Pistachios: Good food that's good for you!
The pistachio was introduced into the United States in the late 1890's by a former Syrian immigrant who happened to be a nut salesman (makes sense).
Pistachios grow on 10 foot tall trees that thrive with little or no rainfall They cannot tolerate humidity or excess moisture (which is why you won't see them in Kansas). The trees live for hundreds of years and in fact, Iran boasts of a 700 year old tree still living! Pistachios are currently cutivated as a commercial crop in California, Italy, Turkey and Iran. The U.S. is the second largest producer in the world. And Nut Nation purchases all of our pistachios domestically in the U.S.
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HEALTH BENEFIT OF PISTACHIOS
A handful of pistachios provides numerous health benefits. Growing evidence is showing that a diet that incorporates a handful of pistachios each day provides a great source of antioxidants, healthy monounsaturated fat and actually helps lower cholesterol.
During a four week study conducted at the Inova Fairfax Hospital and conducted by a Pennsylvania State graduate, volunteers with high cholesterol levels were asked to supplement a low-fat diet with pistachios. Group A ate 1.5 ounces of pistachios per day. Group B at 3 ounces of pistachios per day. Group C had a diet without pistachios. After one month, cholesterol levels were lowered significantly, especially among group B. Three ounces of pistachios per day reduced amounts of total cholesterol by 8 percent and LDL (“bad” cholesterol) by 11.6 percent.
Current studies also link these findings with the heart healthy benefits of pistachios. Pistachios contain a good amount of healthful monounsaturated fat and soluble fiber, both proven to be effective in preventing heart disease.
According to Ladia Hernandez, PhD (Senior research dietician, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center), pistachios are high in gammatocopherol, which is a form of Vitamin E and has shown to be protective against lung cancer and other cancers
Of all snack nuts, pistachios offer the highest level of phytosterols, and are a great source of fiber, both of which reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the blood. Participants in this Penn State study also did not show any weight gain. A one ounce serving of pistachios has160 calories. The lowest of all snack nuts. They also provide 6 grams of protein and are an excellent source of vitamin B6.
In a nutshell, growing research is showing that pistachios are a healthy snack that can provide some heart benefits and lower cholesterol. We really didn’t need an excuse to eat this delicious food in the first place, but now it should be mandatory!
Enjoy.
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