Nuts are considered to be a popular snack and ingredient for main dishes and sweet treats. If you love to eat eat nuts, then pistachios are one of the healthier options.
Pistachios are full of important nutrients and health benefits. These help you to control your body weight and lowers your risk for heart problems.
Health Benefits of Pistachios:
1. Brain Health
Pistachios contain vitamin B6, which helps in increasing the haemoglobin count in the blood. This oxygen rich blood is then supplied to the brsupplied to you brain, which makes it more active.
2. Diabetes Help
Consumption of pistachios may help prevent Type 2 diabetes. Just 1 cup of pistachios contained 60% of the recommended daily value of the mineral phosphorous. Added to that are its ability to break down proteins into amino acids and phosphorous which helps in glucose tolerance.
3. Eye Health
Pistachios contain two carotenoids which are not commonly found in most nuts. These carotenoids, are zeaxanthin and lutein, which function as protective antioxidants, protecting the tissues from free radical damage.
It has also been linked with a decrease risk for developing age-related macular degeneration, known to be the leading cause of visual impairments and acquired blindness.
4. Heart Health
Pistachios can help lower your cholesterol level. A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have proven that people who consumed a low-calorie diet with 10%-20% of their total calories in the form of pistachios for 4 weeks, lowered their cholesterol more than participants who followed the Step 1 diet for lowering cholesterol.
Pistachios also have l-arginine, which helps make the lining of your arteries more flexible, which lowers your risk of developing blood clots that may cause a heart attack. Added to that is the vitamin E, which prevents your arteries to be clogged with plaque.
5. Nutrition Powerhouse
Compare to other nuts, pistachios contain more potassium, fewer calories and more vitamin K per serving. An ounce serving of roasted pistachios contains about 2 grams of saturated fat, 3 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein, 15 grams of fat and 160 calories.
It also provides 10% of the daily value for magnesium, 15% of the daily value for thiamine and phosphorus and 25% of the daily value for vitamin B-6.
6. Maintains Skin Health
Pistachios are rich in vitamin E, a fat soluble antioxidant. This antioxidant plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin. It helps protect your skin from sun damage, which reduces the risk for sunburn and skin cancer.
7. Weight Management
The fiber content in pistachios make them a healthy, filling snack with fewer calories. A study published in the “Journal of the American College of Nutrition” found that participants who consumed at least 240 calories worth of pistachios for at least 12 weeks lowered their triglyceride levels and body mass indexes, compared to those who consumed 220 calories worth of pretzels.
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