Feeling depressed? Have some cashews!
Recent studies have shown that a handful of nuts a day can help you maintain your physical health and reduce your risk of many medical issues. But there’s a reason we have the saying “A sound mind in a sound body” and studies increasingly suggest that mental health issues, such as depression, can be mitigated by eating right. A 1993 study indicates that cashews can help reduce depression. This may be at least in part because they are a good source of tryptophan. This is the chemical found in turkey and warm milk that helps you get to sleep. It generally has a calming, positive impact on the mood as well.
But, wait, there’s more!
Cashews are a good source of healthy oils, magnesium, B-complex vitamins and other essential nutrients. They are also a heart-healthy food and help protect against anemia. They are a good source of antioxidants, a class of chemicals that help support the immune system and helps the body repair itself and fight the negative impact of free radicals, among other things.
Cashews are known to help with weight control.
The magnesium in cashews helps the body properly absorb calcium, a major component of the skeletal system. This means adequate consumption of magnesium is as critical to the health of your bones and teeth as adequate consumption of calcium. Your bones contain bone marrow. This is where your red and white blood cells are manufactured. White blood cells are a critical part of the immune system. So bone health is far more important than just avoiding broken bones or being bent over as you age. Bone health is an important part of immune health, and that is an important part of simply being healthy and not sick all the time.
Cashews also help protect against gallstones. Some people are genetically predisposed to developing gallstones. Others develop them due to personal factors, such as obesity, a poor diet or the use of certain medications. Eating cashews is one of the ways you can make sure you aren’t going to develop them due to a poor diet. It is believed that the antioxidants in cashews are the reason they serve as protection against gallstones.
If you are prone to depression, all this health good news is a reason to cheer up when you eat some cashews. You should totally spread the word.
Some people are allergic to nuts. An allergy to the food in question more than cancels out the potential health benefits. If you are allergic to cashews, you should not consume them. Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!
