Pistachios: Heart Healthy, Figure Friendly
July 21, 2009 by Michelle Smith
Filed under Recipes
My daughter, Sarah, is a pistachio nut. Okay, well maybe not a nut-nut, but she sure is a big fan. Her favorite pistachio is Roasted and Salted. I agree with that choice, but the Salt and Pepper flavor would have to come in second. Have you tried the South of the Border flavor? Spicy.
Nuts, although high in fat, are a good healthy snack. The fat they contain is the “good” kind. It’s 90% unsaturated fat. It also contains Monounsaturated fat (55%) and Polyunsaturated fat (32%). Both of these types of fat help reduce blood cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart attack. A serving of 1 ounce of Pistachios has 170 calories and 3 grams of fiber.
Pistachios are rich in vitamins and minerals likes copper, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B5, thiamin, folate, biotin, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic.
Pistachios are a mindful snack. You can’t throw a hanful into your mouth. Instead you stop and open each one individually. Pistachios fit in with many of the popular diets, too. For example, 1 ounce or 49 nuts, works with Weight Watchers (4 points), the F-Factor Diet, the Atkins Diet, the South Beach, and the Zone Diets.
For more information, take a look at the Pistachio Health website.
Image credit: EverybodysNuts.com
