Pistachios: The Overlooked Superfood
Superfood as a term was nigh inescapable in 2016 where all the buzz was around quinoa, kale and fruits. Nuts and dry fruits as a whole were also promoted ruthlessly. While the thousand benefits of other superfoods are well known, let’s take a look at the one superfood which has been overlooked severely and unlike quite a few others, also tastes super good any way you take them.
Pistachios are like ice-cream. Everyone loves them and are more than willing to offer it to the next person. Unlike ice-cream though, you can eat upto 50 of these bad boys and still remain healthy! The American Food and Drugs Association (FDA) states that the upper limit for dry fruit consumption sould not be upwards of 1.5 ounces of nuts a day.
One ounce(28.35 grams) of nuts are perfectly healthy for an adult and even recommended. The best part about this is that an ounce of pistachios contain around 49 nuts! More than enough for a child to find all the pista shells to make a wonderful 2-D lion. The health benefits range from low caloric intake to a high fibre content.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study on nuts and out of the eight selected nuts, namely: pistachios(duh), cashew, almond, pecan, brazil, mecadamia, walnut, hazelnut, they found out that while there may be a wide range of nuts to choose from, when it comes to healthy eating habits, pistachios are at the clear top of the chain.
An ounce pistachio has the joint lowest calorie count out of the eight nuts in question with a single serving amounting to just 160 calories. It also has the lowest fat content to keep you slim trim an fit with a low saturated fat quantity.
On to the good things, pistas give you ample protein and are the numero uno in the lineup with a whooping 6 grams of protein in each serving. Fibre keeps you full and reduces cravings for unhealthy food like cashews and macadamia. Pistachios seem to counteract the other nuts by making you full and giving 3 grams of roughage just behind almond’s 3.5.
These little shelled green-purple pearls can be enjoyed in any way you like as well. Pop a little salt and they taste tangy. Roasted nuts are always great but roasted pistachios taste heavenly in their own right. Just be aware of not eating more that a handful.
Our verdict: if you are binging your favourite series and feel like your tounge is getting lonesome, pop a pocket of pistachios and enjoy the salty, tingy taste while getting all the goods and not feeling an ounce of guilt.
Happy healthy snacking!
