Monday 30 November 2015

Benefits of Shilajit A Complete Guide

Genuine Shilajit resin was traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Siberian shamanic medicine almost as a panacea. Since 1960s the modern day medical and pharmaceutical science was looking into the substance known as Shilajit (alternatively known as Mumijo, Shilajeet, mineral pitch, etc.). Even though the science did not find panacea qualities, what was found was an incredibly wide array of profound benefits. This explains why the ancients used this substance to successfully address numerous health issues.
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THE BENEFITS OF SHILAJIT INCLUDE

Antioxidant properties.
Shilajit not being an antioxidant itself mimics the most powerful antioxidants. Incredibly on one hand it promotes cellular respiration which would normally lead to oxidation, on the other hand, it inhibits damage from oxidation. This is a unique and powerful antiaging property.
Antibacterial properties.
On the contact, the substance destroys common pathogenic microbe strains. This includes staphylococci, streptococci, coliform bacteria, enterococci, Proteus.
Alcohol withdrawal.
Sometimes Shilajit with other herbs may be effective in reducing alcohol withdrawal anxiety.
Anabolic benefits.
Mineral pitch is a natural alternative to anabolic substances. Healthy and naturally it increases strength and muscle mass while promoting the corporations well and fast.
Blood sugar control and diabetes.
In vivo the Shilajit-based formulation showed to effectively repair and regenerate tissue of a pancreas. It also maintained healthy levels of blood glucose and lipid profile.
Immune benefits.
Genuine and high quality Resin is a potent and nonspecific stimulator off the immune system.
Cognition enhancing benefits.
It promotes learning, memory and cerebral activity.
Inhibition of painkiller tolerance development.
While taking Shilajit a body may not develop a tolerance to pain killers. This means that it could be an effective way to counter addiction to painkillers.
Sedation and pain control.
Shilajit could be used complementary for sedation and pain control in certain situations.
Anti-toxic and anti-radiation.
Moomiyo/Shilajit can be used to detoxify the body/liver and to counter side effects of x-ray radiation.
Anti-allergic.
Shilajit stabilizes mast cells over time and can have anti-allergic properties.
Anti-inflammatory.
Moomiyo is a potent anti-inflammatory agent which naturally reduces inflammation. It was traditionally used to address wound healing, tissue damage and multiple inflammatory conditions.
Energy production.
Mineral Pitch (a.k.a. Shilajit, Moomiyo, Salajeet, etc.) activates mitochondrial respiration on a cellular level and contributes to the long-lasting energy without being a stimulant.
Tissue regeneration. (Bones, skin, organs, muscles)
There are extensive studies on mineral pitch use (Moomiyo) use for regeneration of broken bones. Shilajit was traditionally used to regenerate damaged tissue in a body. Tradition was confirmed by Soviet doctors in the 60s 70s and 80s, who routinely used Moomiyo to accelerate healing of broken bones.
Mental and physical performance enhancer.
Genuine mineral pitch resin substantially improves performance on mental and physical levels.
Don’t believe the HYPE!
Before we start talking about Shilajit benefits, I would like to point out that genuine Shilajit is RARE and VALUABLE. They are countless companies trying to “sell” the consumer on countless benefits. The reality is very different… Behind many benefits claims, there is nothing but marketing.
The truth is over 99% of products sold as Shilajit are FAKE. Besides being counterfeit, in the best case scenario be soil extractions, and in the worst case scenario will be a substance loaded with side effects from contaminants and for processing.
To my best knowledge there are less than five companies in the Western Hemisphere of the world offering genuine and quality resin. Even between these companies it is still questionable who has the best quality to offer.
Having that said here are the Benefits of Shilajit based not on HYPE but actually real historical records and and scientific studies.

SHILAJIT BENEFITS IN AYURVEDA

Caraka Saṃhitā is the foundational body of knowledge of Ayurveda. Translated as simply “Compendium of Caraka” is an ancient Indian medical text. It comprehensively addresses health, disease and practice of medicine. Roughly 2000 years of age it is still valid as far as health maintenance manual. According to Caraka Samhita, there is no curable disease, which can be treated without Shilajit.
Modern-day science when studying Shilajit confirmed many ancient applications and demonstrated efficacy in vivo (in living organisms) and in vitro (in the lab). The prominent names in Shilajit are the Soviet physician A. Shakirov and the Indian pharmaceutical chemist S. Ghoshal. Much follow-up work was conducted by their followers countless physicians, biologists and chemists.

SHILAJIT BENEFITS VERIFIED BY SCIENCE.

