So here I am, sat here nibbling on my nuts (no laughing at the back). I notice they are 48.2% fat – plain and unsalted/roasted. But as I understand it, it is good fat in them. Could somebody either kindly explain why cashews are good for you despite the fat or tell me to throw them away and go do a bulimia in the bog….

And in the interest of balance, I am halfway through a big bag of fruit pastilles too – but those go towards your 5-a-day. Don't they?

There's nothing wrong with fat. It is an essential nutrient.

There's nothing wrong with fat. It is an essential nutrient.

Agreed – but eating crisps ain't healthy so why is it okay to eat cashews? I assume it is because it isn't saturated fat???

Iz oil innit. High in polyunsaturated oils, low colesterol, loads of nutrients too.

As opposed to hard animal fat, which is mostly saturated ming.

Cashews arent usually fried though are they?
Feeling better now i've scoffed a full packet of Tescos Value cashews this afternoon!

Feeling better now i've scoffed a full packet of Tescos Value cashews this afternoon!

Not far behind you 🙂

There's nothing wrong with eating crisps either.

Fat, be it 'good' or 'bad' will still contribute the same calories to your intake – unsaturated or mono-saturated fat has a health value in that it will not be used to produce Low Density Lipoprotein aka 'bad cholesterol', nuts are also high in iron, zinc, magnesium, vits B1 and E plus have a decent amount of fibre and protein.

All in all, better to eat a 1/4 pound of cashews than 1/4 pound burger – mebbe not total calorie wise but certainly nutrient wise…….

So why can't they just crush up cashews and use the resulting fat to make crisps and chips then?

There's nothing wrong with eating crisps either.

Well no there isn't – in moderation. Just like anything else.

But pound for pound, plain cashews are better for you than crisps. Yes?

There's nothing wrong with eating crisps either.

…apart from the high GI carbs, high salt, multiple flavourings and trans-fats they're totally healthy 😉

So why can't they just crush up cashews and use the resulting fat to make crisps and chips then

cost – the fats (and most other ingredients) in 'snack foods' are by-products of the food insustry, why waste a premium product like cashew nuts just to use it as an ingredient for low price snacks…..

But pound for pound, plain cashews are better for you than crisps. Yes?

Yes

IIRC you would be a lot better off eating almonds and brazil nuts – also not quite as more-ish as cashews.

So why can't they just crush up cashews and use the resulting fat to make crisps and chips then?

A small bag of cashews is £3-4 ish. Can you imagine the cost of cooking crisps in the oil from them? 🙂

Kashew nuts are also a good source of protein.

Illy cashews are nicer than Tesco cashews though 😆

i love love love mixed, raw, unsalted nuts, esp hazelnuts, with a few raisins chucked in. I chomp through 500g a week instead of sweet snacks.

Nice in a stir fry too.