Pistachios: Benefits, Properties, and Contraindications

I pistachios They are an extraordinary natural cure-all for our health. Beware of wasting them. They fight constipation, help maintain ideal weight, and even make the hairSo many qualities, so many benefits. Furthermore, pistachios, which can be used in so many ways, represent a classic Made in Italy excellence.

One hundred grams of pistachios contain:

• 83% lipids
• 12% protein
• 5% carbohydrates

And they bring:

• 3,9 g of water
• protein
• 56,1 g of lipids
• 3,3 g of starch
• 4,5 g of soluble sugars
• 10,6 g of fiber

Pistachios are also rich in vitamins A, B6, C and E, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and sodium.

Il pistachio owns a high calorie contentApproximately 100 grams of pistachios contain 570 kcal. The recommended daily intake, as mentioned, is 30 grams (equivalent to 49 pistachios). Once shelled, pistachios contain 165 calories, which is the ideal amount for significant benefits to the body. Pistachios also contain water, 21% protein, minerals, fats, sugars, and plenty of antioxidants and folates, which slow the aging process.

I pistachios They are delicious when eaten alone or when added to recipes, both savory and sweet. Famous in Italy are the pistachios from Bronte, a Sicilian town in the province of Catania. Bronte pistachios have obtained the DOP brandThe pistachio variety most consumed in Italy is the Bianca. They can be found peeled, whole, or in pods.

Eating pistachios brings numerous benefits to our body, as these seeds possess numerous properties. Let's take a look at the benefits of pistachios :

• If combined with a balanced diet and a little physical activity, pistachios help maintain a healthy weight because they give an immediate sense of well-being. satiety which inhibits the constant feeling of hunger. Precisely because they are rich in fibre, they also fight constipation.
• Since they are rich in potassium, pistachios help keep blood sugar under control. high pressure, promoting vasodilation.
• Pistachios lower the level of cholesterol bad in the blood, thanks to the presence of monounsaturated fats. Furthermore, the presence of vitamin B6 stimulates the production of hemoglobin, which oxygenates the blood. Consuming about 29 pistachios a day is enough to provide these benefits to the body.
• Pistachios prevent diabetes type two, because they are rich in mineral salts. Furthermore, the phosphorus present in them also controls glucose levels and breaks down amino acids.
• Pistachios contain copper which promotes the absorption of iron and are therefore excellent for fightinganemia.
• Vitamin B6, mentioned above, also stimulates the production of myelin, a substance that controls the exchange of information between nerve fibers in the brain. Pistachios reduce stress and promote good mood.
• Thanks to their content of Omega 3, Omega 6 and folic acid, pistachios are excellent during pregnancy because they help the correct fetal development.
• Pistachios are considered a powerful anticancer, especially with regards to lung, breast and pancreatic cancer, because they are rich in beta-carotene.
• Pistachios, rich in selenium, zinc, lutein, and vitamin H, care for hair and skin. Pistachio oil, on the other hand, combats hair loss. dry skin, doing healthy and very hydrating massages.
• They also contain precious vegetable proteins.

Bronte Pistachio

Bronte pistachios are oblong and slightly flattened. They have a purplish, woody shell and an emerald green fruit, rich in chlorophyll. Their flavor is sweet and highly aromatic, which is why they are not salted or roasted. To verify a genuine Bronte pistachio , it must bear the "Pistacchio verde di Bronte DOP" designation, which guarantees its quality and origin.

Stigliano pistachio

Another quality Italian pistachio is the Stigliano pistachio , in the province of Matera. The Stigliano pistachio comes directly from Greece, where entrepreneur Innocenzo Colangelo traveled in the 1990s to import this variety, which later became a fully-fledged Italian product. Stigliano, located in the Lucanian Dolomites, is a particularly favorable area for growing this fruit, which has become a prominent part of Italian cuisine.

Variety of pistachios

Turkish pistachios are also excellent , especially the Antep and Siirt varieties. The Antep variety, grown in the west, is small and very sweet, and is used to make the sweet baklava, a pastry filled with chopped almonds and honey syrup. The Siirt variety, grown in the east, is rich and softer and is considered a true snack.

The United States also boasts a large pistachio production, especially California, where the warm climate favors their growth. The Californian pistachio is one of the most renowned; it is rich in fat, salty, and widely used in cooking.

How to consume

Pistachios offer numerous benefits, as we've already mentioned, and for the benefits to be tangible, you need to eat about 30 grams a day, providing 170 kcal. They 're even better if eaten as a hunger buster, mid-morning or as a snack. Pistachios are excellent in a variety of dishes, both savory and sweet, from cakes to custards and even ice cream. Pistachios are also used to flavor mortadella.

Controindicazioni

Pistachios are absolutely forbidden for anyone with peanut allergies . Those who consume packaged pistachios, however, should be careful of their high salt content, which can be harmful to those with high blood pressure. Pistachios, especially salted ones, should be avoided even if you're on a low-calorie diet, unless you consume natural pistachios, which a dietitian can also recommend as part of a balanced diet. Children should also avoid pistachios unless they're aware of any allergies, symptoms of which range from itching to difficulty breathing and even vomiting. They should also be avoided by those with kidney problems, ulcers, and liver problems.