10 Health Benefits Of Pistachio Nuts
Pistachios, which many of us have known and loved, are the delicious tree nut that always comes packed in little egg-shaped shells, ripe for the cracking. Pistachios were popular for thousands of years in the southern regions where they grow. Nowadays, they have spread throughout the world and are used in all sorts of different cuisines and dishes, from entrees to desserts like ice cream.
Pistachios, like other nuts, are a good source of a number of nutrients and can provide you with impressive health benefits. Of course, eating pistachios will provide you with the most benefits if you do it in conjunction with a healthy diet. Here are some of the things that pistachios are best known for helping with.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #1: Preventing Deficiencies
Pistachios are loaded with all sorts of nutrients. An ounce of pistachios, which equates to roughly 50 of them, will provide you with a hefty dose of vitamin B6, phosphorus, thiamin and manganese, and a decent amount of copper and potassium.
They contain quite a bit of fat, 12 grams in an ounce, but these are mostly healthy fats that provide a number of health benefits on their own. They are also a good source of fiber, with 3 grams, and have 6 grams of protein.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #2: Preventing Depression
Pistachios are a great source of B vitamins. In fact, they’re one of the best sources of vitamin B6 around. The B vitamins are important for the metabolization of sugars and nutrients, and they are closely related to a person’s ability to manage their mood.
Vitamin B deficiencies have been linked to anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, vegetarians and vegans are more likely to experience this because it can be difficult for them to get the B vitamins that they need from plant foods. For this reason, pistachios are a great thing for any vegetarian to include in their diet.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #3: Fighting Oxidation
Oxidative stress is a natural process that occurs as we age. It results in the degradation of the various tissues and organs in our body. Unfortunately, many of the things that we do in our daily lives can contribute to the process of oxidation. Things like smoking, pollution, fast food, and obesity can speed up the rate at which your cells oxidize.
This is one of the reasons that antioxidants are so popular – they slow down the speed at which oxidation can occur. Pistachios are a richer source of antioxidants than many other nuts, second only to walnuts and pecans.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #4: Low in Calories
While pistachios may not be as low in calories as foods like vegetables are, they are quite low when compared to other nuts. Nuts are all great for you, but they often pack quite the caloric punch. Pistachios can be a good alternative for people who want to eat lots of nuts but who don’t want to consume all the extra calories.
Macadamia nuts, in comparison, have about 204 calories per ounce, whereas pistachios only provide 159. Considering how much nutrition they contain, this is quite reasonable.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #5: Enhancing Eye Health
Pistachios contain significant sources of two very important antioxidants known as lutein and zeaxanthin. These are actually the only two antioxidants that are found in the macula, a part of the eye. This means that you’re going to want to get them in your diet if you hope to maintain optimal eyesight!
Both of these nutrients have been shown to reduce the development of eye problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. Both of these problems are currently the most common causes of blindness in the USA.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #6: Enhances Digestion
Another thing that pistachios are great for is enhancing digestion and improving the health of the gut. One of the ways that they do this is by providing the body with a healthy amount of fiber.
Fiber is important in many parts of our digestion. It helps to bulk up our stool so it passes easily. On the other hand, if we are constipated, it can help loosen us up to keep us regular.
Fiber is also important to help the body get rid of excess bile. Bile is a substance that picks up toxins, and it’s supposed to be excreted by sticking to fiber. However, if we don’t get enough fiber, the bile will be reabsorbed and can pose a health risk.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #7: Provides Vegetarian Protein
Pistachios are a pretty good source of protein, considering that they contain about 6 grams of it per ounce. This makes them more than 20% protein by weight, which is quite impressive for a plant food.
Some vegetarians and vegans have a difficult time getting enough protein in their diet. However, in addition to eating foods like lentils and beans, nuts can be a great protein source.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #8: Helps Manage Weight
Despite the fact that they contain a significant amount of fats, pistachios and other nuts have actually been linked to helping people manage their weight. Pistachios are an especially important nut for this because they contain fewer calories than many other nuts.
One study revealed that people who ate nearly 2 ounces of pistachios on a daily basis lost twice as much weight as people who were eating pretzels. There are a number of things that could account for this, including the fiber and the B vitamins present in pistachios.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #9: Enhances Heart Health
Pistachios and other nuts have been shown to be useful for helping to fight LDL cholesterol, thus improving heart health. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is considered the ‘bad’ cholesterol because it can stick to the walls of arteries, oxidize, and lead to disease.
HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, can sometimes sweep the body of LDL cholesterol, lowering the chances of LDL cholesterol. Many of the fatty acids found in pistachios can increase levels of HDL while also lowering levels of LDL.
Furthermore, pistachios contain a lot of antioxidants and phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients) that further help to enhance the function of the heart.
Health Benefit Of Pistachio Nuts #10: Enhances Sexual Health
Pistachios have also been shown to enhance sexual health, particularly in men. It was revealed that men who ate several ounces of pistachios on a daily basis experienced enhanced erectile function. This is because the combination of nutrients in the pistachio enhances blood flow throughout the body.
Just because the study was done on men doesn’t mean that women can’t experience some benefit as well. A healthy blood flow is important for all areas of sexual and everyday health.
