Cashew

🌰 What Are Cashews?
Cashews are creamy, kidney-shaped nuts commonly used in snacks, cooking, baking, and dairy-free alternatives such as cashew milk, cashew cheese, and cashew-based sauces. They provide healthy fats, magnesium, zinc, and plant-based protein.

🤔 Why Might a Sensitivity to Cashews Occur?
Some individuals may notice responses to cashews due to their natural components:

Proteins

• Ana o 1, Ana o 2, Ana o 3: Storage proteins in cashews that may be harder for sensitive systems to break down.

• Profilins: These proteins may cross-react with pollen, leading to discomfort in individuals sensitive to pollen-related compounds.

Fats

• Cashews contain monounsaturated fats, which may feel heavy or be more difficult to digest for certain individuals.

Phenolic Compounds

• Natural compounds like tannins may irritate sensitive digestive systems.

Histamines

• Cashews may act as histamine liberators, which may contribute to symptoms in histamine-responsive individuals.

🛠️ What Might Help?

• Avoid cashews and cashew-based products for 8 weeks.

• After 8 weeks, reintroduce gradually to observe changes.

• Use substitutes such as sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or coconut-based products if tolerated.

💊 Supportive General Supplements
These may support overall digestion and wellness:

• Digestive enzymes: May help break down cashew-specific proteins.

• Probiotics: May support gut flora balance and digestion.

• Curcumin: May support a healthy inflammatory response.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: May promote gut health and balanced inflammation.

• DAO (Diamine Oxidase): May support histamine metabolism for those who respond to histamine-liberating foods.

🌟 Why Might I Respond to Cashews but Not Other Nuts?

Protein Differences

Cashews contain unique proteins (Ana o 1, Ana o 3) not found in nuts like almonds or walnuts, which may influence how your system responds.

Fat Composition

Cashews are high in monounsaturated fats, which may digest differently than the fat profiles of nuts such as walnuts or macadamias.

Histamine Liberation

Cashews may act as histamine liberators, whereas other nuts may not provoke the same effect.

Phenolic Compounds

Cashews contain tannins and natural irritants that may not be present in smoother nuts like pistachios.

🍽️ Popular Dishes Containing Cashews

• Cashew butter

• Cashew cheese

• Stir-fries with cashews

• Cashew-based desserts

🍽️ Alternatives (if tolerated)

• Almonds

• Walnuts

• Sunflower seeds

• Coconut products