What is Cashew and Why Does the Food Zoomer Test for It?

Tree-nut storage protein antigen

Cashew refers to seed proteins from the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) that can elicit measurable immune responses. Measuring IgA and IgG against cashew proteins provides insight into whether reactivity is primarily mucosal (gut‑linked) or systemic, helping clarify food‑related immune patterns.

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Cashew

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About Cashew

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About Cashew

Overview and History

Cashew is the edible seed of Anacardium occidentale, a tree in the Anacardiaceae family. Biochemically, cashew reactivity centers on seed storage proteins—2S albumins, 7S vicilins, and 11S legumins—often cataloged as Ana o 1, Ana o 2, and Ana o 3. These seed storage proteins function as nutrient reserves for the developing seed and are relatively stable to digestion and processing. Because of their stability and distinct peptide sequences, they have been characterized as antigenic targets and are commonly used in protein‑ and peptide‑level immune assays to map specific immune recognition patterns.

Interpreting Highs and Lows

Elevated IgA or IgG signals to cashew proteins indicate measurable immune recognition of those cashew peptides. Higher IgA responses tend to reflect mucosal or gut‑associated engagement, while higher IgG responses point to systemic exposure or immune memory; peptide‑level peaks can reveal which specific cashew proteins are targeted. Low or absent IgA/IgG signals usually indicate little measurable immune recognition, which can reflect limited dietary exposure, immune tolerance, or altered antigenicity from food processing. Any single cashew result should be interpreted within the full Food Zoomer profile, exposure history, and clinical context to understand its relevance.

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Cashew is included to detect immune responses to a commonly consumed tree nut at protein and peptide resolution. Dual IgA/IgG measurement reveals whether cashew reactivity is gut‑focused or systemic and whether cashew proteins cluster with other reactive foods, aiding personalized dietary planning and substitution choices.

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Cashew FAQs

What is Cashew and why is it important?

In this test, Cashew refers to the specific seed proteins found in cashew nuts. These proteins can be recognized by the immune system and produce measurable IgA and IgG signals. Understanding your immune response to cashew helps providers see whether nuts contribute to broader food‑reactivity patterns and informs interpretation of the panel.

What does it mean if my Cashew levels are low?

Low Cashew IgA and IgG usually means there is little measurable immune recognition of cashew proteins. This can reflect low or no recent exposure, immune tolerance, or changes to the proteins from processing. Low levels make cashew a less likely contributor to immune‑linked patterns, but results should be reviewed alongside the full Food Zoomer and clinical history.

What does it mean if my Cashew levels are high?

Elevated Cashew signals indicate detectable immune recognition of one or more cashew proteins. IgA elevations suggest mucosal/gut‑associated engagement, while IgG elevations indicate systemic exposure or immune memory; specific peptide peaks show which proteins are targeted. Interpretation requires the overall panel pattern, exposure data, and clinical context.

Why is Cashew included in the Food Zoomer?

Cashew is a common dietary nut and a frequent component of nut‑related immune patterns. Measuring cashew‑specific IgA and IgG at protein and peptide resolution helps identify clustering with other reactive foods, clarifies mucosal versus systemic patterns, and supports more precise nutrition planning.

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