Antioxidant Properties of Shilajit

Shilajit is a compound with potent antioxidant properties. In an article called: “Antilipid Peroxidative Property of Shilajit” the researchers demonstrated that Shilajit inhibits lipid peroxidation induced by cumene hydroperoxide and ADP/FE**. It also reduced the rate of oxidation of reduced glutathione content and inhibited ongoing lipid peroxidation, induced by these agents immediately after its addition of the incubation system. (Yamini B. Tripathi 1996)
Processed extract of mumie efficiently traps hydroxyl radicals, NO- and SO -radicals and also can regenerate ascorbic acid [Ghosal, 1995]. Mumie is an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation induced by cumene hydroperoxide and ADP/Fe2+ complex in a dose-dependent manner. It decreases the rate of oxidation of reduced glutathione and inhibits ongoing lipid peroxidation, induced by these agents, immediately after its addition to the incubation system. Antiradical properties of mumie extract can be attributed to the presence of dibenzo-a- pyrones and fulvic acid It is assumed that the therapeutic properties of some multicomponent preparations, containing mumie in their composition, are caused by anti radical properties of this humus matter. Mumie activates mitochondrial respiration but suppresses activity of succinate – oxidase and NADH-oxidase in mitochondrion. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

Antibacterial Shilajit.

Genuine mumie has a pronounced antimicrobial activity and on contact will neutralize different pathologic microbe strains such as staphylococci, streptococci, coliform bacteria, enterococci, Proteus. This was established by Dr. A. Shakirov in 1967-1969. Traditionally the substance was used to heal wounds producing pus. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

Shilajit as a natural treatment for Alcohol withdrawal.

“Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Activity of NR-Anx-C (a poly-herbal formulation) in ethanol withdrawal-induced anxiety behavior in rats. In this study, a Shilajit-based formulation was used to control alcohol withdrawal symptoms in vivo. The study demonstrated that the use of the Shilajit based herbal formulation is comparable in efficacy to the use of a pharmaceutical known as Alprazolam (also known as Xanax). The scientists managed to reduce anxiety in rats resulting from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. (I. Mohan 2001)
It is rather exciting to me that it is naturally possible to support emotional health and stability with Shilajit. The frustrating part is that so far only Pürblack was capable of replicating such results naturally by claiming cumulative effects of alcohol neutralization and emotional resilience. Strange is the fact that if in the study one required several auxiliary herbs to create the effect of effective alcohol withdrawal, the leading Shilajit brand on the market seems to manage replicate the effect simply using Shilajit resin alone.

Natural Anabolic Benefits of Shilajit.

Mineral Pitch is a natural anabolic agent. It was traditionally used by Soviet sports and military to maintain health and increase strength and muscle mass while recuperating well and fast. The anabolic effect includes activation of an anabolic process on cell and molecular levels in different organs and tissues. Research have shown that a mumie extract accelerates the process of protein and nucleic acid synthesis, stimulates energy providing reactions in the liver, and promotes transport of minerals into muscle and bone tissue. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

Immune benefits.

Moomie (A.k.a. Shilajit) is a nonspecific immune system stimulator. It proliferates lymphocytes, activates the macrophages. It was shown to accelerate regeneration of the immune system (lymphopoietic erythropoiesis). The resin restored more rapidly the number of lymphocytes and peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

Blood sugar in diabetes.

In “Effect of D-400, and Ayurvedic Herbal Formulation on Experimentally Induced Diabetes Mellitus” published in Phytotherapy Research volume 10 (1996). In this study, Shilajit was used as a part of an herbal formulation. Obviously the scientists knew that ancient physicians have consistently used genuine Shilajit to treat diabetes often with herbs added to such formulations. In their study, they induced diabetes in vivo to animals and successfully demonstrated that would application of Shilajit based formulation diabetes can be successfully treated through repair and regeneration of endocrine pancreas. (S. K. Mitra 1996)
In a similar study called “effect of Shilajit on blood glucose and lipid profile in alloxan – induced diabetic rats” scientists so that Shilajit produced a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and also produced beneficial effects on the lipid profile. Even though in this study Shilajit was combined with pharmaceuticals in two doses out of three in each case results on blood sugar were beneficial. (N. A. Trivedi 2004) The study confirmed in a way knowledge accumulated prior by Soviet physicians who did not use Shilajit (Moomiyo in Russian) as a self standing drug in medical therapy, but as a supplement to support efficacy of medical treatments. On the other hand, both studies also validated ancient therapies throughout Asian Shilajit/Moomiyo producing regions where the resin was used to actively control and treat people with diabetes prior to availability of modern-day pharmaceuticals.

Cognition enhancing effect.

