Cashews: A healthy snack or another way to get fat

Cashews: A healthy snack or another way to get fat

Cashews are a delicious, creamy and crunchy nuts that are loved across the world for its great taste and nutritional values. While Cashews are a product of the evergreen cashew tree that is native to Brazil, they are now widely cultivated in the warm regions of the world.

It is no secret that cashews are very high in nutrients such as monounsaturated oleic acid, omega-3, copper, magnesium and other healthy minerals recommended in our daily diet. However, despite being a powerhouse source of such essential vitamins and minerals, cashews often bear the brunt for their high calorific value. Many people believe that eating cashews will make them fat, but that’s not entirely true.


Cashews are widely consumed across the globe and are an essential ingredient in many delicious recipes, be it sweet or savoury. A lot of people consume it on daily basis and consider it as a heart-healthy choice. In fact, the Australian Dietary Guidelines suggests that eating cashews or nuts amounting to 30 grams is beneficial for our health.

Cashews are rich in good fats, also knows as mono-saturated and poly-saturated fats which help to lower cholesterol levels. A few studies that analysed people eating habits and weight gain over a long course of time substantiated that people who consume nuts regularly are less prone to weight gain over time than the people who don’t.


Here are a few reasons why cashews do not add to your waistlines, contrary to the general perception:

  • When you replace cashews with other highly processed and salty snacks, it acts as a healthy choice and helps you lose weight by minimizing the calories you would have gained from the processed foods. The amazing amount of fibre, fat protein and minerals keep you full for longer and reduce the craving for other snacks.
  • We do not completely absorb the fats in the cashews as most of the nut’s fats is stored in its cell walls. These stored fats are difficult to breakdown during digestion; hence we only absorb a limited amount of calories from eating cashews.
  • A lot of studies show the evidence that eating cashews promote good heart health and is linked to a healthier lifestyle. The heart healthy fats help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases. Consuming cashews is also very beneficial for people with Type II diabetes as it helps in better insulin control and lower systolic blood pressure.


So, if you are still wondering whether you should add cashews to your daily diet without worrying about getting fat, then the answer is yes. You should definitely make cashews a part of your lifestyle and consume these crunchy goodies every day. The key here is to eat cashews in moderation and not increase its calorific value by frying them or adding fatty condiments.

Explore the wonderful range of high-quality cashews here at Chota Mota and bring these munchies home for your family and friends.