Are raw cashews really raw?

[MangoMan]

A friend of mine mentioned that cashews are toxic when raw, and so even the ones that are sold as "Raw" aren't... they've been steamed at a minimum.

:confused: What do you all know abou this? Are there manufacturers who really make RAW cashews?

Is she mistaken?

I LOVE cashews, and would hate to give them up!

[rawpriestess]

from ALL of my research raw cashews are NOT raw, however, there is also speculation that the process of lightly steaming them inside their little shells, counter-acts the toxins enough to remove the "nut" but only slightly warms the cashew.


I think it is one of those weird, semi-raw/raw things, I eat cashews, but not alot of them, maybe 1 to 2 cups a month or so.

I like them in cashew cream cheese, and cashew sour cream, and I suppose I could easily replace them in my diet, but I haven't yet.

So, that is how I feel about it.

since I am not picking them by hand, and shelling them (as it were) and removing the toxins myself, I can't be positive that they are raw or not, but I do eat them on occasion, and I like them.

I also have been known to eat a canned olive here and there, and I eat many dishes prepared by others, and you NEVER know what they've done to them, so I suppose I live my life on the edge. LOL

[Sharon in Colorado]

Really the only way to find out is to soak and try to sprout one. There are some web sites selling the "truly raw" cashews, but I've seen a post where someone was able to sprout a regular store bought one. I think it depends on how much it was exposed to heat. It may have been slightly heated or heated too much to kill the enzymes.

If you are including anything other than fresh food in your diet, you are probably going to be fine with a questionable nut here and there. It all depends on where you are.

[Brianna]

Nature's First Law (www.rawfood.com) sells truly raw cashews and they garuntee that every one of them will sprout. They do definitely taste different from the ones in the store, but I haven't actually tried sprouting them. I have heard that cashews are toxic though.

[rawpriestess]

That is what they say.

[MangoMan]

Wow, I had never heard this before .. but then again, I haven't ever had a need to know before.

So cashews are one of those foods where a little is fine, but I should probably stay away from making them the mainstay of my nuts. OK, I can handle that ... I suppose. ;)

Thanks again folks for your answers!!

[Rawkinlocs]

They're one of my mainstay nuts...I love 'em and won't give 'em up unless I begin to feel badly eating them! :)

[Colin]

Good thread. I like cashews. I buy organic ones at the Health Food Store (is that opposed to the UN-health UN-food Store?) but they probably wouldn't sprout. Also I think cashews are technically a seed from a fruit. Also according to Natural Hygiene (Dr. Herbert Shelton) nuts combine well with acid fruits. I enjoy a few oranges and a handful of either cashews, brazil, walnuts, etc. as a meal. That and green smoothies the other meals. Maybe a salad meal as well sometimes and I make nice raw soup. I haven't yet done exotic meals like lasagna, etc etc. Don't have a dehydrator either, so crackers are out.

Cashews are always sold shelled because the interior of the shells contains a caustic resin, known as cashew balm, which must be carefully removed before the nuts are fit for consumption. This caustic resin is actually used in industry to make varnishes and insecticides.
interesting articles:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=98

http://www.rawfood.com/cashews.html

[RowanC]

Wow, those were great articles.. thanks.
I need to order some of those cashews and compare them to the ones I get at the Coop. The price is about the same....

[MangoMan]

Rawkinlocs - that's GREAT to hear! I had been eating fistfulls of them, and I am glad to find another person who loves them. Maybe there is still a space for them in my diet.

Hey, check this out: Colin's article says, "Cashews, known scientifically as Anacardium occidentale, belong to the same family as the mango and pistachio nut." My name is MangoMan .. and who am I do diss a family member like my dearest Cashew! :D Thanks for the article Colin!