It's no wonder that cashew nuts are so popular: they not only taste great, they are also a real brain food. In trail mix for instant snacking pleasure, as a topping on your healthy breakfast, or for cooking and baking – cashews are versatile and, thanks to the wide range of minerals and vitamins they contain, very healthy.
As with many other nuts, a handful of nuts covers your daily requirement. Find out why it pays to integrate these kidney-shaped nuts into your diet.
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Where do cashew nuts come from?
Cashews originally come from Brazil, but today they can be found in many different tropical countries, such as India, and in East Africa and Asia. The cashew fruit or cashew apple grows on trees that can reach up to 15 metres in height.
The yellow or red cashew apple is a stone fruit that resembles a pepper in shape. Like almonds, cashews actually belong to the family of stone fruits. The nut is actually the 2-3 cm large stem at the lower end of the fruit.
The harvest season for cashew nuts is from February to the beginning of 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 strong twisting motion. Then they are roasted first to burn the shell oil.
The nuts can then be cracked by hand and, after they have been dried, the shell residue can be cleaned off. So there is a lot of manual work involved in processing these small nuts.
Why are cashews so healthy?
Cashews help your body from the inside out, supporting, among other things, your nerves, immune system and heart. They also help on the outside, because the B vitamins they contain 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 to lower cholesterol and protect the heart.
They 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. They contain a lot of B vitamins, which, among other things, help to combat fatigue and concentration difficulties and strengthen the nervous and immune systems. The kernels also contain vitamin E and vitamin K, which is essential for our bones, for example.
Cashews as a vegan source of protein
Cashews are an excellent vegan source of protein and are ideal for sports enthusiasts. Cashews contain 18 g of protein per 100 g and are therefore an indispensable part of a healthy and nutritious diet.
Cashews make you happy
The amino acid L-tryptophan they contain has a calming effect and can be converted into the happiness hormone serotonin in the brain at the same time. This is how cashews can help you feel good and sleep well.
Breakfast with cashews
You can find these delicious nuts in countless of our breakfast products, as well as in our nut mixes. Cashews are also perfect 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 muesli or coffee. All you need are cashew nuts, water, salt and dates.
Conclusion
Cashew nuts really are a true superfood. The nutrients they contain provide your body with important vitamins, proteins, fibre and minerals and can even contribute to your well-being and good mood.
Just a handful of nuts a day, which is about 25 grams, is enough to make a positive contribution to your diet.
