Health Benefits of
Jamaican Cashews

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Jamaican Cashews - Fruit and Nuts

by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

What’s one thing we all love, (well most of us), the cashew fruit, or is it a nut? The beloved Jamaican Cashews are considered both and neither at the same time. Confused? Let me explain.

In case you didn’t know, cashews are grown on trees. Scientifically these trees are called Anacardium occidentale, but since we are not scientists, we are just going to call them cashew trees. The cashew trees produce a soft, fleshy and very juicy stalk (what we call the fruit). It grows almost pear-shaped, similar to the Jamaican Otaheite Apple but it can sometimes have a rounded shape. They are called cashew apples.

At the end of the cashew apple, you will find a hard shell, shaped like a kidney bean, which contains the cashew nut. The combination of both the cashew apple and its nut is referred to as a drupe. 

Cashews are very popular here in Jamaica and around the world. For many, the nuts are had as a snack after being roasted and salted, or they may even be added to salads and desserts. The roasting is not only for the taste though. The thin outer shell contains an oil that has been proven to cause skin irritation. This can only be removed by roasting the nut.

Although roasting removes the oil, the fumes produced during the process can cause skin and eye irritation, inflammation, and poisoning. Cardol and anacardic acid are the active ingredients found in cashews. Cardol is used in coatings and the polymer industries while anacardic acid is frequently used in the pharmaceutical industry.

How Can Jamaican Cashews Be Eaten?

The cashew apple can be eaten raw, cooked in curries, fermented into vinegar, or fermented into an alcoholic beverage. Some countries, like India and Brazil, use it to make preserves, chutneys, and jams.

The cashew apple is used to flavour alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks in various nations, particularly in South America.

Have you bitten into a cashew apple and gotten a very strong, tangy taste in your mouth? Well, what may come as a surprise to you is the waxy layer on the skin which is the reason for that taste.

The waxy layer contains a chemical called urushiol, which can cause slight irritation if it comes in contact with the skin. So, that tingly feeling on your lips after biting into the cashew apple was most likely a result of that.

Uses of the Jamaican Cashew Plant

1. Leaf extracts can be used to treat ulcers or to add to fever baths.
   
   
2. Dysentery, toothache, and painful gums are treated with a leaf and bark infusion.
   
   
3. Bark teas are used for diarrhea in the tree's native Brazil, while caustic shell oil is used for skin diseases, warts, worms, and botfly larvae beneath the skin.
   
   
4. To protect books, wood, and floors from ants and other home-invading insects, resins and gums from the bark and stems (acajou gum) are used in varnishes. Insecticidal qualities are thought to exist in the sap.
   
   
5. Shell oil is used to create polymers and resins in industry. CNSL (cashew-nutshell liquid) is also utilized in brake and clutch linings.
   
   
6. Cashew oil and juice are frequently used in face peels, hair conditioners and shampoos.
   
   
7. Cashew oil- an edible cashew oil is made by drying the nut, removing the shell then roasting it. The roasted nuts are then pressed to produce the oil.

Nutritional Value of the Cashew

• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Phosphorus
• Zinc
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin K
• Protein
• Fats- monounsaturated and polyunsaturated
• Carbohydrates
• Vitamin C
• Copper

Health Benefits of the Jamaican Cashews

1. Keeps the Brain Healthy and enhances its functionality
2. Improve Heart Functioning
3. Good for Preventing Cancer
4. Prevent Gallstones in the body
5. Treats Obesity and Helps in Weight Loss
6. Helps blood flow
7. Enhances Eye Health and Vision Clarity
8. Keeps the Blood Healthy
9. Helps treatment of Diabetes
10. Catalyst for Digestion
11. Keeps the skin fresh and healthy
12. Strengthen and tones Bones
13. Keeps the Hair Shiny
14. Keeps the Teeth and Gums healthy
15. Good for Preventing Headaches

Popular Questions About Cashews, Answered

What are the benefits of eating cashews every day?

According to studies, those who eat a little portion of cashews every day have their LDL "bad" cholesterol levels reduced slightly. Cashews' high magnesium concentration may aid to prevent heart disease in addition to decreasing LDL cholesterol levels.

How many cashews per day is good for you?

The recommended serving of cashew nuts per day is 18 medium size nuts, which would usually weigh in at about an ounce.

What are the negative effects of cashews?

In certain people, cashew nuts can induce bloating, constipation, weight gain, and joint swelling. If you use unroasted cashews, you risk skin irritation, redness, and blisters.

Who should not eat cashew?

Anyone with nut allergies or high blood pressure should avoid eating cashews.

Whether you want to call it a fruit, a nut or a drupe, one thing for sure is that every part of the cashew plant is highly beneficial and should be added as a regular part of our diets.

Watch Video! Jamaican Cashews

Jamaican Cashews have many amazing health benefits but if they aren't prepared properly it can be very dangerous! Watch the video below to find out more.

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Return to Jamaican Fruits from Jamaican Cashews
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References & Sources For Jamaican Cashews

1. 15 Health benefits of Cashew Fruit, https://shopinverse.com/blogs/health-guide/15-health-benefits-of-cashew-fruit  
2. Cashew Nut in Jamaica Herbal Remedies, https://fiwiroots.com/herbal/cashew.html  
3. Cashews: Health Benefits, Nutrients, Preparation, and More, https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cashews

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