Cashews have long enjoyed a spot among the esteemed members of the nut family, gracing snack bowls, trail mixes, and gourmet recipes alike. With their creamy texture, delightful crunch, and rich nutritional profile, they’re a staple in many households and cuisines worldwide. But what if we told you that cashews, the humble kitchen favorite, aren’t actually nuts?

Much like peanuts, which are scientifically classified as legumes, cashews belong to a completely different botanical category. Surprising, right? This article delves deep into the botanical intricacies and culinary mysteries surrounding cashews, offering a clearer understanding of where this beloved ingredient truly belongs.

What Is a Nut?

To unravel the mystery of cashews, it’s essential to first understand what defines a "true" nut. Botanically, a nut is a dry fruit encased within a hard shell, containing a single seed. The hard shell doesn’t split open when the fruit ripens, distinguishing nuts from other plant-based foods. Examples of true nuts include acorns, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. These are the quintessential representatives of the nut family.

In contrast, many foods colloquially referred to as nuts—like cashews, almonds, and pistachios—do not fit this scientific definition. So, if cashews aren’t nuts, what are they?

Cashews are classified as drupes. Drupes are fruits that have a fleshy exterior surrounding a single seed encased in a hard shell. The part we consume—the cashew “nut”—is the seed of this drupe.

The cashew tree, scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale, produces a fascinating fruit structure. The visible pear-shaped cashew apple, which often draws attention, is not the actual fruit. Beneath it hangs a small, kidney-shaped drupe. Inside this drupe lies the cashew seed, which is what we eat.

Interestingly, the cashew’s outer shell is inedible due to the presence of urushiol, a toxic compound also found in poison ivy. This makes the processing of cashews labor-intensive, as the shells must be carefully removed to ensure safety.

Not a Legume Either

Given their culinary similarity to peanuts, you might wonder if cashews are legumes. However, legumes grow in pods containing multiple seeds that split open when mature. Examples include beans, peas, and peanuts.

Although cashews, like peanuts, can be split in half, their development within a drupe rather than a pod excludes them from the legume family. Cashews occupy a unique botanical category, making them difficult to classify strictly.

Culinary Classification vs. Botanical Classification

While cashews may not be nuts by botanical standards, they’re treated as nuts in the culinary world. Why? Because cashews share many characteristics with true nuts:

Nutritional Profile: Like nuts, cashews are rich in healthy fats, protein, and essential nutrients, making them a key ingredient in energy-boosting snacks and recipes.

Culinary Uses: Cashews are versatile and can be used in everything from nut butters and trail mixes to stir-fries and desserts, much like almonds or walnuts.

Interestingly, many popular “nuts” aren’t botanically nuts either. Walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and almonds are also drupe seeds. Even with their misclassification, cashews’ nutritional and culinary contributions have cemented their place in the nut aisle.

Nutritional Benefits of Cashews

Regardless of classification, cashews are undeniably nutritious. They are packed with essential nutrients like magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamins B6 and K. Their high content of monounsaturated fats supports heart health, while their protein and carbohydrate content make them a satisfying snack for sustained energy.

Cashews are also an excellent plant-based source of copper, which plays a vital role in energy production, brain health, and immune function. Adding them to your diet can offer numerous health benefits, whether sprinkled over salads, blended into creamy sauces, or enjoyed as a simple roasted snack.

Understanding the botanical classification of cashews not only satisfies curiosity but also highlights the incredible diversity of plant-based foods. It’s a reminder of the complexity of the natural world and the importance of accurate labeling in agriculture and nutrition.

Moreover, cashews’ unique classification showcases their versatility. Whether you consider them nuts, drupes, or seeds, there’s no denying their culinary and health value. Their rich flavor, satisfying texture, and nutrient-dense profile make them a standout ingredient across cuisines and diets.

So, are cashews nuts? Botanically, no. Cashews are drupe seeds, with a fascinating journey from tree to table. Yet, in the culinary world, they’ve earned a spot alongside true nuts, thanks to their similar flavor, texture, and nutritional attributes.

Regardless of their classification, cashews are a delicious, versatile, and nutritious food. Whether you’re enjoying a handful as a snack, blending them into a creamy vegan sauce, or incorporating them into a dessert, cashews deserve a place in your pantry and your diet.

Next time you reach for a bowl of “mixed nuts,” remember the botanical intricacies that make each ingredient unique- and give a little extra appreciation to the not-so-nutty cashew!

As the United States gears up for festive summer gatherings and red-white-and-blue desserts ahead of the Fourth of July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a high-alert warning for one holiday staple—organic blueberries.

12,000 Pounds of Berries Recalled

On Tuesday, the FDA announced a recall involving 12,000 pounds of organic bulk blueberries distributed by Alma Pak International LLC, a company based in Alma, Georgia. The berries, according to the agency, tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially dangerous bacteria known to cause foodborne illness.

