Cashews have a texture different from many other nuts -- meaty rather than crisp. While cashews offer a range of nutritional benefits, eating this nut may pose dangers to some individuals. If you're allergic to tree nuts or sensitive to urushiol or dietary sodium, avoid cashews or consume them with caution. In addition, cashews are prone to contamination by a substance called aflatoxin, though this is uncommon in the United States.
Allergies
Tree nut allergies, including allergic reactions to cashews, affect 1.2 percent of the children. While 9 percent of children outgrow this allergy by the time they reach 6 years of age, the reaction triggered by eating cashews may be severe. A study published in the August 2007 issue of the journal "Allergy" indicates that breathing and cardiovascular issues are common, especially when compared to the allergic reactions triggered by eating peanuts. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience wheezing or cardiovascular symptoms stemming from the consumption of cashews.
Aflatoxin
Cashews may contain a toxic compound known as aflatoxin if they are stored improperly. Molds present on these nuts produce the aflatoxin, and cashews are tested for this compound upon export and import, but testing does not detect all occurrences. Cornell University's Department of Animal Science website reports that the aflatoxin in cashews may result in nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, convulsions as well coma and death. This poisonous compound has also been implicated in liver cancer in animal models, but more research is needed to confirm that aflatoxin can cause cancer in humans.
Urushiol
Raw cashews contain urushiol, an oil that can cause a dermatologic reaction. You may develop a rash from touching, tasting or smelling this nut if you have a reaction to the urushiol in this nut. The reaction, while rare, can become severe, resulting in anaphylactic shock, a condition that can impair your ability to breathe. If you experience asthmalike symptoms after consuming cashews, the urushiol in them may be to blame, so avoid eating them and consult your physician. As a precaution, it is best to buy roasted cashews.
Sodium
Cashews are readily sold in grocery stores in bags of heavily salted nuts. If you prefer the flavor of salted nuts, watch your intake of sodium carefully to avoid eating more than 2,300 mg per day, which is the upper tolerable limit for sodium that the Institute of Medicine sets for all Americans. If you are older than 51, African American or have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease, limit sodium intake to no more than 1,500 mg sodium per day. For everyone, limiting sodium to 1,500 mg per day is healthiest. Consuming more than this amount may cause water retention or more serious conditions such as hypertension.
References
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: Allergy Statistics
- "Allergy"; Cashew Nut Causes More Severe Reactions Than Peanut; A.T. Clark, et al.; August 2007
- Transport Information Services: Cashew Nuts, Cashew Kernels
- Cornell University; Aflatoxins; March 2009
- All Allergy: Cashew Nut
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Americans Consume Too Much Sodium (Salt); February 2011
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