If you are health conscious, you are well acquainted with the versatile properties of the cashew or maybe you just love the crunchy goodness of its seed, either way, you can’t go wrong with the cashew and it’s many health benefits. But today, let’s go through some facts about cashew.

Cashew shells are poisonous: Raw cashew nuts are surrounded by a double shell which contain urushiol, a resin that can produce rashes and is toxic to ingest. Cashews are related to pistachios, mangos and poison ivy. The poisonous part of the cashew is the same stuff that makes poison ivy “poison” and is also found in the mango plant.

It can be found in your car: The cashew resin is used in industrial products used as brake liners and paints.

Cashews, unlike oily tree nuts, contain starch to about 10% of their weight. This makes them more effective than nuts in thickening water-based dishes such as soups, meat stews, and some Indian milk-based desserts, explaining their use over true nuts in various cuisines.

Cashews contain gastric and intestinal soluble oxalates, though less than tree nuts; people with a tendency to form kidney stones may need moderation and medical guidance. -Greennews.