Assume there are 100 cashews here. Assume that’s a portion.
You can binge on anything. Once when I told a client “you will not overeat on chicken” she swiftly corrected me, “I eat a whole chicken Lauren…well except for the insides and bones.” Interesting. And one night my younger son complained of a stomachache and said, “I probably ate too many bananas after soccer.” I asked my son how many assuming he had two or so, he said five. While these instances are rarities, cashew binging is extremely common. You are more likely to overeat (translation the whole package, regardless of its size) cashews that any other nut. You may not find that in a scientific journal but it’s the truth.
I saw 10 clients yesterday. Two reported cashew issues. Foodtrainers will turn 15 in November, I can’t believe it has taken me this long to conduct cashew research but I did and have a theory. Cashews are carby. I know that sounds as dumb as when people claim carrots are sugary. Cashews have four times the net carbs (carb grams minus fiber grams) of walnuts or pecans and more than double the carbs in almonds. Grace, our resident researcher, and I both poked around and she concluded; “only chestnuts have them beat”. When I offered this explanation to one of my cashew challenged clients she said, “I think it’s the texture, think of how creamy cashew milk is.” She has a point. Cashews are the most widely used dairy alternative. So there are the carbs, the texture and there’s also a natural sweetness of cashews…shit.Here’s where science tells a different story. On PubMed I read of a study finding that cashew extract improves insulin function and the “damaging effects of high blood sugar”. So cashew extract has anti-diabetic properties whereas cashews (and cashew addiction) give you diabetes. Another interesting tidbit, you don’t see cashews in shells in stores because the shell of the cashew is poisonous.
For this reason, cashews are heat treated before being shelled so; raw cashews are never really raw. And I’ll add that “raw” cashews are binged on too.When we convened our office cashew conference, we formulated our addiction advice. We joked that we should all eat the shells as a deterrent but are not in the business of poisoning people. Carolyn voted to remove cashews from the Foodtrainers’ nutcase. Instead, we agreed to advocate cashews via nutcase only. That way, you avoid over-nutting (thanks Well and Good for the shout out). Are you a cashew addict? Or, what do you feel are the most bingeable foods?
Betcha can’t have 15…unless you have a nutcase
I have troubele stopig eating cashews.p
I cannot stop eating them i don’t know why but i have the ability to scarf down a 10oz bag of cashews in a single setting and still crave more
I love cashews but they are deathly dangerous in large quantities. Even though I know this I cannot eat just 15, I know they are not good for me but I’m addicted. I get kidney stones easily so this is like crack for me
Cashews in some way trigger dopamine and serotonin and they are feel good hormones. I started binging on cashews after my mothers death, so I can understand the logic behind my binge.
I’m a skinny guy, I hate overeating, but eating these damn cashews I could go on till I go to hospital if nobody was there to regulate me. The only answer is not to eat them at all. Moderation is not possible for me.
OH MY GOSH! same. I am a skinny girl who hates overeating, but these cashews are making me binge eat every time. I bought the big container from costco and already finished 4 in just 1-2 months. I finished almost 1.4 kg of cashews in a week.
Same as both above. Just finished a tub.
I have the same issue. The problem is Tesco is the only store nearby offers cashew milk..
I am struggling with raw cashew and peanut butter fixation
Yes! Seems I can resist anything else, but after 10PM my hand will pull me into the kitchen, open a cupboard, dig out a handful of raw cashews, and stuff them in my mouth before I realize what it’s doing.
I thought I was the only freak who was addicted to cashews. This is ridiculous 😀
2.2lbs in just 24 hours. Thankfully it is not heroine
Well, I’m going to try and go “cold turkey” and not renew my 2kg monthly order, starting tomorrow.
Reading here that there was a connection between cashews and diabetes, perhaps will make it easier to go without cashews (increase brain power / control [based upon logic]).
I still have a sunflower seed / raison / various seeds and occasional raw cashews mix… but I don’t find myself “bingeing” on that mix, like I do with roasted salted cashews!!! 😉
Wondered if cashews were addictive when I woke up craving them. I had already noticed difficulty trying to eat only a few and not the whole lot at a time. Seemed to be a matter of taste’n’texture – as someone else says here they become so ‘creamy’ – but the craving speaks of something more chemical, perhaps from the shell-poison? Curiously My mother turned to eating cashews as an alternative when she gave up smoking. I already have diabetes – due to putting on weight with hypothyroidism presumably, but I started eating cashews regularly then too. Hardly a good strategy to reduce food intake (as I assumed) if they are so ‘full of carbs. So my present supplied I shall eat up with relish – and never buy or eat any more of them ever again!
I have been eating them for a few years and I can’t walk by the bag without taking a few. I eat them roasted salted with raisins which go together perfectly, the taste is so satisfying. I really need to slow this down, I will try a strict daily limit from now on. I am otherwise extremely healthy and eat very healthy. I periodically fast for a day or so and that is getting easier and easier, I don’t have any real problems doing that,