Are Cashews Bad for Muscle Building? (Expert Answer)

Short Answer: Cashews are good for muscle building. Because they have carbohydrates, fat, and protein, and they can provide you with energy, fuel, hormones, and amino acids.

Muscle building is a process that involves increasing the size and strength of your skeletal muscles.

In muscle building, your body breaks down the protein in your muscles and rebuilds them with new and stronger fibers.

This can improve your physical performance, appearance, and health.

One of the key factors in muscle building is diet.

What you consume can affect your protein synthesis, energy levels, hormone production, and recovery, which can impact your muscle building results and overall health.

To effectively build muscle, you should consume protein-rich foods like lean meat, eggs, dairy, and legumes, and avoid processed foods like chips, cookies, and candy.

Protein is the main building block of muscle and helps repair the damage caused by exercise.

Processed foods are high in calories, sugar, and fat, which can lead to weight gain, inflammation, and health problems.

Now, cashews are a type of nut that grows on a tropical tree.

People usually eat them raw, roasted, or salted as a snack, or use them to make sauces, butter, or milk.

Cashews are good for muscle building because they contain high levels of carbohydrates and fats.

They also have smaller amounts of protein, which is vital for muscle growth and repair.

Incorporating cashews into your muscle building diet can provide you with several benefits.

28 grams of cashews can give you 157 calories, 8.6 grams of carbohydrates (3% of your daily needs), 12.4 grams of fat (19% of your daily needs), and 5.2 grams of protein (10% of your daily needs).

Carbohydrates can provide you with energy and fuel your workouts.

They can also help replenish your glycogen stores, which are depleted after exercise.

Glycogen is a form of stored glucose that your muscles use for energy.

Fat can help you absorb fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A, D, E, and K, which are important for your health and immunity.

Fat can also support your hormone production, which can affect your muscle growth and recovery.

For example, testosterone is a hormone that stimulates protein synthesis and muscle development.

Protein can help you increase your muscle mass and strength.

Protein is composed of amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscle.

Protein can also help you reduce muscle breakdown and soreness, and enhance your recovery.

Furthermore, cashews are a source of unsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat, and these types of fat are good for muscle building.

Because, they can lower your cholesterol levels, improve your blood flow, and reduce inflammation.

Inflammation can impair your muscle growth and recovery, and increase your risk of injury and infection.

You can eat 28 to 56 grams of cashews per day safely.

More than that can cause digestive issues, weight gain, and allergic reactions.

Cashews are high in calories and can add up quickly if you eat too many.

Cashews can also trigger an allergic response in some people, especially those who are allergic to other nuts or fruits.

Also, you shouldn’t eat cashews if you have kidney stones or gout to prevent worsening your condition.

Because, cashews are high in oxalates and purines, which can form crystals in your urine and joints, respectively.

These crystals can cause pain, inflammation, and damage to your organs.

You can buy fresh cashews in your local market or can order them from online.

Always choose raw or dry-roasted cashews without added salt, sugar, or oil.

Because, these additives can increase your sodium, calorie, and fat intake, and negate the benefits of cashews.

You can store them in an airtight container in a cool and dry place for up to six months.

Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and essential medical care is key to building muscle effectively.

I always recommend my muscle building clients to follow a muscle building-friendly diet to improve their performance, appearance, and health, and enjoy a longer and stronger life.

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About the Author

Abdur Rahman Choudhury

Abdur Rahman Choudhury is a nutritionist in West Bengal, India, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biochemistry.

He has done his diploma in nutrition from Fabulous Body Inc (US), and completed various certification courses from several universities. He also has considerable research experience in PCOS.

Abdur currently lives in India and keeps fit by weight training and eating mainly home-cooked meals.

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