Monday, October 12, 2009

What Are Pistachio Nuts Good For

Ripe and ready to eat pistachio nuts.


Today's society is growing more health conscious than ever before. With this recent health boom, the pistachio nut is a rising star. This tiny nut packs a big punch with its many health benefits, proving that sometimes big things come in small packages.


Pistachio Nuts


This little nut holds the key to help boost your health. Out of all varieties of nuts, the pistachio is among those with a lower count in calories. The recommended serving size for plain pistachios is one ounce, which totals about 49 pistachios. That serving size equals about 170 calories. When buying pistachios, many different options range from the color of the shell, salted or unsalted, raw, roasted and flavored. The calorie count will vary depending on which kind you choose so be sure to always read the labels.


Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases


Studies have shown that if you eat at least two ounces of pistachio nuts each day, it will reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases. A nut cannot work alone, so if you are adding pistachios to your diet for health benefits, you will also want to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly. If you lead an unhealthy lifestyle, your risk of disease will still remain high.


Antioxidant-Rich


Pistachios add much needed antioxidants to your body. Free radicals enter your body and can make you sick. Consuming pistachio nuts gives your body the antioxidants it needs to fight these free radicals and maintain your body's health and well being. A study done by the USDA placed pistachios among the highest rated group for foods with the largest amount antioxidants.


Fats to Keep Your Body and Weight Healthy


Good fats, such as unsaturated fats, are needed in a daily diet. Pistachio nuts contain about 90 percent unsaturated fats, which are not only good for your body; it's good for keeping your figure. Pistachios also provide you with fiber to keep your body feeling full and satisfied for a longer period of time. This can prevent over eating and unnecessary snacking which can lead to unhealthy weight gain.


Nutrient Rich


Along with pistachios being packed with fiber, they are also loaded with many of the vitamins and minerals that you need to stay healthy. Potassium, copper, manganese and B6 are all packaged into these tiny shells and ready for you to enjoy.







Tags: your body, health benefits, lead unhealthy, pistachio nuts, serving size