Pistachios are one of the healthiest among the nuts and a nutritional powerhouse. They might be a hassle to consume because of the external shell, however, they provide an extensive of macro and micronutrients that supercharge our overall body health. Most importantly, they are extremely delicious to snack on!
8 Facts About Pistachios
Here are eight interesting facts about Pistachios that you might not know! From their unique origin, nutritional content boosts health benefits and symbolic meaning. Let's dive right in to learn more about the Pistachios.
1. Where are Pistachios Originally From?
There is evidence that Pistachios were consumed as early as 300,000 years, a period whereby civilization had not yet existed.
Fast forward to 6000 BC, some traces of the pistachios were found in western Asia region - Afghanistan and southeastern Iran. Although a full-fledged civilization did not yet exist, the traces of pistachios prove that there is some cultivation of the nuts in the region.
Today, pistachios trees are cultivated in various parts of the world and are readily available for consumers worldwide.
2. Pistachios are From Which Plant?
The scientific name of the Pistachio tree is named Pistacia vera and surprisingly, cashews are closely related because they are both from the botanical family - Anacardiaceae. However, this also means if you are allergic to Cashew, there's a possibility you might be allergic to Pistachio too.
3. Pistachios with Low Calories
Compared to the commonly consumed nuts, Pistachios contain one of the lower calorie nuts making them an excellent choice as a healthy snack. They are also great for weight management because of their lower calories.
4. How does Pistachios Taste & Look?
Pistachios have a light crunchiness and a creamy texture which are highly enticing and keep you wanting more. The pistachio nut has a vibrant greenish and purple hue, encased in an external hardshell. During the pistachio nut growth process, the size grew and popped open the external shell. This is where it gets its distinctive look of a semi-opened shell with a visible nut.
5. Pistachios Nutrition
Pistachios are rich in nutrition, providing protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Here's the nutrient profile based on one ounce (28 grams) of pistachio nuts, raw:
- Calorie: 161 Kcal per 28g serving
- Protein: 5.95g
- Total Fat: 13g
- Carbohydrates: 7.82
- Dietary Fiber: 2.92g
- Magnesium: 7.4% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Potassium: 6.1% of the DV
- Copper: 41% of the DV
- Zinc: 6% of the DV
- Manganese: 15.3% of the DV
- Vitamin B-6: 18.7% of the DV
Pistachios are particularly rich in copper, vitamin B-6, and fat which support various aspects of our body's health and maintenance.
6. Health Benefits of Pistachios
With the exceptional nutrition found in Pistachios, the nutrients help to support several health benefits for our body. Below are some of the rich nutrients of Pistachio that are beneficial and support specific functions of our body.
Support Brain Health & Nervous System:
Copper from the pistachios helps to support our nervous system by acting as a point of communication between our brain cells. Furthermore, vitamin b-6 is the main fuel of our brain cells for optimal function. These could help to improve memory and focus.
Support Heart Health:
Pistachios are a good source of unsaturated (healthy) fats, particularly monounsaturated fats, which can help lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and raise HDL ("good") cholesterol, promoting a healthy heart.
Healthy Immune System:
Vitamin B-6 from Pistachios plays a role in immune function by supporting the production of white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off infections.
7. Known as 'Happy Nuts' in Chinese
In Chinese, pistachios are known as "开心果“ which translates to "Happy Nuts". This is because the split-open shell resembles a smiling face and they are given as gifts for special occasions such as Chinese New Year.
8. Pistachio is Not Exactly a Nut
Pistachios are classified as a drupe, which is a fruit with a hard outer shell and a single seed inside. Even though we commonly call them nuts, pistachios share more characteristics with fruits than true nuts like almonds or walnuts.
Are Pistachios Good For You?
In a nutshell, Pistachios are visually enticing and of course, the looks aligned with their taste, tasty! These little nuts provide excellent nutrition and are a better alternative as a healthy snack.
While Pistachios are a healthy snack, it is also recommended to consume in moderation and not exceed more than a handful portion. These nuts are nutrition-dense and overconsumption could lead to high calorie intake. When eating in moderation, they provide several nutrients that are beneficial to our body's health.
- Support healthy heart.
- Weight management.
- Help with diabetes and hypertension.
- Improves digestive health.
- Decreases high cholesterol.
- Reduces risk of heart attack and strokes.
Making them a tiny powerhouse for overall health!
Reference List
Pistachio Nuts (Pistacia vera L.): Production, Nutrients, Bioactives and Novel Health Effects
