, including peanuts, pecans, almonds and walnuts. They are dense
in energy and high in dietary fiber, making them a very valuable snack
for managing weight gain.
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