“During routine testing, the firm received positive test results of Listeria monocytogenes on their finished product,” the FDA said in its official notice. The blueberries were reportedly shipped to a single customer in North Carolina, although the agency did not clarify whether that customer was a retailer, distributor, or foodservice business.

The recalled products include:

Product: Organic Bulk Blueberries

Lot Numbers: 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096

Quantity: 400 boxes weighing 30 pounds each

Recalling Firm: Alma Pak International LLC, Alma, GA

While the recall was first initiated on June 9, it wasn’t until this week that the FDA categorized it as a Class I recall—the most severe classification. Class I recalls are reserved for situations in which there is a reasonable probability that the product will cause serious health consequences or even death.

Listeria Concerns Continue to Rise

This incident is part of a broader trend in recent months, with Listeria monocytogenes making frequent appearances in food safety recalls. Just this year, products like shrimp, pasta, and cheese have been pulled from shelves over similar contamination concerns.

Listeria infection, or Listeriosis, is particularly risky for vulnerable populations such as pregnant people, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, Listeriosis can lead to complications such as meningitis or miscarriage.

Food Safety in Summer

Food poisoning incidents tend to spike in the summer, largely because perishable items are often left unrefrigerated for long periods during picnics and barbecues. With blueberries often used in patriotic-themed desserts and salads, this recall serves as a timely reminder to double-check product labels and lot numbers.

If you’re uncertain about the origins of berries at your upcoming holiday gathering, experts advise erring on the side of caution. “When in doubt, leave it out,” remains sound food safety advice—especially when vulnerable guests are involved.

As of now, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled blueberries. Consumers are encouraged to monitor FDA announcements for further updates and to discard or return any product that may be part of the affected lot.

The connection between your plate and your pillow might be stronger than you think. While most sleep advice focuses on screen time, stress levels, and bedtime routines, a growing body of research suggests that what you eat—particularly before bed—can significantly affect not only how well you sleep but even the kinds of dreams you have. And in a surprising twist, one of the biggest culprits might be sitting in your refrigerator: dairy.

From cheesy nightmarish tales of yore to contemporary arguments over late-night munching, the question lingers: Do dinner plates actually control dreams? A recent study released in Frontiers in Psychology brings new evidence to this classic question, with a look at how dairy and other food influences sleep quality and dream patterns, particularly in young adults.

In one recent study with more than 1,000 college-age subjects from Canada's MacEwan University, researchers discovered that 40.2% of those surveyed said their diet had a noticeable effect on the way they slept. Even more specifically, roughly 25% indicated certain foods made their sleep worse, and almost 20% said other foods improved their sleep. As far as nightmares went, desserts and dairy had the highest guilty ratings—sweets were responsible for 31% of nightmare complaints, and dairy wasn't far behind with 22%.

Significantly, these were not solitary findings. Individuals with documented food sensitivities, especially lactose intolerance, experienced greater quantities of gastrointestinal symptoms that appeared to correlate with poor sleep and more frequent nightmares. The worse the gastrointestinal symptoms, the worse the nightmares in terms of how distressing and vivid.

Why Dairy Might Be Wreaking Havoc at Night?

So, what’s the science behind this? According to Dr. Tore Nielsen, lead researcher and professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal, there’s a likely explanation rooted in how our bodies respond to dairy. For individuals with lactose intolerance, consuming milk, cheese, or yogurt can trigger bloating, cramping, gas, and indigestion—symptoms that don’t magically disappear once you’re asleep.

When the body is working through gastrointestinal upset during the night, it can contribute to restlessness during sleep, lighter sleep stages, and more frequent awakenings—all of which have been proven to increase dream recall and vividness. This, in turn, can make bad dreams or nightmares more real and memorable. Anxiety, another frequent reaction to discomfort caused by food, is perhaps also responsible for the rise in bad dreams among participants.

When participants were asked about foods most frequently associated with bad sleep, desserts and sweets, spicy food, and milk, yogurt, and cheese ranked atop the list. In contrast, fruits, herbal teas, and vegetables were most frequently attributed to improved sleep.

The most interesting part of the study, however, was its examination of dreams. 5.5% of the participants reported that food impacted their dre

The notion that food influences dreams is not novel. A 2015 study, for instance, discovered anecdotal evidence that cheese and other dairy foods were associated with unusual or vivid dreams. That said, this newer research is the first to explicitly investigate the mechanisms behind such effects, hypothesizing lactose intolerance as a potential trigger, as opposed to dairy per se.

Even so, professionals are hesitant to make decisive conclusions. The subjects for the study were all psychology students—potentially introducing bias by way of their educational experience with sleep and dream research. In addition, the information was self-reported, which is always likely to bias findings. Even so, however, despite these shortcomings, the relationship between food-based symptoms and disrupted sleeping patterns is an intriguing argument for further research.

