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Cashews vs Pili Nuts: What’s The Difference?

This article explains the key similarities and differences between cashews and pili nuts, foods from the nuts and seeds group. Read on to learn more about the cashews vs pili nuts comparison.
Michael Whaley, Health Writer

Written by Michael Whaley, Health Writer. Updated on December 31, 2022.

Cashews and pili nuts belong to the nuts and seeds food group, an important group for a healthy diet, as they provide a wide range of essential nutrients, such as protein, healthy fats, dietary fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

In this article, we’ll put a spotlight on cashews and pili nuts and compare their similarities and differences.

They both provide a variety of nutrients and are relatively high in calories, like other nuts and seeds.

Cashews

Cashews (Anacardium occidentale) is a type of nut that is native to South America.

These nuts have a sweet and buttery flavor and are often used in a variety of dishes, including sweet and savory recipes.

Cashews are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate cashews into your diet. They can be eaten raw or roasted and are often used in dishes as a creamy and flavorful addition.

Cashews are a common ingredient in vegan and vegetarian dishes, as they can be used to create a creamy texture when blended or soaked.

They can also be ground into flour or used to make cashew butter.

Cashews are widely available and can be found in many forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.

They can be purchased raw, roasted, or salted and are often sold with the skin removed.

Whether you’re looking for a tasty snack or a versatile ingredient to add to your cooking, cashews are a great choice.

They are delicious and nutritious and can be easily incorporated into many dishes.

Cashews are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin K.

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin E.

Pili Nuts

Pili nuts (Canarium ovatum) are a type of nut that is native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and is now grown in other parts of the world.

These nuts have a slightly sweet and slightly nutty flavor, and are often used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Pili nuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate pili nuts into your diet. They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used in baking or as a topping for salads and other dishes.

Pili nuts are not as widely available as other types of nuts and may be harder to find at grocery stores.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving pili nuts a try.

They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Pili Nuts are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

Cashews vs Pili Nuts Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing cashews vs pili nuts.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of cashews and pili nuts and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral contents.

CashewsPili Nuts
Energy553 kcal719 kcal
Carbs30.2 g3.98 g
Protein18.2 g10.8 g
Fat43.8 g79.55 g
Saturated Fat7.78 g31.184 g

Cashews vs Pili Nuts Calories

Nuts and seeds are generally high in calories; the same goes for cashews and pili nuts, so you should consume them in moderation.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a proper serving is one ounce, which is roughly equal to 1/4 cup or 28 grams.

To keep the portions under control, the amounts correspond to one serving size: 14 walnut halves, 16 cashews, 24 almonds, 28 peanuts, or 45 pistachios.

Comparing cashews vs pili nuts for weight loss, cashews are slightly lower in calories, with 155 calories per serving, compared to 201 calories per serving of pili nuts.

However, both cashews and pili nuts can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight. It’s just important to eat them in moderation.

Cashews vs Pili Nuts Protein

Nuts and seeds, including cashews and pili nuts, are an important source of plant-based protein.

Cashews offer around 41% more protein than pili nuts.

Cashews have 18.2 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 5.1g per serving), while pili nuts have 10.8 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 3g per serving).

Cashews vs Pili Nuts Carbs

Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.

It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in cashews and pili nuts.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 87% higher in cashews than in pili nuts. They have 30.2 grams per 100 grams, compared to 4 grams in pili nuts.

There’s less sugar in pili nuts than in cashews, 100% precisely.

One handful of pili nuts (28 grams) contains 0 grams of sugar, while the same amount of cashews contains 1.7 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in cashews and pili nuts.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 0.9 grams of fiber per portion, cashews are a better source of fiber than pili nuts which offer 0 grams per portion.

Cashews vs Pili Nuts Fats

Like the other nuts and seeds, fats in cashews and pili nuts are a great source of healthy unsaturated fats, naturally cholesterol free, and free of trans fats.

Total fat in cashews and pili nuts:

  • Cashews: 43.8 grams per 100 grams
  • Pili Nuts: 79.6 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, cashews are 75% lower in saturated fats.

Cashews and pili nuts contain 7.8 grams and 31.2 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Cashews vs Pili Nuts Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of cashews and pili nuts.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Cashews have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and vitamin B9 (Folate).

However, pili nuts have a higher amount of vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

Cashews and pili nuts contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins cashews and pili nuts contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

CashewsPili Nuts
Vitamin A041 IU
Vitamin C0.5 mg0.6 mg
Vitamin D00
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)0.423 mg0.913 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.058 mg0.093 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)1.06 mg0.519 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.864 mg0.479 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine)0.417 mg0.115 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)25 µg60 µg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)00
Vitamin E0.9 mg0
Vitamin K34.1 µg0

Cashews vs Pili Nuts Minerals Content

Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.

Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the cashews and pili nuts comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Cashews are a better source of calcium, magnesium, and manganese than pili nuts.

On the other hand, pili nuts have a higher amount of copper, iron, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc.

Cashews and pili nuts contain the same amount of fluoride.

Check out the table below to learn how cashews and pili nuts compare when it comes to mineral contents.

CashewsPili Nuts
Calcium37 mg145 mg
Copper2.2 mg0.958 mg
Fluoride00
Iron6.68 mg3.53 mg
Magnesium292 mg302 mg
Manganese1.66 mg2.313 mg
Phosphorus593 mg575 mg
Potassium660 mg507 mg
Selenium19.9 µg0
Sodium12 mg3 mg
Zinc5.78 mg2.97 mg

The Final Word

Cashews and pili nuts are highly nutritious and excellent sources of plant-based protein and healthy fats.

Although they are relatively high in calories, they are essential to a healthy, plant-based diet and are linked to many health benefits.

Both cashews and pili nuts are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods, and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.

Sources

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