Cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale ) belong to the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae and the genus Anacardium. They are closely related to the mango and the pistachio nut. The nuts are actually the seeds that are found attached to the bottom of the cashew apple (the fruit of the cashew tree). The plant is considered native to the coastal areas of the north eastern zone of Brazil. At present, the leading commercial producers of cashews around the world are India, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania and Mozambique. Apart from being a favorite meal snack, cashews are also used to make nut butter and as a garnish to salads and certain fry dishes. A typical cashew nut is kidney shaped and has a slightly spongy flavor with a delicate flavor. Apart from this, the plant is renowned for its diverse medicinal and therapeutic effects on human health. To get a better idea about the high concentration of nutrient present in the plant, read the Food Rating Chart given below in this article.
Cashew Nut Nutrition Facts
Total Weight of Cashews: 28 grams
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Nutrients
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Amount
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Basic Components
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Protein
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5.1 g
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Carbohydrates
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9.2 g
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Water
|
1.5 g
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Ash
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0.7 g
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Calories
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Total Calories
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649 KJ
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Calories From Fat
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431 KJ
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Calories From Carbohydrate
Calories From Protein
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144 KJ
74.1 KJ
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Fiber
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Dietary Fiber
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0.9 g
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Starch
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6.6 g
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Sugar
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1.7 g
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Glucose
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14.0 mg
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Sucrose
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1627 mg
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Fructose
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14.0 mg
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Fats
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Total Fat
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12.3 g
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Saturated Fat
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2.2 g
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Mono Fat
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6.7 g
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Poly Fat
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2.2 g
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Vitamins
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Thiamin
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0.1 mg
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Niacin
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0.3 mg
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Vitamin B6
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0.1 mg
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Betaine
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0.2 mg
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Vitamin C
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0.1 mg
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Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol)
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0.3 mg
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Vitamin E (Delta Tocopherol)
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0.1 mg
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Vitamin E (Gamma Tocopherol)
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1.5 mg
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Folate
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7.0 mcg
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Vitamin K
Choline
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9.5 mcg
0.2 mg
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Pantothenic Acid
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0.2 mg
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Minerals
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Calcium
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10.4 mg
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Copper
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0.6 mg
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Iron
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1.9 mg
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Magnesium
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81.8 mg
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Manganese
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0.5 mg
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Phosphorus
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166 mg
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Potassium
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185 mg
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Selenium
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5.6 mcg
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Sodium
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3.4 mg
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Zinc
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1.6 mg
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Saturated Fats
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16:0 Palmitic
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1096 mg
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18:0 Stearic
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902 mg
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Mono Fats
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18:1 Oleic
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6585 mg
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Poly Fats
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18:2 Linoleic
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2179 mg
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18:3 Linolenic
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17.4 mg
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Other Fats
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Omega 3 Fatty Acids
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17.4 mg
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Omega 6 Fatty Acids
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2179 mg
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Amino Acids
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Alanine
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234 mg
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Arginine
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594 mg
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Aspartate
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503 mg
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Cystine
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110 mg
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Glutamate
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1262 mg
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Glycine
|
262 mg
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Histidine
|
128 mg
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Isoleucine
|
221 mg
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Leucine
|
412 mg
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Lysine
|
260 mg
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Methionine
|
101 mg
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Phenylalanine
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266 mg
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Proline
|
227 mg
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Serine
|
302 mg
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Threonine
|
193 mg
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Tryptophan
|
80.4 mg
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Tyrosine
|
142 mg
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Valine
|
306 mg
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Buying And Storing Tips:
- Cashews are available both in prepackaged containers as well as in bulk bins.
- To ensure maximum freshness, always purchase from shops that has a good product turnover. Also ensure that the bins in which the cashews are placed are covered and sealed tightly.
- Irrespective of any form that you purchase, always check for any kind of damage either due to moisture or because of insects.
- Cashews are highly stable products and can be stored for long time as compared to other nuts. This is because of the fact that they contain high levels of oleic acid.
- The best way to store cashews is by placing them in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. This way they can be stored for a maximum of six to seven months. However, if they are stored in the freezer, they can be kept fresh for a period of about 1 year.
- Once opened, cashew butter should always be stored inside the refrigerator.
