TOpearl benefits and contraindications Cashews, also called chestnuts cashew or Cashew seeds are very beneficial for the body, but they also have their contraindications and side effects. Here we detail them:
Cashews are extremely popular around the world, thanks to their mild and salty sweet and buttery flavor, making it a food worth savoring. Scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale, cashews are not «nuts» but rather seeds, as they are attached to the fruit.
Originally found growing in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, they soon began to be exported, and now grow in many places with a subtropical climate. They are widely consumed and offer great flexibility for inclusion in numerous dishes, and can also be made into cashew butter; a great alternative to peanut butter. Next, let’s see thepearl benefits and contraindications
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TOpearl benefits and contraindications
Benefits and properties of cashews
help build blood The cashews they are abundant in the amount of copper and iron they possess, which are important prerequisites in the production of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, the protein to which oxygen binds and allows it to be supplied to cells throughout the body. Regular consumption of cashews will benefit your blood count, leading to boosted energy levels in the process.
They are healthy for the heart Even though cashews can be considered high in fat, they are not rich in the kind that is generally bad for you. Instead, they contain plenty of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are the kind that are beneficial for your heart health, as they help lower cholesterol, can keep your blood vessels healthy, and more. Studies have consistently shown that the Mediterranean style dietshigh are the beneficial monounsaturated fats are superior for heart health and help prevent heart related diseases.
May help prevent cancer Cashews contain compounds known as proanthocyanins, which are a class of flavonols that suppress cancer cell replication. This is an important function, since once cancer cells start replication, it becomes difficult to get it up quickly, and explains why a shotgun approach is often employed when treating good cells that damage the cancer in the process. . In addition, cashews are rich in copper, a mineral that reduces the propensity of cells to mutate, and shows particular promise in managing and preventing cancer. colon cancer.
Helps improve blood pressure Cashews contain two important minerals involved in regulating blood pressure: potassium and magnesium, which help promote relaxation of blood vessels and counteract the effects of excess sodium. Excess sodium levels promote water retention, which increases blood volume and blood pressure. Potassium is also involved in heart muscle contractility through nerve conduction.
Helps prevent the formation of gallstones For years, experts have believed that gallstones occur when serum cholesterol levels are high, but this is partly not true. Gallstones may indeed be caused by low cholesterol levels, but more often as a result of high circulating triglycerides. The rich monounsaturated fat content in cashews can significantly reduce the formation or risk of gallstonesas well as lowering your poor cholesterol profile, helping to eliminate them as a trigger point.
Helps increase bone mass density While we know well that calcium is an essential and important component of healthy bones, there are a large number of micronutrients whose functions are not mentioned. Among these is copper, which can actually help increase bone mineralization, making it more structurally dense and less prone to fractures or chipping. osteoporosis. There are cases where copper deficiency is the limiting factor for bone health, as the requirements for calcium and other minerals have been met, but the bones are still weak.
Maintains skin health While vitamin C is known to increase collagen synthesis in the body, copper is a mineral that is involved in the maintenance of collagen and elastin. This is important, since the deficiency of this mineral causes a greater renewal of these types of tissues and can cause premature skin loss. Be sure to consume vitamin C rich foods along with cashews for added insurance and youthful looking skin.
Helps increase testosterone levels There are many minerals that play a beneficial role in testosterone levels, but selenium is not often discussed. However, that should not be the case, as selenium has been shown in studies to be able to increase testosterone levels. Selenium also reduces the risk of prostate cancer and testicular and is especially beneficial for the sexual well-being of men.
Help preserve vision While cashews don’t have any vitamin A to boast of, they do contain small amounts of the antioxidant zeaxanthin, which prevents damage to the macula inside the eyes. This antioxidant also has a UV filtering effect, which helps to reflect these rays and cause damage inside the eyes.
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Cashews contraindications cashew nuts
Facilitates weight gain Eating cashews in moderate amounts can help with weight control, but this could turn negative when cashews are consumed in excessive amounts. Cashews are a good source of energy due to their high calorific value, which means that one can get a good amount of energy just by eating a handful of cashews. They are also a good source of monounsaturated fats that keep our cardiovascular systems healthy, but even nutritious fats can be dangerous for our bodies when consumed in excess.
Eating just one ounce of dry roasted cashews provides 163 calories, and this number can go as high as 786 calories if you’ve eaten about a cup of cashews, which isn’t a tall order if you’re eating straight from the bag.
Eating about a cup of cashew nuts provides as much as 40 percent of our daily calorie needs (based on a 2,000-calorie diet). Eating more calories can increase weight, which is not beneficial for our health, as it can cause obesity and cause other health problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, metabolic syndromecancer, stroke, cardiovascular problems, etc.
Due to the risk of “weight gain” associated with cashews, it is always advisable to eat cashew nuts in a limited amount and not as a “movie time snack” as there is a high risk of overeating, which It can lead to obesity and other problems.
Presence of excess sodium The sodium level in cashews is not very high, and in fact, there are only 12 mg of sodium in 100 grams of cashews. However, being a dried fruit, cashews are often served in the form of salt and the sodium level in cashews is around 181 milligrams of sodium per ounce (equivalent to approximately 638 milligrams of sodium per 100 grams of cashew). ).
This high level of sodium is very dangerous for our health as it can increase our blood pressure level and can lead to other cardiovascular problems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy people should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day and those at risk for heart disease should not consume more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Although the level of sodium in cashews (even salted) doesn’t seem to be very high, it’s important to note that if one is eating cashew nuts, this number can add up quickly.
We also get sodium from other foods we eat, and since people eat a lot of junk food these days (which are already high in sodium), this risk of high sodium intake is further increased.
The best way to deal with this problem is to eat cashews in moderation and give more preference to eating cashews without salt. If you’re more concerned with taste, then it’s okay to eat salty cashews once in a while, but in limited quantities.
If you are at risk of cardiovascular disease or high blood pressurethen it is better to consult your doctor about eating salted cashews.
Pcan cause allergies Eating too many cashews is dangerous for our health, including the risk of allergic reactions associated with them. According to a study published in the December 2003 issue of the journal «Allergy,» allergies associated with cashews are increasing by the day, and these allergic reactions are even more severe because they affect young children who may never have been exposed to them before. allergies.
According to another article published in the “Archives of Diseases In Childhood” journal, anaphylaxis or airway constriction was found to be more common in people with cashew allergies than in people with peanut allergies.
This finding is reinforced by what is reported by the Department of Allergy at the University of Cambridge in the UK where it indicates that allergic reactions to cashews are generally more severe than those experienced by those allergic to peanuts. This was based on a comparison of 141 case studies in children with nut allergies. Side effects can include shortness of breath, throat swelling, itchy mouth and esophagus, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anaphylaxis.
May interfere with certain medications Cashews are an excellent source of magnesium (82.5 mg magnesium per ounce of cashew nuts) which provides many benefits such as regulation of body temperature, detoxification, maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, and many more benefits. However, there is also some risk associated with magnesium, and one of these is its ability to interfere with a number of medications.
According to notes from the University of Maryland Medical Center, several drugs were found to interact with magnesium (which is present in high-level cashews) and disturb the effect of those drugs. Quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and magnesium bind and can prevent adequate absorption of antibiotics.
Magnesium can even interact with blood pressure medications and calcium channel blockers, and…