Pistachios: Properties, Benefits, And Calories

Rich in fiber, they counteract anemia and constipation.  The pistachios are an extraordinary natural cure for our health. Woe to waste them. They fight constipation, help maintain a healthy weight, and even make hair firmer. 

Properties And Benefits Of Pistachios

The scientific name of the pistachio is “Pistacia vera,” a fruit tree that belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. This tree reaches a height of about ten meters and produces the seed, enclosed in a typical woody shell that ripens at the end of summer and is used to eating. Pistachio originates from the East, although today, it is also grown in California, Spain, Italy, and many other areas of the Mediterranean.

What Are Pistachios

Pistachios are delicious when eaten alone or, if included in recipes, both savory and sweet. The Bronte pistachios have obtained the DOP mark. The variety of pistachio that is most consumed. On the market, they can be found both peeled and whole or in the form of grains.

Benefits Of Pistachios

Eating pistachios means bringing numerous benefits to our body as there are many properties of these seeds. Let’s see together what are the benefits of pistachios :

1. If associated with a balanced diet and a little physical activity, pistachios help maintain a healthy weight because they give a sense of immediate satiety that inhibits the continuous sense of hunger. Precisely because they are rich in fiber, they also fight constipation.
2. As rich in potassium, pistachios help to keep high blood pressure under control, promoting vasodilation.
3. Pistachios lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, thanks to monounsaturated fats inside them. Furthermore, the presence of vitamin B6 stimulates the production of hemoglobin which oxygenates the blood. It is enough to consume about 29 pistachios a day to bring these benefits to the body.
4. Pistachios prevent type two diabetes because they are rich in mineral salts. In addition, the phosphorus present in them also keeps glucose in check and breaks down amino acids.
5. Pistachios contain copper, which promotes the absorption of iron and therefore are excellent for fighting anemia.
6. Vitamin B6, mentioned above, also stimulates the production of myelin, a substance that presides over the exchange of information between the brain’s nerve fibers. Pistachios reduce stress and promote a good mood.
7. Thanks to the content of Omega 3, Omega 6, and folic acid, pistachios are excellent in pregnancy because they help the correct development of the fetus.
8. Pistachios are considered a powerful anticancer, especially for lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer, because they are rich in beta-carotene.
9. Pistachios, rich in selenium, zinc, lutein, and vitamin H, care for hair and skin. With pistachio oil, on the other hand, skin dryness is combated by making healthy and highly hydrating massages.

How To Consume Pistachios

Pistachios bring numerous benefits, as we have already specified, and for the benefit to be tangible, it is necessary to eat about 30 grams per day with an intake of 170 kcal. It is even better if you eat them to break the hunger in the middle of the morning or as a snack. Pistachios are excellent for preparing many dishes, both savory and sweet, from cakes to creams up to ice cream. Mortadella is also flavored with pistachios.

Calories Of Pistachios

Pistachio has a high-calorie content. About 100 grams of pistachios contain 570 Kcal. As we have already said, the recommended daily dose is 30 grams (equal to 49 pistachios). These, once shelled, have 165 calories, which is the ideal quantity to bring significant benefits to the body. Furthermore, pistachios contain water, 21% protein, mineral salts, fats, sugars, and many antioxidants and folates that slow down the aging process.

Do Pistachios Get Fat?

Pistachios are very caloric but, despite this, they are full of merits. We have already talked about the richness of minerals and antioxidants. What can be added is that they do not make you fat if consumed with the right moderation. Pistachios, on the contrary, help to maintain weight. Being rich in magnesium and potassium, they promote blood circulation and counteract swelling. In addition, they are full of fiber and Omega 3 fats that moderate the blood sugar level, causing peaks of hunger. 

Thanks to the high content of vitamin B6, the metabolism uses it to transform food into energy and help the body consume more and better. They should always be consumed naturally, obviously, therefore unsalted and toasted, since the latter are more caloric and rich in sodium, which is harmful to the figure. Pistachios are healthy for breakfast, perhaps together with muesli, because they are rich in fiber and therefore bring a good sense of satiety.

Pistachios And Diabetes

According to some very recent studies, the consumption of pistachios helps prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. The appropriate consumption of this fruit, especially in subjects who are in a condition of pre-diabetes, lowers sugar levels in the blood, improves insulin metabolism, and improves blood glucose transformation. According to studies, the benefits against diabetes derive from the combination of unsaturated fats, antioxidants, fibers, and carotenoids present in pistachios. Pistachios are, therefore, panacea, along with all other dried fruit.

Contraindications Of Pistachios

Pistachios are strictly prohibited for anyone with peanut allergies. Of course, those who consume packaged pistachios must pay attention to the high salt content, which is harmful if you suffer from arterial hypertension. Pistachios, especially salty ones, should be avoided even if you are on a low-calorie diet unless you consume natural ones. The dietician can also include a balanced diet. Even children should avoid pistachios if they are unaware of any allergies, the symptoms of which range from itching to difficulty breathing to vomiting. Also to be avoided if you suffer from kidney problems, ulcers, liver problems.

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