#31: The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth

By popular demand we're back again with 150 of the healthiest foods on earth. For those who are new I have attached at the bottom all previous posts. I will be posting a new food every day as time allows. All information is from the book by jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth".

Day #31: Cashews

I love cashews. Who doesn't? They got a bad rap for a short time during the low-carb mania because their carb content is higher than any other nut, but for all but the most inveterate carb-gram counters this shouldn't be a deterrent from enjoying this delicious food.

* Frequent nut eaters have fewer heart attacks.

* Some of the largest and most important long-term studies, such as the Nurses' Health Study, the Iowa Women's Health Study, and the Adventist Study, have shown a consistent 30 to 50 percent lower risk of heart attacks or heart disease associated with eating nuts several times a week.

* About half the fat in cashews is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, the key fat found int he Mediterranean diet, which has been shown in virtually every research study to be associeated with lower levels of ehart disease and cancer, not to mention longer life-spans.

* Campared with carbohydrates, for example, monounsaturated fat lowers LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff) and raises the protective HDL cholesterol.

*in the famous Lyon Diet Heart Study, people following the Mediterranean diet, with its high level of monounsaturated fat (the same kind in cashews) experienced 70 percent less heart disease risk than is achieved by taking statin drugs. Monounsaturated fat is really good for you!

*Cashews are slightly lower in calorie than other nuts. They're also higher in carbs.

* Like other nuts they are mineral rich (magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium) and full or protein. They also have about 1 gram of fiber per ounce.

WORTH KNOWING:

When adding cashews to hot foods, you should add them late int he game when you're almost ready to serve, they soften quickly when cooked.

For previous posts:
Vegetables:
ARTICHOKES: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57017--1-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ARUGULA: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58426--14-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ASPARAGUS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60854--27-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Grains:
OATMEAL: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57180--2-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
QUINOA: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58555--15-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Beans and Legumes:
BEANS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57278--3-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
GARBANZO BEANS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58671--16-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
GREEN PEAS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61075--28-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Fruits:
APPLES: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57482--4-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
APRICOTS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58800--17-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
AVACADOS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61180--29-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BANANAS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/74093-back-again-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth-30

Nuts, Seeds, and Nut butters
ALMONDS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57516--5-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BRAZIL NUTS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58921--18-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Soy Foods:
EDAMAME: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57602--6-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
FERMENTED SOY: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/59006--19-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Dairy:
BUTTER/GHEE http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57689--7-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
CHEESE: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/59395--20-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Meat, Poultry, and Eggs
EGGS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57791--8-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
POULTRY: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/59548--21-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Fish and Seafood
CRUSTACEA: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57940--9-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
MACKEREL: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60071--22-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth?page=1#posts-719366

Specialty Foods
BEE POLLEN: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58069--10-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
CHOCOLATE: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60143--23-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Beverages:
ACAI JUICE: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58196--11-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
COFFEE: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60823--26-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
CRANBERRY JUICE: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60470--24-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Herbs, Spices, and Condiments
CARDAMOM: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58290--12-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
CINNAMON: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60564--25-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

Oils
ALMOND OIL: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58381--13-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth