Dietary changes throughout the 20th century have led to a gradual replacement of many excellent plant-based foods - like nuts - with animal based foods. Fortunately, today we have begun to discover the health - promoting properties of plant foods like nuts and fruits and the nutritional value of monounsaturated fats in the diet.
Diets high in monounsaturated fats - the predominant fatty acid in cashew - have been linked with lowering LDL cholesterol, the 'bad' cholesterol associated with atherosclerosis, and retain the 'good' or HDL cholesterol.
In certain regions of the world, such as the Mediterranean basin - where the traditional diet is high in monounsaturated fats - the inhabitants have a lower level of cholesterol as well as a smaller incidence of coronary ailments. The Mediterranean's may be considered role models for good health and longevity!
The World Health Organisation, FAO Collaborating Center at Harvard School of Public Health and Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust have recently co-developed a Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, in a major departure from the traditional American perception of healthy eating.
The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid graphically presents the kind of foods that consumers can choose on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. It groups nuts with fruits, vegetables and legumes as part of a healthy daily diet. This placement better reflects the potential contribution of nuts to good health.
With its unique combinations of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, and a broad assortment of minerals and vitamins, cashew fits beautifully into the Mediterranean diet. Just a handful provides a high energy food for people on the fast track of life. They provide a natural, beneficial supply of nutrients when there's no time for a meal or act as a nutritious supplement to other foods.
As a traditional element of the pantry, cashewnuts add taste and nutrition to an astonishing variety of foods. They improve the texture, flavour, palatability and nutritive value of your daily diet.
Food trends everywhere are evolving with a nutritional orientation. And with it, Indian cashew is fast emerging as an essential part of Asian, European and American cuisine.
