Image Source: Parade

Cashew nuts or kaju are kidney shaped nuts, famous as nature’s vitamin pill, having amazing and wonderful nutritional health benefits. It is generally used dry fruit in the Indian cuisine such as variety of dessert preparations to add nutrition and taste. Solid, soft, sweet and delicious cashew nuts are packed with energy, protein, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins including other healthy materials required for body building.

Cashews or kaju are full of amazing health benefits if taken within limit on a daily basis. Health conscious people must try it by adding it to their daily diet plan to have its wonderful nutritious health benefits. It is beneficial for all the age groups people of both genders. It has essential amino acids, proteins and unsaturated fats, which nourishes the unique body systems very well. It has all the nutritious elements (anti-oxidants, vitamins, proteins, electrolytes, minerals and etc.) required for better body growth and development specially for growing age children.

1. Cashews are high in calories. 100 g of nuts provide 553 calories. They are packed with soluble dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and numerous health-promoting phyto-chemicals that help protect from diseases and cancers.
2. Proanthocyanidins are a class of flavonols which fight against tumor cells by stopping them to divide further. These proanthocyanidins and high copper content in cashew nuts help fight against cancerous cells and keeps you away from colon cancer. This is one of the major cashew nut benefits.
3. Cashews contain low fat content when compared to other nuts and that too in the oleic acid form which is very healthy for the heart. They are cholesterol free and the antioxidants present keeps you away from heart diseases.
4. Vitamin K found in it has ability to suppress the tumor cells growth. It also helps in the prevention of cirrhosis and liver cancer as well as the best treatment of the cirrhosis and liver cancer.
5. ts magnesium content helps to maintain the blood pressure and lowers down the high blood pressure. Its tendency of lowering the blood pressure helps in preventing the heart attacks.
6. The essential fatty acid like oleic acid inhibits the cholesterol transport to the bloodstream, thus reduces low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and elevates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in the blood and lowers the risks of heart diseases.
7. It has lots of minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and etc. required for the healthy growth and development of the bones among kids, women and men.
8. High copper level helps in maintaining the flexibility of the bones and joints. It enhances the functioning of an enzyme which combines the collagen and elastin, thus provides flexibility to the bones and joints.
9. It enhances the brain power as it boosts the immunity system, prevents from infections and enhances blood supply to the brain by increasing the production of more red blood cells.
10. Cashew nuts have the ability to filter Sun’s UV rays and protect us from macular degeneration.
11. As it enhances the utilization of the iron in the body, elimination of free radicals, maintenance of connective tissue, production of skin and hair pigment called melanin, it makes the skin healthy and wrinkles free.
12. It has a pigment flavonoid antioxidant called zea-xanthin which gets absorbed to the eyes (retinal macula lutea) and protects from the UV rays, thus prevents from the age-related macular degeneration during old age.
13. Cashew nuts have monounsaturated fats, which reduces the triglyceride levels among diabetics ,thus protect from further complications.
14. It is an excellent dry fruit for the pregnant women, if she is not allergic to it. It acts as an instant energy booster, make them feel fuller for long and best snacks in between the meals.

 So include cashews in your diet and enjoy the blessing of health and taste.