Pistachios for Health

I was watching the Dr. Oz show the other day and he had Dr. Andrew Weil as a guest.  It was very interesting to hear of some health essentials that Dr. Weil suggests as important for overall health.  One of the things he noted was the benefits of pistachios.  Pistachios are loaded with antioxidants.  They are also helpful with many everyday issues such as indigestion, heartburn, stomach pain, acid reflux, and IBS.  This show sparked my interest in pistachios and I decided to find out more about this beneficial nut and how I can add more of it to my healthy eating plan.

The first interesting fact that I would like to mention is the relation of pistachios to the Bible.  The pistachio is one of the oldest flowering nut trees and one of the two nut trees mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 43:11.  I thought this was neat for my sprouted grain bread (Ezekiel Bread) also has a connection to the Bible, Ezekiel 4:9. 

 History of Pistachios:
Pistachios are related to the mango fruit and the spice sumac.  They grow in grape like clusters.  When they ripen in late summer or early autumn the pistachio kernel fills inside the shell so fast it splits the shell.  The pistachio must be hulled and dried immediately to preserve their delicate quality.  I found this information interesting for I thought the shell split when the nuts were roasted however that is not the case it happens when they grow rapidly.   In America they were once dyed red to disguise shell imperfections and make the nuts stand out in vending machines.  Pistachios are a relatively new crop in the United States.  Before 1970 no domestic pistachio industry existed.  Today California produces 300 million pounds of pistachios and that is about 98 percent of the domestic crop.  Pistachios got their beginning in America as they were added to ice cream.(1)

Health facts/benefits:
They contain pre-biotics which feed the good bacteria in the gut.  Pistachios are free of transfat and 90% of the fat in pistachios is healthy fat and they are full of fiber and protein.  This makes them a great snack for the fiber makes you feel fuller quicker and satisfies cravings. They contain as much potassium as an orange and have as much fiber as two plums.  They contain 7 grams of monounsaturated fat and 4 grams of polyunsaturated with 3 grams of fiber per serving.(2) 

A serving of pistachios is about 47 nuts which equal 158 calories. These are a very healthy food and are considered a "Super Food".  I have been including them in my daily diet and especially enjoy them as a snack between mini meals.   I have seen a big difference in helping with my heartburn. 

References:
1-Pistachio Health: 2012, California
2-Dr. Oz Show, November 2012