Health Benefits of Pistachio
Rose May Pimentel in Health
Sep 15, 2022 • 3 min Read
Pistachios, one of the oldest edible nuts are a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and good fats. They offer health benefits, especially for the heart, gut, and waistline.
Pistachios are a healthy snacking treat. They can be tossed in salads, made into nut butter, add to baked goods and desserts like macarons or ice creams, mixed in savory recipes, with fish or pasta dishes, and can even have great value on your cold-cut platter.
Here are some of the amazing benefits of this nut, from Organic Facts:
1. Potential Antioxidant Properties
A published study in the Journal of Food Chemistry denotes that pistachio contains antioxidants – known to neutralize the free radicals that form in the body after cellular metabolism.
2. May Promote Heart Health
Consuming pistachios regularly can decrease the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body. The antioxidants, phytosterols, and unsaturated fatty acids are great for promoting a healthy heart. The nuts are a potent source of an amino acid called l-arginine, which may prevent the hardening of arteries and the formation of blood clots.
3. May Aid in Weight Management
Pistachios, with their lower calories, high protein, low saturated fat, and high unsaturated fats, are a perfect contender for ideal weight management. They are optimal choices for people in a diet. Researchers from the Center for Human Nutrition, California have confirmed its weight management properties.
4. May Aid in Digestion
Pistachios are a good source of dietary fiber, which aids in smooth digestion. A serving of about one ounce or 30 grams of pistachios contains about 3 grams of dietary fiber, more than enough to get your digestive tracts working at optimum capacity.
5. May Aid in Absorption of Iron
Pistachios have a high copper content, which helps in the higher absorption of iron into the body from food sources. This can help combat conditions like anemia as the hemoglobin count rises and increases blood flow.
6. May Aid in Skin Care
Pistachios helps in eliminating dryness from the skin. Healthy fatty acid content plays a major role in this aspect. The fat acts as a good carrier or base oil as it is used as an ingredient in traditional therapies like aromatherapy and traditional massage therapy.
7. May Control Diabetes
People with diabetes can benefit from pistachios. Antioxidants that are present in pistachios help in reducing the process of glycation – when sugars form inappropriate bonds with proteins and make them unusable. According to the Review of Diabetic Studies in 2014, it controls blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
8. Potentially Anti-Inflammatory
The presence of vitamin A, E, and other vitamins possess potentially anti-inflammatory properties, meaning that the incorporation of pistachios in healthy diet help in reducing inflammation in almost any part of the body.
9. Potential Neuroprotective
The possibly high amount of vitamin B6 present in pistachios helps in building the amino acids essential in transmitting nerve impulses. Thus, it can also play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy nervous system.
10. May Boost Immunity
Pistachios aid in boosting immunity due to the rich source of vitamin B6 present in them. They aid in building a strong immune system and help in protecting the body against various infections.
Indeed, pistachios are not just tasty but also very healthy. Start adding this versatile nut to your daily diet and enjoy its health benefits!
Stay healthy and safe!
