For the first time, a team of researchers has analyzed the nutritional composition of raw cashew nuts from the largest growing regions around the world, providing a much better approximation of the real nutrient content of cashews.
Researchers studied the composition of raw cashew kernels from India, Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Brazil, Mozambique, and Kenya. The composition analyses were conducted within three months after harvest, and included dietary fiber, sugar, protein, lipid profile, salt, energy content, sterol content and profile, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Researchers concluded that cashews are a good source of nutrients as they are rich in healthy unsaturated fats, high in dietary fiber and have an excellent profile of plant-based proteins.
They also contain a wide variety of important micro- and macronutrients including vitamins and amino acids. No significant differences were found among samples from different origins.
The results also showed that cashews are relatively high in fat, but most of that fat (80%) is unsaturated. It is important to look at not only the amount of fat, but also the type. Saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol levels, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
On the contrary, unsaturated fats, such as mono- and polyunsaturated fat, can actually decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) levels. Modern human nutrition research has linked nut consumption with several health benefits due to their particular nutrient composition. Including nuts in a healthy diet is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, especially stroke, and to a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Furthermore, epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that frequent nut intake is not generally associated with weight gain.
The study was undertaken by a group of researchers from Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) and Rovira i Virgili University, in Spain. It was supported by the Global Cashew Council and the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council.
About Cashews: The cashew nut is native of northeast Brazil.
During the 16th century, the Portuguese introduced it into India and Portuguese colonies in Africa such as Mozambique. From India, cashew trees spread all over South East Asia.
The tree grows in tropical areas and is cultivated primarily in India, Vietnam, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Tanzania, Benin, Brazil, and other countries in East and West Central Africa and South East Asia. Plantings have also been established in South Africa and Australia. Among tree nuts, cashews rank third in world production, behind almonds and walnuts, with a world average production of 550,000 metric tons (kernel basis). In 2015, global production is estimated at 651,100 MT (kernel basis), led by India and Cote d’Ivoire with about 143,000 MT both, and followed by Vietnam (113,000 MT).
