Although omega-3 is abundant in animal foods such as fatty fish, cashews are also an effective plant source of omega-3, especially alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
ALA is a form of omega-3 that is mainly found in plants, including cashews. A study from the World Health Organization said that ALA can help reduce blood triglyceride levels and improve cardiovascular health.
Although cashews are not a rich source of omega-3 like flaxseeds or walnuts, they still provide a significant amount of ALA. Every 100g of cashews provides about 0.1g of omega-3. If cashews are combined with other sources of omega-3 such as flaxseed or canola oil, it is possible to achieve adequate omega-3 supplementation for the body.
Supplementing omega-3 from cashews may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 has the effect of reducing inflammation and lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, helping to protect the heart. Omega-3 has the ability to improve the flexibility of cells and blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
To supplement omega-3 from cashews, you can eat cashews directly, add them to salads, or use cashews butter in daily meals.
However, because cashews contain a lot of calories and fat, you should adjust the portion sizes to avoid consuming too many calories. To optimize omega-3 supplementation, cashews should also be combined with other sources of omega-3 in the diet, such as flaxseed, walnuts and fish oil.
