A deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals can affect how water is absorbed in your gut and make your digestive system sluggish, according to Rupa Health. Magnesium helps alleviate constipation by drawing more water into your stool to make it easier to pass. It also activates the muscles in your digestive system to get the poop in motion. As it turns out, cashews provide 18% of your daily needs for magnesium.
Potassium works with sodium to keep your fluid levels balanced in your body. It also plays a similar role to magnesium in your digestive system. A lack of potassium in your diet can slow down or even stop activity in your GI tract. Although cashews aren’t exactly the top dietary source of potassium, you’ll still get 161 milligrams in a handful.
Cashews do give you 70% of your daily copper, which supports your nerve cells and immune system. Copper also assists your body with iron absorption, and cashews provide almost 2 milligrams of iron per serving.