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Pistachio nuts are not only tasty and fun to eat but also super healthy.
These edible seeds of the Pistacia vera tree contain healthy fats and are a good source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants.
What’s more, they contain several essential nutrients and can aid weight loss and heart and gut health.
Interestingly, people have been eating pistachios since 7000 BC. Nowadays, they’re very popular in many dishes, including ice cream and desserts
Here are 9 evidence-based health benefits of pistachios.
Loaded with nutrients
Pistachios are very nutritious, with a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of about 49 pistachios containing the following
Calories: 159
Carbs: 8 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 6 grams
Fat: 13 grams (90% are unsaturated fats)
Potassium: 6% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
Phosphorus: 11% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 28% of the RDI
Thiamine: 21% of the RDI
Copper: 41% of the RDI
Manganese: 15% of the RDI
Notably, pistachios are one of the most vitamin B6-rich foods around.
Vitamin B6 is important for several bodily functions, including blood sugar regulation and the formation of hemoglobin, a molecule that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
Pistachios are also rich in potassium, with one ounce containing more potassium than half of a large banana
Summary
Pistachios are high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. They also boast several other important nutrients, including vitamin B6 and potassium.
High in antioxidants
Antioxidants are vital to your health.
They prevent cell damage and play a key role in reducing the risk of disease, such as cancer.
Pistachios contain more antioxidants than most other nuts and seeds. In fact, only walnuts and pecans contain more
In one 4-week study, participants who ate either one or two servings of pistachios per day had greater levels of lutein and γ-Tocopherol, compared with participants who did not eat pistachios
Among nuts, pistachios have the highest content of lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are very important antioxidants for eye health
They protect your eyes from damage caused by blue light and age-related macular degeneration, a condition in which your central vision is impaired or lost
Furthermore, two of the most abundant groups of antioxidants in pistachios — polyphenols and tocopherols — may help protect against cancer and heart disease
Interestingly, the antioxidants in pistachios are very accessible in the stomach. Therefore, they are more likely to be absorbed during digestion
Summary
Pistachios are among the most antioxidant-rich nuts around. They’re high in lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which promote eye health.
Low in calories yet high in protein
While eating nuts has many health benefits, they’re typically high in calories.
Fortunately, pistachios are among the lowest-calorie nuts.
One ounce (28 grams) of pistachios contains 159 calories, compared with 185 calories in walnuts and 193 calories in pecans
With protein comprising about 20% of their weight, pistachios are second only to almonds when it comes to protein content
They also have a higher ratio of essential amino acids — the building blocks of protein — than any other nut
These amino acids are considered essential because your body cannot make them, so you must obtain them from your diet.
Meanwhile, other amino acids are considered semi-essential, meaning that they can be essential under certain circumstances, depending on the health of the individual.
One of these semi-essential amino acids is L-arginine, which accounts for 2% of the amino acids in pistachios. It’s converted into nitric oxide in your body, which is a compound that causes your blood vessels to dilate, aiding blood flow
Summary
Pistachios contain fewer calories and more protein than most other nuts. Also, their essential amino acid content is higher than any other nut.
Written by: Audur Benediktosdotti M.S.