Mumie / Shilajit Was traditionally used in Indian medicine to attenuate cerebral functional deficit, including amnesia, in geriatric patients. It was shown that Shilajit promoted learning and memory. (Cho-Rok Jung 2002) (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

Painkiller tolerance

In 2001 S. Ghosal with other two scientists published a paper called: “Effects of Shilajit on the development of tolerance to morphine in mice”. The scientists empirically demonstrated that administration of Shilajit on a daily basis inhibits development of tolerance to morphine induced analgesia. Morphine being an opioid is traditionally used to control pain. The downside of morphine use is the development of tolerance to it and constantly requiring higher doses leading to addiction to the compound. In the discussion part of the paper one concluded that Shilajit could have a great potential as a prospective inhibitor of analgesic tolerance to morphine. (P. Tiwari 2001)
Interestingly, most Shilajit on the market except only one brand does not demonstrate this effect. This is exactly why in order to get maximum benefits from your Mineral Pitch it is important to go for the brand that is not all hype, but demonstrates efficacy through unique quality. On the other hand, the problem with multiple brands and merchants offering “Shilajit” or imitations is that most of them will never show the efficacy of the substance originally tested in the lab environments.
Sedation and pain control.
“Glycine- and Gaba-mimetic Actions of Shilajit on the Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons of the Trigeminal Subnucleus Caudalis in Mice” was an in vitro study performed at the Department of Oral Physiology at Chonbuk National University, Korea. The research demonstrated that Shilajit mimics GABA and glycine receptors activation in the brain tissue. It was also suggested that it can be used to control certain types of pain. (Hua Yin 2011)
Human growth hormone and testosterone production naturally.
Moomie (Shilajit) may contribute to stimulation of the human body to produce more of its own growth hormone and testosterone. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

Antitoxic and anti-radiation.

Mumyo was traditionally used in To detoxify and nourish. In a doctoral dissertation called “Moomiyo effect on tumor growth and creation of blood subjected to x-ray radiation”, a Russian doctor Kaligin V. I. demonstrated the benefits of mineral pitch to counter negative effects of radiation sickness. (Kaligin 1984) Unfortunately, this work is available only in Russian through the central scientific, medical library in Moscow.
Antialergic
Ghosal in 1888 and Bhattacharya in 1989 Demonstrated significant anti-allergic activity of Shilajit stabilizing mast cells and decreasing degranulation. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)
Antiinflamatory.
Mineral Pitch (a.k.a. Moomiyo, Mumie, Shilajit, Shilajit) is a traditional anti-inflammatory agent. Greek physicians of antiquity used this medicine for various problems including arthritis and inflammation. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)
The Momie resin is an excellent tool against inflammation. Indeed traditionally it was used in folk medicine to treat people with inflammatory issues. Multiple modern scientific studies demonstrated its efficacy. As an auxiliary, it was conventionally used to support patients with paradentosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and cervical spondylosis. Soviet doctors have routinely used it to clean wounds from necrotic tissues, granulation, epithelization, and decrease the period of wound healing. In the lab, Shilajit have demonstrated to be a powerful tool to suppress artificially induced inflammation. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)
“Complement-fixing Activity of Fulvic Acid from Shilajit and Other Natural Sources was published in by an international group of scientists from the Montana State University demonstrated that Shilajit is a highly potent complement fixing agent. Even though the study was performed in vitro it in a way revealed why Shilajit was traditionally used in folk medicine for the treatment of a variety of disorders, including syndromes involving excessive complement activation. The study established that multiple fractions of Shilajit are products of broken down polysaccharides and suggested that such from different plans enhance wound healing and have potential to treat inflammatory disease. (Igor A. Schepetkin 2009)
Energy Production.
Moomiyo activates mitochondrial respiration but suppresses activity of succinate – oxidase and NADH-oxidase in Mitochondrion. It induces adults related increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities as well. This means that while increasing production of energy through a cellular respiration the substance simultaneously protects from damage that usually goes along with increased production of energy. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

Bones, skin, muscle, organs and other tissue regeneration.

In the article “Medical Drugs From Humus Matter: Focus on Moomie” researchers I. Schepetkin, A. Khlebnikov and Byoung Se Kwon discuss medicinal properties of Moomiyo (also known as Mumie, Shilajit, Salajeet, etc.). According to the article the substance was traditionally used in Asian herbal medicine both inwardly and outwardly against injuries, bone fractures, dislocations, diseases of skin, diseases of peripheral nervous system and also as a soothing and anti-inflammatory agent. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)
In the same article, it is noted that the resin will regenerate damaged bones approximately 2 times faster than they normally would. This effect was used by Soviet surgeons consistently for many years. (Igor Schepetkin 2002)

58. Water chestnut - healthy food supplement

 
 



              



























Trikona phalam (in Sanskrit)/ calcitrappa/ buffalo nutbat nut/ Singhara (सिंघाडा)
  
      It is any of three extant species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans, T. bicornis and the endangered Trapa rossica.
The species are floating annual aquatic plants, growing in slow-moving water up to 5 meters deep, native to warm temperate parts of Eurasia andAfrica. They bear ornately shaped fruits, each fruit containing a single very large starchy seed. T. natans and T. bicornis have been cultivated in Chinaand India for at least 3,000 years for the edible seeds.

