What did the nut say, when it was chasing other nuts? -I’m a Cashew!

If that pun made you laugh, read this post to know more about cashew nuts. The cashew tree is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple pseudo fruit. Sandy soils are best for growing cashew trees. Cashews thrive in the tropical climates of 20 western and eastern African nations, where about 90% of the raw cashew nuts traded in the global market are grown. African countries produce about 45% or 1.2 million tonnes of global cashew nuts annually. Because of the irritating shells, they were thought to be inedible at first. Over time it was realized that it was the fruit skin and not the seeds that were irritating. This tiny kidney bean shaped nut is the powerhouse of an array of nutrients. Cashews are typically a shade of green before the nut is roasted Cashew nuts are used mostly in Indian desserts and traditional preparations to enhance their taste. In a season, a cashew tree produces many, edible, pear-shaped false fruits or “accessory fruits” called “cashew apples.” Cashew nut, which botanically a “true-fruit,” is attached at the bottom of this cashew-apple, giving it a clapper in the bell appearance. This tiny, bean-shaped, gray “true fruit” is actually a drupe, featuring a hard outer shell enclosing a single edible kernel known commercially as “cashew nut.” Cashew shell composes toxic phenolic resin, urushiol, a potent caustic skin irritant toxin. Cashews are high in calories. 100 g of nuts provide 553 calories. They are rich in “heart-friendly” monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic, and palmitoleic acids. It contains healthy fat; it is linked with healthy heart! It is free from cholesterol and also provides essential nutrients to boost the heart functioning. Cashew nuts are abundant sources of essential minerals. Manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium are especially concentrated in them. A handful of cashew nuts a day in the diet would provide enough of these minerals and may help prevent deficiency diseases. One of the major benefits of eating cashew nuts is that it reduces the risk of cancer. Proanthocyanins is a type of flavanol which stops the tumor cells from growing Cashew apples are among popular fruits; eaten on their own in many regions around the world. They are also being used to prepare healthy drinks. Cashews can be processed into cashew butter and cheese. The shell of the nut can be used in lubricants, waterproofing, and arms production. If you know more such facts on cashew, let us know by commenting below.