In my research on how to lower my blood pressure through what I eat, I was pleasantly surprised to see cashews on the list!
Cashews make wonderful desserts such as the one I made for a recent raw food potluck called "PineappleIcebox Cobbler" from raw food author Ani Phyo.
Bottom
1 ½ cups raw unsalted cashews (soaked)
1 vanilla bean scraped out
2 Tablespoons Honey
Blend and form into bottom of pan – pat down smooth – put into freezer to set
Filling
1 ½ cups of raw unsalted cashews soaked
¼ melted coconut oil (in double boiler)
1/3 raw honey
Some water to thin and ease blending – blend all the above until smooth
Pineapple diced and folded into the above filling – layer onto top of crust
Topping
Can save some of the bottom mixture to put onto top
or, skip the bottom and just make the filling with the pineapple folded into it and put into individual cups. Freeze and thaw 30 minutes before eating. Delicious - you'd never know it was raw and loaded with so many health benefits.
See Ani making this on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR4DlWU4Juk&playnext=1&list=PLE1E93E97A848FBD2&index=19
Cashews have one of the lowest fat content compared to other nuts and is also a monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fat will help to lower LDL and triglyceride levels. In addition they also contain magnesium
(1/2 cup cashews contains half of the daily amount of required magnesium). Because they contain magnesium and also help to lower cholesterol levels, they will help to prevent strokes and heart attacks. Most important for people on a plant based diet, cashews are another source of protein.
Now combine the benefits of eating cashews with pineapple and its anti-inflammatory enzyme bromelain, and you already have a reason to to eat this dessert. Pineapple also helps to maintain proper blood pressure, is anti-arthritic due to its anti inflammatory properties, also contains calcium which the magnesium in the cashews would help to better absorb, is a great source of vitamin A,, contains phosphorous which is another mineral your body needs to make its own calcium for your bone health, and also contains the most amount of the mineral potassium. Best of all pineapple prevents the formation of blood clots and is helpful if you have an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter).
This dessert gets even better because it also includes 1/4 cup of coconut oil which has a myriad of health benefits as written in "The Coconut Diet"by Cherie Calbom. Some of the health benefits from coconut are: reduces blood pressure, good for your kidneys, helps to maintains cholesterol levels, diabetes, and contributes to bone strength. But these are just some of the benefits, and if you need any further convincing there are entire books filled from front to back on the benefits of eating coconut.