Water chestnut has been an important food for worship as prayer offerings since the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The Rites of Zhou (2nd century BC) mentioned that a worshipper "should use a bamboo basket containing dried water caltrops, the seeds of Euryale ferox and chestnutsThe Chinese Herbal Medicine Summary (published in 1694, written by Wang Ang) indicates that water caltrop can help fever and drunkenness.

The name "water chestnut" comes from the fact that it resembles a chestnut in shape and coloring. Indigenous to Southeast Asia, it has been cultivated in China since ancient times. Water chestnuts are often used in Chinese cooking.  The knobby vegetable with the papery brown skin is a staple in Chinese cooking. The water chestnut is actually not a nut at all, but an aquatic vegetable that grows in marshes. This is why the ones that you purchase in the store may have a muddy coating.

Singara (pani ka phal) is widely cultivated in fresh water lakes. The fruits are eaten raw or boiled. When the fruit has been dried, it is ground to a flour called singhare ki ata. Singhare ki atta is used in many religious rituals and can be consumed as a phalahar diet on the Hindu fasting days, the Navratasas the fruit is rich in carbohydrates.
The halwa from Singade ki ata is eaten in very moderate quantities for the strengthening of the uterus during pregnancy. The flour is used in making rotis and this cures the excessive discharge in women. The flour is boiled in water and this decoction is taken to reduce symptoms of burning during urination and it also tackles other urinary disorders.

Increadible Health benefits of this fruit:
Besides their crunchy texture and sweet mild flavour, water chestnuts possess remarkable nutritional composition, making them an excellent food source. Their medicinal properties have rendered them usable in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicines. Their numerous health benefits are as follows:
Water chestnuts belong to the nonstarchy, low-calorie vegetable group that can keep you full longer while supplying your meals with vitamins and minerals. Water chestnuts also contain no cholesterol and are low in sodium and fat. Try adding them to salads, soups, wraps or even pizza toppings and take advantage of the health benefits of water chestnuts:
·       You can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke by maintaining your blood cholesterol level, and adding water chestnuts to your meals can help you do this. Water chestnuts' zero fat content may help you prevent weight gain when adding them to your diet. Water chestnuts have only 60 calories in one-half cup, so you don’t have to worry about eating a little more of this nutritious vegetable.
·    Just one-half cup water chestnuts provides 10 percent of the daily value of vitamins B6, B7. Vitamin B6 supports healthy brain and immune system function, while thiamin and riboflavin help your body convert food into energy.
·        Water chestnuts contain 10 percent of the DV of potassium, copper, manganese and iodine in a half-cup serving. Each of these minerals plays a role in your overall health. Your heartbeat maintains a steady rhythm with the help of potassium, while copper aids in red blood cell production. Manganese helps build bones and also aids in metabolizing carbohydrates and cholesterol.
·       Water chestnut acts as an excellent coolant for the body. It promotes salivation and quenches thirst, being cool and light sweet.
·     Due to their detoxifying properties, water chestnuts are beneficial for people suffering from jaundice. Jaundice patients can eat it in raw form or in juice form. It acts as an excellent tonic for removing toxins from the body.
·        Since water chestnut contains useful minerals like iodine and manganese, it helps in maintaining proper functioning of the thyroid gland.
·       Being rich in polyphenolic and flavonoid antioxidants, water chestnuts possess anti-bacterial, antiviral, anticancer and antioxidant properties. They help in strengthening the stomach and the spleen and remove symptoms of weak spleen such as bad taste, insomnia, feeling sick, fatigue and cancer.
·        Water chestnut is effective in treating different urine infections.
·       The usage of water chestnut either in raw form or in juice form helps to alleviate the problem of bad appetite in children as well as in adults.
·       The juice of water chestnut is used to control diarrhea and dysentery and the fruits are used in treating sore throat, anemia, fractures, bronchitis and in leprosy.
·        Water chestnuts are effective in treating conditions like measles.Water chestnuts boiled in water makes an excellent solution for measles patients. Having this drink on a regular basis for at least 6-9 days of the cycle provides great results.

For womens Health & Beauty:
Usual consumption of water chestnuts helps in treating hypertension during pregnancy and improves fetal growth. Porridge made from the flour of water chestnut is given to a pregnant woman after delivery to check hemorrhage. The dried seeds stop bleeding and treat miscarriage issues in women. It also promotes mammary gland secretion of milk. The juice extracted from water chestnuts eliminates the humor of bile and phlegm and cures plethora. It also increases virility.
As stated earlier, water chestnuts purify the blood by removing toxins from the body. This results in the appearance of glowing and youthful skin.
Water chestnuts are beneficial for the hair in general as they contain certain essential nutrients such as potassium, zinc, B vitamins and vitamin E. Moreover, they remove toxins from the body that can damage your hair as well. Thus, their nutritional value has a lot to contribute to healthy hair.
The flour of the Indian water chestnut (singara) is beneficial even for men's health.
5 gm of the flour is mixed with a glass of lukewarm milk. The milk can be sweetened. Drinking this mixture is improves men's health.

