Cashews are rich in nutrients and may offer several health benefits, such as promoting heart health, preventing blood sugar spikes, and more.
Cashews are kidney-shaped seeds sourced from the cashew tree, a tropical tree native to Brazil but now cultivated in various warm climates worldwide.
While “raw” cashews are widely sold, truly raw cashews are not safe to eat, as they contain a substance known as urushiol, found in poison ivy. Urushiol is toxic, and contact with it can trigger a skin reaction in some people.
Cashew kernels are cooked in processing to remove this toxic liquid, and the resulting product is sold as “raw.”
Although people often refer to them as tree nuts, cashews are really seeds. They’re rich in nutrients and beneficial plant compounds and make for an easy addition to many dishes.
