NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Cashew

Anacardium occidentale

Heart-friendly tree nut: modest LDL drop, blood-pressure benefit

Moderate evidence 🥜Nuts🫀Heart & Metabolic⏳Longevity

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Moderate
Research weight
Citations
10 verified / 10
Classification
Nuts
❝
What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.

Nutrition per serving 1 oz (28 g, ~18 cashews)

28gSERVING
  • Sugars 1.7 g6%
  • Fibre 0.9 g3%
  • Other carbs 5.9 g21%
  • Protein 5.1 g18%
  • Fat 12.3 g44%
  • Other 2.1 g8%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).
Fiber3%Protein10%Vitamin E2%Magnesium19%Copper69%Manganese20%Zinc15%Selenium10%
One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
155 kcal5.1 g protein0.9 g fiber12 g fat
NutrientPer serving% daily value
Fiber0.9 g3%
Protein5.1 g10%
Vitamin E0.25 mg2%
Magnesium82 mg19%
Copper0.62 mg69%
Manganese0.46 mg20%
Zinc1.6 mg15%
Selenium5.6 µg10%
Phosphorus166 mg13%
Potassium185 mg4%
Iron1.9 mg10%
Calcium10 mg1%
Folate7 µg2%

Composition data: USDA FoodData Central ↗

What is Cashew?

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)
Active Compounds
Monounsaturated fat (oleic acid)Polyunsaturated fat (linoleic acid)Plant proteinDietary fiberMagnesiumCopperPhosphorusPhytosterolsPolyphenols

Safety & Cautions

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.

Key Studies ★ 10 studies

Meta-analysis Nishi 2023 (Nutrients) ✓ PubMed
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 105 RCTs found nut intake does not lead to weight gain, with no significant effect on body weight, BMI or waist circumference regardless of dietary substitution instructions, despite nuts' high calorie density.
Meta-analysis Morvaridzadeh 2020 meta-analysis ✓ PubMed
Pooled RCTs (392 participants) found cashew intake had no significant effect on the lipid profile but may reduce systolic blood pressure.
Meta-analysis Morvaridzadeh 2021 (Complement Ther Med) ✓ PubMed
Meta-analysis of RCTs on cashew consumption found no significant pooled effect on body weight, BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, insulin or HbA1c, indicating cashews are weight- and glycemia-neutral despite their energy density.
Meta-analysis Aune 2016 (BMC Medicine) ✓ Full text
Dose-response meta-analysis of 20 prospective studies found each 28 g/d increase in total nut intake (including cashews) was associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease (RR 0.71), cardiovascular disease (RR 0.79), total cancer (RR 0.85) and all-cause mortality (RR 0.78).
RCT Cardoso 2024 (Brazilian Nuts Study, Front Nutr) ✓ Full text
Randomized three-arm trial in adults on weight-loss treatment found cashew nut and cashew nut oil reduced cardiovascular risk factors (improved atherogenic indices and inflammatory markers) compared with a nut-free energy-restricted diet.
RCT Baer 2022 (Am J Clin Nutr) ✓ PubMed
Randomized crossover controlled-feeding trial found daily cashew consumption did not significantly influence blood lipids, blood pressure, glucose, insulin or other cardiovascular markers versus a no-nut control diet.
RCT Mah 2017 (Mah/Penn State controlled-feeding trial) ✓ PubMed
In a randomized crossover controlled-feeding trial, a cashew-enriched diet significantly lowered LDL cholesterol (~4.8-5.9%), total cholesterol (~3.9%), and non-HDL cholesterol vs control, without affecting HDL or triglycerides.
RCT Mohan 2018 (Asian Indian T2DM RCT) ✓ PubMed
In 300 adults with type 2 diabetes, adding 30 g/day cashews for 12 weeks reduced systolic blood pressure and raised HDL cholesterol, with no adverse effect on body weight, glycemia, or other lipids.
RCT Mah 2017 (Am J Clin Nutr) ✓ PubMed
In a controlled-feeding RCT, isocaloric cashew intake (~28-64 g/d for 28 d) did not change LDL cholesterol versus a control diet, but lowered total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio and non-HDL cholesterol in adults with elevated LDL.
Cohort Bao 2013 (NEJM pooled cohorts) ✓ PubMed
In two large US cohorts (~119,000 people), higher total nut consumption was inversely associated with total and cause-specific (including cardiovascular) mortality; observational, not cashew-specific.
10 sources cited · 10 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Cashew

What is Cashew used for?

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 10 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 26 Jun 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 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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