Which one to choose:
When choosing fresh water chestnuts, look for firm ones with an unwrinkled skin and no soft spots - otherwise when you peel the water chestnut you may find it has softened and turned mushy brown. Generally, it's best to buy a few more chestnuts than needed, just in case a few have spoiled.  Also avoid any chestnuts that look moldy as this taste will permeate the chestnut flesh.

Unpeeled, fresh water chestnuts will keep for up to two weeks in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. It is possible to buy them and cook in boiling water right away.
Prior to cooking, you'll need to cut off the top and peel the skin. If you want to peel them ahead of time, that's fine, but be sure to store them in cold water in the refrigerator, with the water changed daily. I much prefer to use only fresh water chestnuts.

Caution: People suffering from constipation should avoid Singada. It is advisable to avoid drinking water for at least half an hour after eating singada.

Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts or Kaju

About Cashew Nuts or Kaju
Cashew nuts or kaju are kidney shaped nuts, famous as nature’s vitamin pill, having amazing and wonderful nutritional health benefits. It is generally used dry fruit in the Indian cuisine such as variety of dessert preparations to add nutrition and taste. Solid, soft, sweet and delicious cashew nuts are packed with energy, protein, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins including other healthy materials required for body building.
It belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and Anacardium genus, found in the tropical regions of the earth. It was spread by the Portuguese travelers all across the world from the Brazil’s Amazon rain forest. Now, it is commercially cultivated in various countries like Brazil, India, Vietnam, African countries and etc.
It grows on the tree adhering at the base to the accessory fruit called cashew apples of bell shape. It has doubled shell of allergenic phenolic resin (anacardic acid) and potent skin irritant allergenic oil urushiol (phenolic urushiol resin) having irritant toxin (used to make varnishes and insecticides). Later the outer skin gets destroyed and edible cashew nuts are extracted.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CASHEW NUTS OR KAJU

Cashew nuts or kaju are full of amazing health benefits if taken within limit on daily basis. Health conscious people must try it by adding it to their daily diet plan to have its wonderful nutritious health benefits. It is beneficial for all the age groups people of both genders. It has essential amino acids, proteins and unsaturated fats which nourishes the unique body systems very well. It has all the nutritious elements (anti-oxidants, vitamins, proteins, electrolytes, minerals and etc) required for better body growth and development specially for growing age children. Enjoy reading some of the health benefits of cashew nuts which are mentioned below:
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Cancer Prevention
Fights with Tumor
  • It has a most important substance called Proanthocyanidin (flavonols) which has ability to fight against tumor cells by stopping their growth and division.
Prevents from Cancer
  • Proanthocyanidins are compound having high copper content which helps in fighting with the cancerous cells. It prevents from the various cancers like cancer of colon, prostate and etc.
Rich Source of Antioxidants
  • It reduces the occurrence of cancer to a great level as it has antioxidants like selenium and vitamin E which obstructs the free radical oxidation in the body and boosts the immunity.
Fights with Infection
  • It has high level of other mineral called zinc which helps to fight from various infections.
Suppress Tumor Cells Growth
  • Vitamin K found in it has ability to suppress the tumor cells growth. It also helps in the prevention of cirrhosis and liver cancer as well as best treatment of the cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Heart
Keeps Heart Healthy
  • It contains low fat content and no cholesterol which helps the heart to function well. It also has powerful antioxidants which keeps the heart away from various heart diseases.
Keeps Blood Pressure under Control
  • Its magnesium content helps to maintain the blood pressure and lowers down the high blood pressure. Its tendency of lowering the blood pressure helps in preventing the heart attacks.
  • It has lower level of sodium and higher level of potassium which keeps the blood pressure under control.
Balances Cholesterol Level
  • Kaju has heart friendly monounsaturated essential fatty acids called oleic acid and palmitoleic acid which reduces the bad cholesterol level as well as increases the good cholesterol and triglycerides level in the body which makes the heart healthy, thus prevents from coronary artery disease and strokes by maintaining the blood lipid profile balanced.
Maintains Healthy Blood Flow in Arteries
  • Cashew nuts prevent from the atherosclerosis and reduces the plague formation in the arteries.
Prevents from Cardiac Arrhythmia
  • It is also the good source of the omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids which acts as powerful antioxidants and prevents the blood vessels from free radicals and cardiac arrhythmia.
Reduces Risk of Heart Diseases
  • The essential fatty acid like oleic acid inhibits the cholesterol transport to the bloodstream thus reduces low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and elevates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in the blood and lowers the risks of heart diseases.

Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Hair

Improves Hair Growth
  • It has an important mineral called Copper which helps hair to maintain their brightness, strong and black color.
Provides Natural Color to Hair
  • Copper found in it acts as an essential component for many enzymes. Tyrosinase is a enzyme having copper helps in converting tyrosine to the melanin (a pigment providing color to the hair and skin).

Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Bones

Provides Required Nutrients for Bone Growth
  • It has lots of minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and etc required for the healthy growth and development of the bones among kids, women and men.
Enhances Calcium Absorption
  • Good magnesium level in the body also enhances the calcium absorption level by the bones.
Improves Bone Density
  • Its high level proteins and good magnesium and calcium level helps in making the strong bone structure.
Maintains Bone Flexibility
  • High copper level helps in maintaining the flexibility of the bones and joints. It enhances the functioning of an enzyme which combines the collagen and elastin, thus provides flexibility to the bones and joints.
Prevents from Bone Deformity
  • Vitamin K found in Cashew nut helps in maintaining the healthy bones by calcifying the bones, thus prevents from osteoporosis and skeletal deformation.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Nerves
Makes Nervous System Healthy
  • It’s one of the minerals called Magnesium play a very important role in maintaining the healthy nerves.
Relaxes Blood Vessels, Nerves and Muscles
  • Magnesium gets stored on the bones surfaces and prevents calcium to enter the nerve cells, thus enhances the relaxation of the blood vessels, nerves and muscles. Low or insufficient magnesium level in the body let the calcium passes into the blood vessels and made them contract which leads to the high blood pressure, migraine, headache and lots of problems.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts in Weight Loss
Contains Healthy Protein and no Cholesterol
Even after being loaded with the fats and proteins, it is considered that cashew nut helps in managing the weight as it contains no cholesterol, good fat and healthy protein. So, the weight conscious people can start eating cashews, at least for two days a week to be prevented from extra weight gain.
Contains Dietary Fibers
  • Kaju has high energy density and high level of the dietary fibers, both of which aids to the weight management when eaten in limit.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Gums and Teeth
Improves Health of Teeth and Gums
  • Its magnesium content helps a lot in maintaining the healthy and strong gums and teeth if taken on regular basis.
Prevents Tooth Decay
  • It prevents from the tooth decay and abscessed teeth.

Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Brain

Promotes Healthy Brain Functioning
  • Its high level of copper content involves in very important body functions like enzyme activation, hormone production and maintenance of brain functions.
Improves Brain Power
  • It enhances the brain power as it boosts the immunity system, prevents from infections and enhances blood supply to the brain by increasing the production of more red blood cells.
Improves Oxygenated Blood Flow to Brain
  • It enhances the oxygen supply to the brain and enhances the memory power.
Enhances Brain Cells Production
  • It has polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats which enhance the production of brain cells.
Maintains Healthy Nerve Impulses Conduction
  • Magnesium conducts nerve impulses to the brain from muscles thus prevents from painful cramps, muscle spasm and lesions.
Prevents from Mental Disorders
  • Copper found in Cashew nut involves in production and secretion of both melanin and dopamine which prevents from depression, severe sun burn, chronic fatigue syndromes, neurological disorders and etc.

Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Skin

Prevents from Dermatitis
  • One of the B group vitamins found in it called Niacin prevents from the skin disease known as pellagra or dermatitis.
Improves Utilization of Iron
  • As it enhances the utilization of the iron in the body, elimination of free radicals, maintenance of connective tissue, production of skin and hair pigment called melanin, it makes the skin healthy and wrinkles free.
Rejuvenates Skin
  • Its copper content keeps the skin rejuvenate, glowing and healthy by fighting with the free radicals and removing pigments.
Prevents from Skin Cancer
  • It prevents from the basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Eyes
Prevents from Old Age Eye Disorders
  • It has a pigment flavonoid antioxidant called zea-xanthin which gets absorbed to the eyes (retinal macula lutea) and protects from the UV rays, thus prevents from the age-related macular degeneration during old age.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts in Diabetes
Restricts Glucose Absorption
  • It helps in combating with the diabetes as the extract of cashew seeds restricts the glucose absorption in the body.
Protects from Diabetic Complications
  • Cashew nuts have monounsaturated fats which reduces the triglyceride levels among diabetics thus protect from further complications.
Reduces Risk of Type-2 Diabetes
  • It lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes among people.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts during Pregnancy
Healthy and Energetic
  • It is an excellent dry fruit for the pregnant women, if she is not allergic to it. It acts as an instant energy booster, make them feel fuller for long and best snacks in between the meals.
Lessens Tissue Damage
  • It is the great source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant which slows down the ageing process as well as lessens tissue damage during pregnancy.
Reduces Fear of Stretch Marks
  • It helps in rejuvenating the skin and prevents the occurrence of stretch marks during pregnancy.
Manages Hypertension
  • Cashew nut contains monounsaturated fats which help in preventing and managing hypertension among pregnant women.
Fights all Health Challenges
  • It helps to fight with various health challenges during pregnancy.
Maintains Weight
  • It helps the obese pregnant women in reducing the bad fats by increasing the good fats level in the body.
Reduces Risk of Heart Problems
  • Its high magnesium level prevents pregnant women from the heart diseases.
Prevents from Anemia
  • It helps in managing the iron level of the body during pregnancy, thus prevents the occurrence of anemia.
Keeps Hair and Skin Healthy
  • Kaju improves the hair and skin quality among pregnant women.

