No wonder cashews are so popular; they not only taste great but are also a real brain food. Whether as a dummy food for immediate snacking, as a topping on your healthy breakfast or for cooking and baking – cashews are versatile and very healthy, thanks to their variety of minerals and vitamins.
As with many other nuts, a handful of them already covers the daily requirement. You can find out why it pays to integrate these kidney-shaped nuts into your diet here.
Where do cashew nuts come from?
Cashews originally come from Brazil but are now found in many different tropical countries such as India, as well as in East Africa and Asia. The cashew fruit or cashew apple grows on trees up to 15 metres high.
The yellow or red cashew apple is a stone fruit that resembles a bell pepper in shape. Like almonds, cashews therefore actually belong to the stone fruit family. The nut is actually the 2-3 cm tall stem at the bottom of the fruit.
Cashew nuts are harvested from February to early May; however, because the nuts are relatively robust, they are available to us all year round.
When the cashew apples fall from the tree, they are collected, and the kernel is then separated from the fruit with a knife or a vigorous rotary movement. Then they are first roasted to burn off the shell oil.
The nuts can then be cracked by hand and, after they have been dried, are cleaned of shell residues. There is a lot of manual work behind the small nut.
Why are cashews so healthy?
Cashews help your body from the inside out, supporting, among other things, the nerves, immune system, and heart, but also from the outside, because the contained B vitamins ensure beautiful hair and nails. They make a positive contribution to your diet and can even help you lose weight.
Vitamins, fats, and minerals in cashews
Unlike many other nuts, cashews have the lowest fat content and are therefore lower in calories than other kernels. However, they contain many healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats . These help lower cholesterol levels and protect the heart.
The nuts also contain important minerals , such as magnesium, iron, and phosphorus, which are good for muscles, nerves, heart, teeth, and bones.
Cashews are rich in vitamins . The many B vitamins contained in them help against fatigue and difficulty concentrating, among other things, and strengthen the nervous and immune systems. In addition, the seeds also contain vitamin E and vitamin K, which is essential for our bones, for example.
Cashews as a vegan protein source
Cashews are an excellent source of vegan protein and are ideal for sports enthusiasts. Cashews contain 18 g of protein per 100 g and are an indispensable part of a healthy and nutrient-rich diet.
Cashews make you happy
The amino acid L-tryptophan has a calming effect and can simultaneously be converted into the happiness hormone serotonin in the brain. Thus, cashews can contribute to a good mood and a good night's sleep.
Breakfast with cashews
You can find the delicious nuts in countless of our breakfast products as well as our nut blends. But you can also use cashews perfectly as a topping for your breakfast or for cooking and baking. Another alternative is to process cashews into a plant-based drink and use it as a milk alternative for your cereal or coffee. Essentially, all you need are cashews, water, salt, and dates.
Conclusion
So, cashews are actually a real superfood. Thanks to the nutrients they contain, they provide your body with important vitamins, proteins, fiber, and minerals and can even contribute to your well-being and a good mood.
Just a handful of nuts a day, which corresponds to about 25 grams, is enough to make a positive contribution to your diet.
