What are cashew milk benefits? Side effects? Is cashew milk vegan? Gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Low fodmap? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here is all the info on cashew milk that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on cashew milk benefits and side effects.
After learning if cashew milk is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be prepared to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about cashew milk benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Cashew Milk Benefits and Side Effects
Health
Cashew milk benefits may include:
- improved eye health
- reduced inflammation
- anemia prevention
- aid blood clotting
- boost immunity
- detoxification
- fight and prevent cancer
- heart health
- lower high blood pressure
- lower risk of heart disease and stroke
- regulated blood sugar
- skin health
Cashew milk side effects may include:
- dangerous reaction for those allergic to tree nuts
- weight gain if over-consumed
- blood sugar spikes if too much sugar is added
Additionally, cashew milk (pure) is…
- Acidic pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Common Food Allergen: TREE NUT
- Low Fodmap, limit to one cup
Environment
Water footprint: likely high, it takes 14,218 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of cashews / 1,704 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of cashews
Carbon footprint: likely moderate, 2.0 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of tree nuts, a car driving equivalent of 5 miles or 8 kilometers
Destruction: low, cashew production is moderately sustainable, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Cashew milk (pure) is…
- Moderately Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, cashew milk production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, cashew milk production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from cashew milk production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Cashew milk (pure) is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: dangerous conditions, anacardic acid is present in the fruit that cashew nuts grow which burns the skin, Human Rights Watch reports by suggest in Vietnam drug addicts are in forced-labor ‘rehabilitation’ camps for cashew production and processing, those who refuse to work are beaten with truncheons, given electric shocks, locked in isolation, deprived of food and water, and obliged to work even longer hours
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: poverty-line wages are typical for cashew workers some reports of only a few dollars per month, India’s cashew workers (mostly women) are employed without contracts, no guarantee of steady income, no pension or holiday pay
Cashews milk has…
- Laborer issues and human rights concerns
Vietnam is the world’s leading cashew producer followed by India and Côte d’Ivoire.
Yes! Cashew milk is high in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, potassium, vitamin K copper, Anacardic acid and magnesium.
Is cashew milk gluten free?
Yes, cashew milk is gluten free. Cashew milk does not contain gluten.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Is cashew milk low fodmap?
Yes, cashew milk is low fodmap, when limited to one cup. Cashew milk requires fewer nuts to be used, which is why it is considered low fodmap.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Is cashew milk a common food allergen?
Yes, cashew milk contains a common food allergen: tree nuts. Many people experience allergic reactions to cashew milk.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
These foods account for about 90% of all food allergies in the United States.
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Water footprint of cashew milk.
Cashew milk has a moderate water footprint.
What is the water footprint of cashew milk?
It takes 14,218 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of cashews / 1,704 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of cashews.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of cashew milk?
Cashew milk has a low carbon footprint.
What is the carbon footprint of cashew milk?
It takes around 2.0 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of tree nuts, a car driving equivalent of 5 miles or 8 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Is cashew milk sustainable?
Cashew milk production is moderately sustainable. There is no known significant damage as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Is cashew milk vegan?
Yes, cashew milk is vegan. Cashew milk comes from cashews, a type of tree nut and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
Does cashew milk have human rights issues?
Yes. At this time, there are reports of worker mistreatment regarding cashew farming.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
This post was all about cashew milk benefits and side effects.
Sources:
cashew milk – FoodData Central
Plant-based milk alternatives an emerging segment of … – NCBI
Ecobytes: Going nuts about cashews – Global Footprint Network