Foods That Help or Harm Sleep

Though most frequently accused of causing nightmares and bad sleep were sweets and dairy, other foods had beneficial influences. Participants attributed fruits, herbal teas such as chamomile and lemon balm, and vegetables to improved quality of sleep. These are less demanding on digestion and may induce relaxation, which can facilitate healthy sleep patterns and better dreams.

Conversely, spicy foods, saturated and salty foods (such as pizza, burgers, and fried chicken), and caffeinated or sweet beverages were also found to be linked to disturbed sleep and worse dream experiences.

Although dairy has been the main event in this research, it wasn't the sole food group linked to bad sleep or nightmares. Spicy meals and sweet desserts were also frequently culprits. Such foods have the potential to raise core body temperature, interfere with digestion, or cause a spike in blood sugar—each of which can affect how restful you sleep and how often you wake at night.

Conversely, participants reported improved sleep quality with the consumption of herbal teas, fruits, and vegetables. These findings align with existing nutritional science, which supports a plant-forward, low-inflammatory diet for optimal sleep.

How to Eat for Better Sleep and Dreams?

If you're having unusual or disturbing dreams and suspect that your diet is involved, the answer isn't necessarily to eliminate dairy foods altogether. Rather, you can try it as an experiment in personal health and sleep cleanliness. Although the science is continuing to develop, there are evidence-based measures that you can take in order to reduce the likelihood of food-related sleep disturbances and nightmares:

• Have dinner 2 to 3 hours before going to bed so that your body has time to digest.
• Don't eat spicy foods, drink alcohol, or consume caffeine near bedtime, as they will interfere with sleep.
• Don't overdo fast foods and foods with saturated fat and salt at night.
• Make meals balanced with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates—satisfying, but not too full.
• Select simple-to-digest bedtime snacks like nut butter and fruit, trail mix, or hummus with crackers or vegetables.
• Maintain a food and sleep diary to monitor patterns between what you consume, your nighttime dreams, and your quality of sleep.
• Drink water or non-caffeinated herbal teas to stay hydrated, but avoid sugary or carbonated beverages in the evening hours.

While there is still much we don't know about the connection between food, sleep, and dreaming, preliminary research indicates that what you're eating before bedtime is influencing your dream life more than you may want to think. So next time you grab that late-night cheese plate or cone of ice cream, think about more than just your stomach but your subconscious.

If you have seen people fulfilling their supplement needs through injections and you are wondering how does it all work out, then you landed at the right page.

This process is called IV therapy or Intravenous Vitamin therapy. It is also known as intravenous micronutrient therapy and hydration therapy. It is a way to give high concentrations of vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, allowing rapid absorption of higher doses of the vitamins and minerals than if the person got them through food or supplements.

How Does It Work?

These liquids are delivered through a small tube which is inserted into a vein.

The infusion usually takes from 20 to 60 minutes, and it depends on the volume of the cocktail and the size of person's veins.

IV vitamin therapy is usually a very popular therapy among celebrities.

The Myers' Cocktail

A 2022 study, published in the Alternative Medicine Review: A Journal of Clinical Therapeutic notes about the work of late John Myer, MD and the author who has used an intravenous vitamin and mineral formula for the treatment of wide range of clinical conditions.

The Myers' formula was created in the 1970s and this formula is known as the Myers' Cocktail, which contains:

• Magnesium
• Calcium
• B Vitamins
• Vitamin C

The Myers' Cocktail has found to be effective against acute asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue,fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders.

However, not all studies second this claim. A more recent study done in 2023, published in journal Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin notes that while there are claims that the Myers' Cocktail can reduce stress, increase energy, or boost immunity, there is lack of high quality evidence that suggests that high dose vitamin infusions are necessary or offer any health benefit.

In fact, the study suggests that there may be harms from taking high quantities of some vitamins and minerals. This means if your body already has enough of those vitamins and you consume it through IV therapy, it may actually put your health at risk.

What Are The Risks?

The risks include blood clots, infections, and nutrient overdose. To understand the risks better and to find the answer to the question of whether IV therapy is actually needed and is better than consuming nutrients through food or medicines, the Health and Me team spoke to doctors specialising in Internal Medicines. Here's what they said.

Dr Shrey Kumar Srivastav, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine at Sharda Hospital says that while there is no standard frequency for IV therapy in healthy individuals, "frequent or routine use can cause vitamin toxicity or electrolyte imbalances."

The doctor also debunks the claim that IV supplements are better than the vitamins one consumes through food. "Supplements taken orally or through food are typically safer, more sustainable, and sufficient for most people," he explains.

He further adds that IV supplements are not superior to food or oral supplements for general wellness or weight loss. "The growing trend of using IV injections for cosmetic or slimming purposes is risky, unregulated, and can be fatal."