Benefits of Cashew Nuts Milk

Full of Energy and Healthy Nutrients
  • It acts as better substitute for the vegans who do not like buffalo or cow milk. It can be prepared at home by blending at least 20 cashew nuts in the water. It has all the benefits of the cashew nuts mentioned above.

Benefits of Cashew Nuts Oil

Beneficial for Overall Health
  • Cashew nuts oil is a dark yellow color liquid used for the cooking or salad making purposes.
  • It is also beneficial for the health for the normal growth and functioning of the body parts.
  • Oil is also produced from the cashews nutshell called cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL or cashew shell oil) which is a natural resin and byproduct of the processed cashew nuts.
Used as Basic Component
  • It is used in making drugs, antioxidants, insecticides like fungicides, medicine for anti-termite treatment of timber and etc.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Women after Menopause
Prepares Body to Fight Menopausal Symptoms
  • Cashew nuts are considered as the sleep inducer and stress reliever. It helps women after their menopause stage by enhancing the relaxed and pleasant sleep during night time thus releases stress level among women in old age.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Men
Reduces Risk of Prostate Cancer
  • Its Vitamin K availability reduces the occurrence of prostate cancer among men.
Removes Weakness and Fatigue
  • It boosts the power of men by providing instant energy thus helps in fighting with weakness and fatigue.
Benefits of Cashew Nuts for Kids
Promotes Overall Healthy Growth and Development
  • It is one of the most beneficial dry fruits for children of growing age. It enhances the growth and development of the bones, teeth, brain, hair, skin and etc body part as they need more calcium, vitamins, minerals, proteins and calorie than other age group people.
Other Benefits of the Cashew Nuts
Prevents Stone Formation
  • Its unavailability of cholesterol helps in preventing the gallstones formation (gall bladder stone) in the body when taken on daily basis (as cholesterol enhances gallstones formation).
Prevents from Various Diseases
  • Its anti-oxidants property helps the body to get prevented from various diseases.
Source of Important Minerals
  • It has variety of important minerals like selenium, magnesium and copper which acts as co-factors for various body enzymes.
  • Cashew nut helps in better body growth and development, nucleic acid synthesis and digestion.
Rich Source of B-Group Vitamins
  • It is one of the vitamins rich dry fruits containing B group vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and pantothenic acid), vit E, vit K, vit C, folates and etc which prevents from the sideroblastic anemia, pellagra and etc.
Free Radicals Fighter
  • It is the best free radicals fighter as it enhances the body functioning to utilize more iron in order to eliminate the problems causing free radicals from the body.
Protects from UV Rays
  • It has ability to prevent the body from the UV rays of the sun as well as protects from the age related macular degeneration.
Enhance Body Immunity
  • It has health promoting phyto chemicals which enhance body immunity and protects from various life threatening diseases.
Prevents from Deficiency Diseases
  • It is loaded with the essential minerals called manganese, magnesium, copper, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium and etc which help in preventing from various deficiency diseases.
Activates Vital Enzymes
  • Selenium and copper are the cofactors for many vital enzymes like Glutathione peroxidases, cytochrome c-oxidase, superoxide dismutase and etc.
  • Zinc is also a cofactor for many enzymes which regulates the growth and development, digestion, nucleic acid synthesis, sperm generation and etc.
Rich Source of Pyridoxine
  • One of the B group vitamins found in it called Pyridoxine prevents from the homocystinuria and sideroblastic anemia.
Rich Source of Niacin
  • Niacin is also from B group vitamins which involves in major body functioning like protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
Provides Required Magnesium to Body
  • Low magnesium level in the body causes high blood pressure, muscle tension, migraine, headaches, soreness, fatigue and etc thus eating cashews prevents from the migraine attacks, high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Rich Source of Zinc
  • Zinc found in it acts as powerful antibacterial and antifungal agent thus prevent from microbial colonization, food poisoning and gastroenteritis.
Kills Gram Positive Bacteria
  • Regular intake of kaju helps in killing all the gram positive bacteria from body thus prevent from tuberculosis and leprosy.
Relieves Constipation
