Pistachios Are Good For Your Health
By Babak Vaziri
Pistachios are one of the oldest of all flowering nut trees. We humans have been consuming pistachios for thousands of years. The pistachio tree grows best in hot and dry climates and can be found growing in abundance in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Pistachios are a very healthy snack food choice as they supply essential nutrients to the body, help to stabilize blood sugar levels and are satisfying. They alleviate hunger while providing energy to the body.
The pistachio nut is naturally free from cholesterol and trans-fats and is low in calories. The nutrients in a pistachio nut are magnesium, phosphorus, thiamin, vitamin B6, copper, potassium, manganese and fiber. They are high in essential polyphenol antioxidants, making them an ideal snack to nibble on between meals. The pistachio contains 'good' fat, which is fat that helps you feel full longer. Pistachios are dry roasted also, meaning that they are naturally free of trans-fats. Pistachios are a great choice for diabetics because they are naturally low in carbohydrates and are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. They help keep blood sugar and insulin levels in check, which in turn reduce the risks of heart disease.
Pistachios contain as much vitamin B6 as beef liver which we all know is considered an especially rich source of vitamin B6. So, per serving, pistachios provide twenty percent of the daily recommended dosage. Many of us do not take in sufficient amounts of B6. Probably one of the greatest benefits of consuming pistachios is that eating them could keep heart disease at bay. It seems that they do indeed lower cholesterol which in turn keeps the arteries healthy. The nuts are nutrient rich, which reduce the hardening of the arteries. We are all aware that hardening in the arteries is one of the main causes of strokes and heart attacks.
During a study in the United States, a group of people supplemented their low-fat diets withpistachios. A few of them ate 1.5 ounces daily while others consumed twice that much, either as a snack or as a part of a meal. The third group did not consume any pistachios.
In just a month's time, the cholesterol levels dropped significantly amongst the pistachio eaters. This study proved that by consuming only three ounces of the nut a day can cut cholesterol levels by over eight percent and LDL or 'bad' cholesterol by over eleven percent.
The anti-oxidant that is in pistachios is called letein and this anti-oxidant is found in brightly colored fruits and leafy, green vegetables. Letein prevents cholesterol from blocking arteries. It is recommended that people, who eat pistachios on a regular basis, choose the un-salted variety over the salted, because eating too much salt raises blood pressure.
Most of us love to snack between meals and in the evenings. By choosing pistachios over potato or nacho chips for example, we are making a healthy choice, improving our overall health and should feel healthier for making a better snack choice. The pistachio nut is good for you and your heart.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Babak_Vaziri/138411
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