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CASHEW TO TREAT CHOLESTEROL
Are cashews suitable to lower cholesterol?
Cashews are rich in fats whose characteristics are well suited to lower cholesterol.
Cashew fats can be divided into two types, saturated and unsaturated. In turn, the unsaturated fat present two forms: monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.
Cashews contain mostly monounsaturated fat, notably in the form of oleic acid, such as olive oil, which reaches values of 30% of the total fat that cashews contains. This type of fat is very beneficial because of its health effects to cardiovascular preventive level. It protects our arteries from cholesterol buildup, preventing the onset of diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Cashew to reduce “bad cholesterol”
The other 20% of the fat is divided in saturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. In the case of cashews, and unlike other nuts, they have slightly higher levels of saturated fat than polyunsaturated fat.
This does not mean it is not advised to consume cashews, because most fats are monounsaturated fats (about three times its saturated fat content). So, they are well suited to reduce “bad cholesterol “.
In addition, if we take into account the polyunsaturated fat content, we can say that the level of saturated fat cashews only means one fifth of their total fat content, and thus, cashews are healthy, safe and beneficial for our body. Furthermore, we must consider the fact that, being a food of plant origin, it does not contain any cholesterol.
Photo of cashews
What polyunsaturated fats do cashews contain?
The portion containing polyunsaturated fat is mostly formed by linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty acid of the omega-6 family.
This fat helps to diminish the levels of LDL and VLDL in the blood of our bodies, helping to combat overweight, obesity and a number of diseases related to cholesterol.
More information on the nutritional composition of cashews.
More information on cashews.