  • Its high fibre content helps in relieving the constipation when taken on regular basis.
Nutritional Benefits of Cashew Nuts/Kaju per 100 g
(Source: USDA Nutrient Database)
Energy: 553 Kcal
Carbohydrate: 30.19 g
Sugar: 5.91 g
Protein: 18.22 g
Fat: 43.85 g
Saturated: 12.9 g
Unsaturated (Oleic): 36.8 g
Unsaturated (Linoleic): 10.2 g
Dietary Fibers: 3.3 g
Vitamins
Folates: 25 µg
Niacin: 1.062 mg
Pantothenic acid: 0.864 mg
Pyridoxine: 0.417 mg
Riboflavin: 0.058 mg
Thiamin: 0.423 mg
Vitamin C: 0.5 mg
Vitamin E: 5.31 mg
Vitamin K: 4.1 µg
Electrolytes
Sodium: 12 mg
Potassium: 660 mg
Minerals
Calcium: 37 mg
Copper: 2.195 mg
Iron: 6.68 mg
Magnesium: 292 mg
Manganese: 1.655 mg
Phosphorus: 593 mg
Selenium: 19.9 µg
Zinc: 5.78 mg
Phyto-nutrients
Lutein-zeaxanthin: 22 µg
How to Select and Store
Always buy fresh kaju from the market and be sure that it have not been polished as it may lead to some serious health disorders because of chemicals used in polishing. Avoid buying kaju smelling bad or rancid smell or tastes little bit sour. Cashew nuts are easily available in the market everywhere. Take care if you are selecting shelled cashew kernels as they contain phenolic resin called urushiol, a skin irritating toxin. Always buy cashew without shell and without salt. Although, it is available in the market in its all forms like raw, sweetened, salted, ground and etc. Always buy cashes with bright cream-white color, solid, compact, even skinned, same size and heavy. Avoid broken or cracked, mold or spotted and rancid smell cashews.
Store it in a cool, dry and safe place away from the sunlight however it is best to use fresh and finish within one or two months of time period as it gets rancid smell and sour taste. It should be stored in the airtight container in cool and dry place or in the refrigerator to keep it away from rancid smell. Fresh cashews can be stored for 5 to 6 months.
How to Enjoy
It can be enjoyed in many ways such as raw, roasted, chopped, snacks, spiced kaju, added in laddoos, kaju barfi, mava, gujhiya, suji halawa, gajar halawa, kaju milk, kheer and so many. It can also be enjoyed as a salted, sweetened, in sweets or desserts, along with other nuts like almonds, pistachio, walnuts and other dry fruits, rice pulav, hyderbadi-biriyani, kaaju shahi paneer, namkeen, biscuit, cakes, laddoo, soups, curries and so many dishes.
Disadvantages, Side Effects and Precautions of Cashew Nuts
Cashew nuts have not any ill-effects on the person health however some of the precautions should be taken care of while eating first time. It may cause allergy in some people, weight gain in some people if eaten over limit and etc. Some of the disadvantages, side effects and precautions are mentioned below which are must to have in mind before starting it on daily basis:
  • As cashews are high in calories so avoid eating many at a time, it may lead to overweight.
  • It may cause allergic reactions to some people and causes diarrhea, skin rashes, itching or eczema, dehydration, vomiting, swelling on face and throat (anaphylaxis), difficulty in breathing, wheezing or asthma and etc. Avoid eating cashews or meet your health practitioner when feel any of the above symptoms.
  • Avoid eating salted cashew nuts as it may increase the blood pressure because of high sodium content. It should be avoided especially by the person suffering from the heart disease or diabetes.
  • It may cause headache, migraines and other side effects. People sensitive to the amino acids found in it called tyramine and phenyethyamine may develop headache however, these amino acids maintain normal blood pressure and enhances the feeling of well-being.
  • It may cause hypersensitivity especially in children which leads to the skin itching, breathing difficulty, stomach ache, vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Its shell contains a compound called anacardic acid (urushiol) which is toxic and cause severe health problems.
  • Salted cashew nuts should be avoided by the pregnant women as it increases the blood pressure because of high sodium level.
  • Eating too much of cashews should be avoided as its oxalates content may cause health problems like kidney or gallbladder stone formation. Person suffering from the gallstones should take care of it.
How Much Cashews to Eat Per Day
Eating how much cashews a day is depend on the age, sex and health conditions of the person. It is the dry fruit having lots of health benefits however over limit of it may lead to the severe problems. One can get its all the nutritional benefits by eating it within limit. Always remember that control on anything is the best key for the good health. It can be eaten 5-10 in numbers a day as snacks in between the meal. Excess consumption of it may add some extra weight to your body.