Thedietsinreview

Most of the time we are told to steer clear of snack foods because they are either high in sugar, salt or fat, or even a combination of the three. However, unlike other nuts, cashews are actually good for you in moderation. They are known to actually possess many healthful benefits and surprisingly enough are said to be a heart-healthy high fat snack! Although cashews are actually high in fat, the ratio of good vs. bad is perfect. Cashews have a ratio of 1:2:1 which translates to saturated/monounsaturated/polyunsaturated. In laymen’s terms this means that they have the right proportion of good fat to bad fat which works to lower cholesterol in the bloodstream. Even though they are high in fat they are considered to be a no-fat nut because they have no cholesterol which we know makes them heart healthy. Also, they are high in magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc and phosphorus which are also essential to a healthy cardiovascular system, especially copper and magnesium. It has been determined that cashews can also inhibit the onset of type 2 diabetes by affecting the lipid profile and with the high content of copper they can serve as an antioxidant which counteracts free radicals in the bloodstream. Copper is also used by the body to utilize iron and is known to support healthy blood vessels, bones and joints. And if all that wasn’t enough to convince you that cashews are good for you, consider the fact that cashews can be beneficial to dental health because they have chemicals that are known to be antibacterial against gram positive bacteria and can also reduce the risk of gallstones. The suggested serving size is approximately one-quarter cup, or about 4 ounces.