What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.
Nutrition per serving 1 oz (28 g, ~18 cashews)
Sugars1.7 g6%
Fibre0.9 g3%
Other carbs5.9 g21%
Protein5.1 g18%
Fat12.3 g44%
Other2.1 g8%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a nut or seed used for modestly lowers ldl and total cholesterol in controlled-feeding trials (~5% ldl reduction). NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. Cashews have moderate but somewhat mixed human evidence for heart health, and less data than walnuts or almonds. A tightly controlled crossover feeding trial (Mah 2017) found that replacing part of the diet with cashews lowered LDL cholesterol by about 5% and total cholesterol by ~4%. However, a 2020 meta-analysis of RCTs (Morvaridzadeh, 392 participants) found no significant effect on the overall lipid profile, though it suggested a reduction in systolic blood pressure. A 12-week RCT in 300 Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes (Mohan 2018) found cashews lowered systolic blood pressure and modestly raised HDL with no harm to weight or glycemia. Cashews are not a strong glucose-lowering nut (unlike pistachios) and contain no meaningful omega-3 ALA (unlike walnuts). Large prospective cohorts (Bao 2013, NEJM) and PREDIMED analyses link higher total-nut intake to lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, but these are observational and not cashew-specific. Net: a reasonable heart-healthy snack with modest, real effects.
Purported Benefits
✓Modestly lowers LDL and total cholesterol in controlled-feeding trials (~5% LDL reduction)
✓Lowers systolic blood pressure in several RCTs, including in people with type 2 diabetes
✓May raise HDL cholesterol modestly without raising triglycerides
✓Does not promote weight gain when eaten in place of less healthy snacks
✓Part of nut-rich dietary patterns linked to lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in cohorts
✓Provides magnesium, unsaturated fat, and plant protein supporting metabolic health
Dosing & Compounds
Typical Dose
About 1 oz (~28-30 g) per day, a small handful (roughly 16-18 kernels)
Cashews are a tree nut and can cause IgE-mediated allergy, including severe, potentially fatal anaphylaxis; people with tree-nut or peanut allergy should avoid them. They are calorie-dense (~155-160 kcal per oz), so portion control matters for weight management. Whole nuts are a choking hazard for young children. Raw, unprocessed cashews contain urushiol-related compounds (the same toxin family as poison ivy) and must be steamed/roasted before sale; only buy properly processed cashews. They are relatively high in oxalate, which may matter for people prone to calcium-oxalate kidney stones. Unlike Brazil nuts, cashews carry no selenium-toxicity risk. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Cashew with any medicine.
Cashew is most often taken for Modestly lowers LDL and total cholesterol in controlled-feeding trials (~5% LDL reduction), Lowers systolic blood pressure in several RCTs, including in people with type 2 diabetes, May raise HDL cholesterol modestly without raising triglycerides, Does not promote weight gain when eaten in place of less healthy snacks. Heart-friendly tree nut: modest LDL drop, blood-pressure benefit
Does Cashew work — what does the evidence say?
Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. Cashews have moderate but somewhat mixed human evidence for heart health, and less data than walnuts or almonds. A tightly controlled crossover feeding trial (Mah 2017) found that replacing part of the diet with cashews lowered LDL cholesterol by about 5% and total cholesterol by ~4%. However, a 2020 meta-analysis of RCTs (Morvaridzadeh, 392 participants) found no significant effect on the overall lipid profile, though it suggested a reduction in systolic blood pressure. A 12-week RCT in 300 Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes (Mohan 2018) found cashews lowered systolic blood pressure and modestly raised HDL with no harm to weight or glycemia. Cashews are not a strong glucose-lowering nut (unlike pistachios) and contain no meaningful omega-3 ALA (unlike walnuts). Large prospective cohorts (Bao 2013, NEJM) and PREDIMED analyses link higher total-nut intake to lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, but these are observational and not cashew-specific. Net: a reasonable heart-healthy snack with modest, real effects.
What is the typical dose of Cashew?
About 1 oz (~28-30 g) per day, a small handful (roughly 16-18 kernels)
Is Cashew safe? Any cautions or side effects?
Cashews are a tree nut and can cause IgE-mediated allergy, including severe, potentially fatal anaphylaxis; people with tree-nut or peanut allergy should avoid them. They are calorie-dense (~155-160 kcal per oz), so portion control matters for weight management. Whole nuts are a choking hazard for young children. Raw, unprocessed cashews contain urushiol-related compounds (the same toxin family as poison ivy) and must be steamed/roasted before sale; only buy properly processed cashews. They are relatively high in oxalate, which may matter for people prone to calcium-oxalate kidney stones. Unlike Brazil nuts, cashews carry no selenium-toxicity risk.
How many studies support Cashew?
NutriDex cites 12 sources for Cashew, graded "Moderate".
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Cashew (Anacardium occidentale): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 16 Sept 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/cashew
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_cashew,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Cashew (Anacardium occidentale): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/cashew},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-09-16}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.