Besides being really very tasty, pistachios have properties that make them a more than healthy food. Among its benefits, it can be noted that they can accelerate metabolism, reduce cholesterol levels and reduce premature aging. In turn, it can also improve cardiovascular health.
The benefits of pistachios
These are the reasons why you should consume pistachios every day to take advantage of all the benefits that the use of this food implies as part of your daily diet:
1. They are antioxidants
Pistachios contain a powerful antioxidant called lutein. This component prevents the accumulation of fat around the walls of the arteries of the heart and blood vessels and prevents inflammation. Therefore, consuming pistachios for only a few days will lower your cholesterol levels by about 20%.
2. Rich in fiber
These nuts are also rich in fiber, which is essential for increasing metabolism and improving digestive functions of the body. Only 100 g of pistachios contain this fiber necessary to improve the function and performance of the intestine.
3. They help regulate sugar levels
Pistachios regulate blood sugar levels. Just one cup of pistachios contains 60% of the RDA for phosphorus. This mineral is essential for breaking down proteins and amino acids, and stimulates glucose tolerance.
4. Maintain the weight
If you like to snack with pistachios, this can help you control your weight by limiting your portions. The fiber content in pistachios provides satiety, which will help you eat fewer calories throughout the day. A study published in the " Journal of the American College of Nutrition " in June 2010 identified that participants who consumed 240 calories from pistachios for 12 weeks lowered their body mass indexes and triglyceride levels, compared to those who consumed 220 calories in breads and other pastas.
5. Avoid premature aging
Pistachios are foods that can significantly reduce premature aging of the skin. They are also called natural botox due to the large number of antioxidants they contain, which are essential for revitalizing the body. If you want to fight premature wrinkles, you can get a daily intake of between 5 to 10 pistachios a day.
6. Eliminates dry skin
The pistachios may also help eliminate dry skin. Saturated fat plays an important role in this regard. Fat also acts as a good carrier or base oil that is used as an ingredient in traditional therapies such as aromatherapy and traditional massage therapy.
7. Iron absorption
Pistachios are high in copper, which helps to better absorb iron from the food we eat. This can help fight diseases such as anaemia and other diseases related to iron deficiency.
8. Nervous system
Pistachios contain vitamin B6 which has a large number of effects on the nervous system. Molecules called amines require amino acids to develop, and these need vitamin B6 in turn.
Vitamin B6 also plays a fundamental role in the formation of myelin, which is an insulator around nerve fibers which allows a more efficient connection between nerves. Additionally, vitamin B6 contributes to the synthesis of serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine, and gamma acid.
Pistachios are an ally in the fight against stress
Pistachios, in addition to being a good food to consider for a diet that helps us to counteract the effects of stress, also reduces blood pressure, peripheral vascular resistance and heart rate in situations of acute stress.
The benefits of nuts have been widely demonstrated in various scientific studies. Now, a new analysis has shown that a healthy diet supplemented with pistachios reduces blood pressure and heart rate in stressful situations, according to a study published in the journal Hypertension.
Effective in reducing blood pressure
Researchers from Pennsylvania State University (USA) conducted the trial with non-smoking adults who followed low-fat diets and with different amounts of pistachios.
The results indicated that participants on diets that included these nuts experienced reductions in blood pressure, peripheral vascular resistance and heart rate under acute stress.
"Everyday events like job stress, a short time to do a job, or speak in public can increase blood pressure, and we know we can't avoid all the stressors in our lives," says Sheila West, one of the authors. " The results of this study are important because they show that the food, we eat influences physiological responses to stress."
More properties of pistachios
Pistachio is a food with many nutritional properties. It is rich in vitamin E, vitamin B6 and B1, as well as containing minerals such as magnesium, iron and potassium. It is also high in fiber, which is why it helps improve intestinal transit and fight obesity.
"These results are very promising because they show that pistachios also have beneficial effects on another risk factor for cardiovascular disease,"
"The results of our previous studies indicate that adding pistachios to a healthy diet reduces LDL cholesterol concentrations in a dose-dependent manner and increases antioxidant concentrations in the blood."
If you want to obtain a healthy source to keep the body in optimal conditions, the daily consumption of pistachios can be an ally of your health.
Goals for weight loss can focus on outcomes or the process. An outcome goal what you hope to achieve in the end might be to lose a certain amount of weight. While this goal may give you a target, it doesn't address how you will reach it. A process goal is a necessary step to achieving a desired outcome.