Originally from Western Asia, but widely known for years in Mediterranean, Pistachios have been commercially cultivated in the English speaking world in New Mexico, Australia and in California where it was historically introduced in year 1854 as a garden tree. It is one of the 2 nuts mentioned in the Bible and these days, another nutritious, delicious nut to snack on and benefit from. There are vast numbers of benefits that this nut can give you. Here are some benefits of pistachios that might make you want to include them in your lifestyle.
The Top Cacao Powder Benefits
- Diabetes Help
Eating these nuts may help you prevent diabetes specifically Type 2. Sixty percent of the recommended daily value of the phosphorous mineral is contained in just 1 cup of pistachios.
- Heart Health
This nut has been shown to decrease LDL or the so called bad cholesterol in the body and increases the good ones after only a short span of regular consumption. This is high in antioxidants like Vitamins E and A. They fight inflammation, reduce the risk of heart disease and protect blood vessels. Even a mild intake of these nuts has been shown to raise levels of lutein, an antioxidant well known for protecting against oxidized bad cholesterol, reducing risks of heart disease.
- Healthy Blood
It is an incredibly rich source of vitamin B6. This vitamin is important to make hemoglobin, the mineral responsible for carrying oxygen through your bloodstream to cells and is also shown to raise the oxygen amount carried.
- Eye Health
It also contains 2 carotenoids that are not found in most nuts. Called zeaxanthin and lutein, these carotenoids function as protective antioxidants that defend tissues from damage due to free radicals. They’ve been associated with reduced risk of developing age related macular degeneration that is the leading cause of acquired blindness and visual impairment in the US.
- Nervous System
Pistachios are abundant in Vitamin B6 which has vast effects on the nervous system. Called amines, messaging molecules require amino acids to develop, which rely on vitamin B6 for their creation. Additionally, this vitamin plays a key role in myelin formation, which is the insulating sheath around the nerve fibers that lets optimal messaging between nerves. Moreover, it also contributes to the synthesis of melatomi, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA and epinephrine, an amino acid which calms the transmission of nerve impulses all over the nervous system.
- Skin Health
This nut is also an excellent source of vitamin E, which is a dominant fat soluble antioxidant, significant for maintaining the cell membranes’ integrity and frequently recommended for beautiful and healthy skin. It does an important job to protect the skin from ultraviolet damage which provides daily defense against premature skin aging.
- Immune System
In order to have a healthy immune system, your body must have ample amount of Vitamin B6. Inadequate vitamin B6 can decrease the effectiveness of the immune system and retard brain activity. Thus, pistachios have ample amounts of this vitamin which can maintain the lymphoid gland’s health.
