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Healthy Diet Plans >>
Therapeutic Value of Different Foods >>
Nuts and Seeds >>
Cashews |
CashewsCashews are a tasty snack preferred by everyone. Butter from cashews are an excellent part of stir-fries and dressings of salads. Kidney shaped cashew nuts are borne by the cashew apple and are bound at the bottom of the fruit. A sharp resin, known as cashew balm, is found on the inner lining of the shells and these are used in the production of insecticides and varnishes. Cashew nuts are generally sold with the shells, as the cashew balm removal is essential, thereby making it safe for human consumption.
In comparison to the other nuts, cashews have a reduced fat content. About 75 per cent of the fat is made up of unsaturated fatty acids and three-fourth of this is oleic acid. It is a cardio-protective monounsaturated fat, also available in olive oil.
Oleic acid promotes heart health. Addition of monounsaturated fats to a low fat diet helps in keeping the triglycerides at bay. The antioxidant content in nuts is beneficial, aiding in reduction of coronary heart disease.
A handful of nuts per week are helpful in reducing the risk of heart diseases.
Research reveals the fact that nut consumption of an ounce per week helps in reducing the incidence of gallstones. Inclusion in oatmeal or salad is easy incorporation.
Nut consumption, twice every week helps in reducing obesity. Thirty eight per cent of the daily value of copper is provided by quarter cup of cashews. Reduced copper has an inversely proportional relationship with the incidence of colon cancer. Decrease in copper results in increased fecal synthesis of free radicals and alkaline phosphatase.
Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme required for antioxidant defenses and synthesis of energy and requires copper. It is also an essential part of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme required for elastin and collagen. It increases the flexibility of the blood vessels. Inadequacy in dietary copper results in osteoporosis, iron deficiency anemia, decreased HDL cholesterol, elevated LDL cholesterol, decreased immunity, nervous disturbance, arrhythmias and rheumatoid arthritis.
Magnesium regulates the nerves and acts as a calcium blocker, thereby preventing the over activity of the neurons. This, in turn, prevents excessive contraction. Decrease in dietary magnesium causes muscle cramps, tension, fatigue, hypertension, soreness and migraine. About 22.3 per cent of the daily value of magnesium is provided by a qurter cup of cashew nuts. It protects from heart attacks and aids in inducing normal sleep in women with menopausal problems. The degree of asthma and wheezing is also decreased in some patients. |
| Submitted on February 24, 2009 |
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