Nuts are good for your health. But what about cashews? Sometimes on the aperitif table, these often have the reputation of being delicious, but too rich. And therefore not necessarily welcome when you want to lose or stabilize your weight? This is not entirely true.
Lots of benefits in this little nut
For Alexandra Murcier, nutritionist and member of our committee of experts, we would be wrong to avoid these tasty little nuts.
“In reality, cashew nuts are an interesting food because they are rich in vegetable proteins (therefore very useful to supplement the intake of vegetarians or vegans). They also contain polyunsaturated fatty acids which protect the cardiovascular system and are rich in vitamin B6 and magnesium and copper.”
Therefore, including some cashew nuts in your diet is interesting for several reasons:
- They strengthen the immune system, thanks to antioxidants and zinc;
- They contribute to good bone health because they are rich in copper and magnesium, essential minerals for bone strength and the prevention of diseases such as osteoporosis;
- They affect your mood and sleep thanks to magnesium;
- They fight against skin aging, thanks to the antioxidants they contain;
- They reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
An ally (in small doses) against weight gain
But cashew has another big benefit, especially if you’re looking to lose or stabilize your weight: helping you mimic food cravings.
“They have a high energy density (that is to say they provide a lot of calories in relation to their volume) so their consumption should remain in small quantities but as they are rich in fiber they do not quickly increase blood sugar and do not create cravings.” underlines Alexandra Murcier.
Thus, there are in fact around 550 calories for 150 grams of cashew nuts. But when consumed in moderation, not only do they not make you gain weight, but they prevent you from reaching for other less healthy snacks.
The right amount? 30 g per day, so that the cashew nut plays all its advantages!