While other bar or snack companies use peanut butter or almond butter, we specifically use cashew butter in ours. Why? First and foremost: it tastes great. But beyond that, cashew butter provides incredible benefits for the body. Cashews help to lower the cholesterol level in blood, control diabetes, and coronary heart disease risk (Desai et al., 2017; Ros, 2010). Plus, it has nutrients that can help with boosting mental health, energy, and keeping you full (satiety). How exactly? Keep reading!
Cashew Butter’s Nutritional Profile
In terms of physical functionality, cashews are rich in magnesium which is vital for healthy bone development and prevention of high blood pressure (Dendena and Corsi, 2014). In terms of psychological functionality, magnesium assists with neurological pathways that, when not functioning correctly, are believed to lead to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Several observational studies have linked lower magnesium levels with increased depression (Harvard), so cashew butter from ELAVI bites might be the natural mood boost you need.Â
Aside from magnesium, the cashew butter in ELAVI collagen protein bites are high in iron, which is an important mineral in helping maintain healthy blood. Iron is a major component of hemoglobin, which is a type of protein in red blood cells (RBC’s) that carry oxygen from your lungs throughout your body. Without enough iron, there is a lack of red blood cells transporting oxygen, which leads to fatigue.Â
Why not just take iron supplements, you ask? Well, supplements are the least bioavailable source of nutrients when compared to whole foods. Instead, snacking on ELAVI bites offers you plant-based iron AND helps you absorb it.
Iron's bioavailability is boosted with vitamin C, which is accomplished thanks to the goji berries in our Chocolate Goji Berry flavor + real blueberries in our Blueberry Vanilla Crisp flavor. Goji berries and blueberries are natural sources of vitamin C, which is the only dietary constituent other than animal tissue that has been shown to promote iron absorption
From the creamy, decadent taste to the nutrient benefits of magnesium and iron, the cashew butter in ELAVI’s multi-collagen protein bites deliver it all.Â
Cashews’ Fat Content
82% of the fats in cashews are unsaturated, and of this, 66% are monounsaturated. Monounsaturated fats are healthy fats that are loosely packed structurally, and reduce high levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in your blood, which are linked to heart disease. Monounsaturated fats aid in cell regulation and help the body absorb vitamin D, build strong bones, and support immune function. A lower risk of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality means a longer, more elevated life for you. Given that 66% of cashew’s fats are monounsaturated, and the other 18% polyunsaturated, cashews offer extremely high levels of all the good fats, and few of the not-so-good, especially compared to peanuts. So in short, any nut butter is good, but cashew butter is great.Â
How can I get these nutrients?
Where can you find cashew butter? Out of a jar or more conveniently in a lightweight, on-the-go functional snack, like our Chocolate Goji Berry Bites (be careful you may confuse them for a brownie).Â
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Sources:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/iron/
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/magnesium/
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000785.htm
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About the Author: Nikki Kearney
Nikki is a senior at Boston College, studying Management for Social Impact, Marketing, and Psychology. She is in the process of becoming a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and has taken multiple nutrition courses, taught by registered dietitians and nurse practitioners. Nikki is passionate about ensuring marketing is used for good, to spread true and valuable information to consumers.