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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
One of The World's Greatest Snacks -- A Healthy Treat for a Lean BodyWhy pistachios not only taste delicious, but are also
jam-packed with nutrition for your lean healthy bodyby Cat Ebeling, RN, BSN & Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition
SpecialistSome people mistakenly think that pistachios are a "fattening" food... but despite having
loads of healthy fats, these yummy little snacks can actually HELP you to burn off stomach fat. Let's see why...Do you remember eating pistachios when they used to be dyed a deep
pinkish/red? They were always so delicious, but after eating a bunch of those bright "red" nuts, your fingers and
hands would be stained red.Pistachios, as we now
know, do not grow as magenta-colored nuts but come in a nice natural tan colored shell with a mild-tasting, crunchy, green
and yellow interior. Nuts have risen in popularity lately, but did you know that pistachios are probably one of the most nutritious
of all nuts? It's hard to compare anything to
the nutritional benefit of nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans... but pistachios give them a run for the money!Just a one-ounce serving of pistachios will give you over 30 vitamins, minerals and other super nutrients.One of the best things about nuts in general, is that they are full of minerals that are
VITAL to our body's proper functioning. And if you have paid much attention to nutrition news lately, you may be aware that
minerals are getting harder and harder to obtain from our diet, and many people are mineral-deficient in one way or another.So what are these great nutrients in pistachios? Well for starters, pistachios are full of copper, phosphorus, and
manganese (different from magnesium).Copper is made up of multiple enzymes that help to create many of the necessary biochemical
reactions in your body and also forms connective tissue. Manganese
also helps form connective and skeletal tissue, and is instrumental in growth, reproduction and (this is good!) carbohydrate
and fat metabolism. Phosphorus is very important for strong bones
and teeth and works with calcium to prevent osteoporosis.Other important minerals are magnesium -- necessary for
more than 300 different important biochemical reactions in your body, and good for your heart and blood pressure; potassium --an electrolyte that keeps the body in the correct acid/base balance
and also helps in forming proteins, metabolizing carbohydrates and building muscle.And there is more to this nutritional powerhouse...
Pistachios are a rich source of B vitamins. B vitamins are essential for good
nerve transmission, muscle building, a good mood, lots of energy, and infection-fighting power. They are also one of the highest
protein nuts (as well as healthy fats), so they make a great satisfying snack that keeps your blood sugar and insulin at a
good steady level.In one study on pistachios and
antioxidants, pistachios ranked up in the group with the highest amount of antioxidant activity above over 100 other foods.
Antioxidants help to prevent free radical damage, which saves your cells and prevents aging and disease among other things.We hear a lot about eye health and nutrients for the eyes lately,
and guess what-- pistachios contain generous amount of lutein and zeaxanthin
which prevent macular degeneration and other eye diseases related to aging.FiberLast but not least, pistachios are full of appetite satisfying fiber -- as much as a serving
of oatmeal.Nuts in general are a great source
of fiber, which is valuable for fighting cancer, controlling blood sugar, and aids in a feeling of fullness. Most people only
get about half the recommended amount of fiber they need in their diets, so eating pistachios will help add to your dietary
intake.Healthy FatsWhile
eating extremely large quantities of pistachios would be a LOT of calories... the good news is that the protein, good fats
and fiber in them are nutritious and satisfy so much of the nutrient needs of your body, it's VERY difficult to overeat them.Even when only eating small servings of these nuts, they have been
proven to provide a high rate of satiety. Besides, having to shell all those pistachios actually ends up making you eat them
a little more slowly, so the message to your brain that you are full happens on less nuts than if you were eating something
already out of its shell.Try to go for the all-natural
or organic pistachios with no salt of low salt. Some brands of pistachios are a bit heavy on the salt.
1:53 pm edt
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