Cashews glycemic index
Cashews has a glycemic index of 25, which is low. A 50 g serving (a large handful) has a glycemic load of 4 (low).
Also known as: cashew nuts
- Serving50 g
- Available carbs15 g
- Fiber1.5 g
- Sugars2.5 g
- Protein7.7 g
- Calories287 kcal
Serving: a large handful.
What to know
Cashews are low GI but have more carbohydrate than most nuts. A small handful (about 30 g) keeps the glycemic load low.
Glycemic load by portion size
GI stays the same whatever you eat, but glycemic load scales with the amount: eating twice as much doubles the effect on blood sugar.
| Amount | Available carbs | Glycemic load | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 g | 15 g | 4 | Low |
| 100 g | 30 g | 7 | Low |
What the studies found
The value of 25 is the median of 5 published measurements in the International Tables of Glycemic Index (2021). Results are fairly consistent (22 to 27).
Each dot is one study. Green dots followed the ISO 26642 standard method.
- 22 · Australia 2001
- 25 · UK 2005
- 25 · UK 2005
- 27 · UK 2005
- 27 · UK 2005
Cashews compared with other nuts & seeds
Similar low-GI foods
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Frequently asked questions
Is cashews low glycemic?
Yes. With a GI of 25, cashews is in the low range (55 or less).
What is the glycemic load of cashews?
A 50 g serving (a large handful) has a glycemic load of 4, which is low. Glycemic load combines GI with the amount of carbohydrate in the portion: 10 or less is low, 11 to 19 medium and 20 or more high.
Can people with diabetes eat cashews?
With a GI of 25 and a low glycemic load per serving, cashews usually fits a diabetes-friendly diet in normal portions. Everyone responds differently, so talk to your doctor or dietitian about your plan.
How many carbs are in cashews?
A 50 g serving has about 16 g of total carbohydrate, including 1.5 g of fiber, leaving 14.9 g of available carbohydrate (the part that raises blood sugar). Per 100 g: 32.7 g of carbohydrate.
Nutrition facts
| per 100 g | Serving (50 g) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 574 kcal | 287 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 33 g | 16 g |
| Available carbs | 30 g | 15 g |
| Fiber | 3 g | 1.5 g |
| Sugars | 5 g | 2.5 g |
| Protein | 15 g | 7.7 g |
| Fat | 46 g | 23 g |
Source: USDA FoodData Central, Nuts, cashew nuts, dry roasted, without salt added (SR Legacy, FDC 170571). Available carbohydrate = total carbohydrate minus fiber.
Sources: Atkinson FS, Brand-Miller JC, Foster-Powell K, Buyken AE, Goletzke J. International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(5):1625–1632. USDA FoodData Central. How we calculate each value: Methodology & sources.
Data last reviewed 2026-09-29.