Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils: How To Choose?

Although cashews and pink or red lentils belong to different food groups, and it’s not that common to compare foods from different groups, people are often interested in these comparisons as well.

While cashews belong to the nuts and seeds group, pink or red lentils belong to legumes food group.

That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares cashews and pink or red lentils, their nutritional values, similarities, differences, macronutrients, and micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.

Generally speaking, foods from nuts and seeds group are usually higher in healthy fats and lower in carbs than legumes, but both are valuable addition to a plant-based diet.

Now, let’s see how cashews and pink or red lentils compare specifically.

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

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

Pink or Red Lentils

Pink or red lentils (Lens culinaris) are a type of legume native to Southwest Asia.

They are a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to their high protein and fiber content, as well as their mild, slightly nutty flavor.

Pink and red lentils are also a good source of several important nutrients, including potassium, iron, and B vitamins.

They can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes, such as lentil soup, curry, and all types of salads.

In addition to being a nutritious food, pink and red lentils have been shown to have a number of potential health benefits.

They have been linked to lower cholesterol levels and improved blood sugar control, and may also help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Pink or Red Lentils are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin K.

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin E and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid).

Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils 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 pink or red lentils.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of cashews and pink or red lentils and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.

Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils Calories

Comparing pink or red lentils vs cashews for weight loss, pink or red lentils are slightly lower in calories, with 358 calories per 100 grams, compared to 553 calories per 100 grams of cashews.

However, both cashews and pink or red lentils can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight.

Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils Protein

Legumes and most legume products, including cashews and pink or red lentils, are important sources of plant-based protein.

Pink or Red Lentils offer around 24% more protein than cashews.

Pink or Red Lentils have 23.9 grams of protein per 100 grams, while cashews has 18.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils 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 pink or red lentils.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 52% higher in pink or red lentils than in cashews. They have 63.1 grams per 100 grams, compared to 30.2 grams in cashews.

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There’s less sugar in cashews than in pink or red lentils, 19% precisely.

One handful of cashews (28 grams) contains 1.7 grams of sugar, while the same amount of pink or red lentils contains 2.1 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in cashews and pink or red lentils.

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

With 3 grams of fiber per portion, pink or red lentils are a better source of fiber than cashews which offer 0.9 grams per portion.

Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils Fats

Fats in cashews and pink or red lentils are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.

Total fat in cashews and pink or red lentils:

• Cashews: 43.8 grams per 100 grams
• Pink or Red Lentils: 2.2 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, pink or red lentils are 95% lower in saturated fats.

Pink or Red Lentils and cashews contain 0.4 grams and 7.8 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of cashews and pink or red lentils.

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

Cashews has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B9 (Folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

However, pink or red lentils have a higher amount of vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

Cashews and pink or red lentils contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins cashews and pink or red lentils contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Cashews vs Pink or Red Lentils 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 pink or red lentils comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Cashews is a better source of calcium, fluoride, iron, manganese, and potassium than pink or red lentils.

On the other hand, pink or red lentils are a higher amount of copper, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc.

Check out the table below to learn how cashews and pink or red lentils compare when it comes to mineral content.

The Final Word

Cashews and pink or red lentils are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both cashews and pink or red lentils are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Antioxidants found in nuts, seeds and legumes can help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and the effects of aging.

Additionally, the fiber and other nutrients in these foods can support the health of the digestive system and may even help to prevent certain digestive cancers.

Legumes, nuts and seeds are a versatile food that can be incorporated into any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can be served hot or cold, making them a convenient and tasty addition to a variety of dishes.