The dried fruit that can help you sleep better and boost your sex life

• Foods that will help you sleep

Jack N. Losso and M. Yeboah-Awudzi, researchers at the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences at Louisiana State University (United States), have revealed 'the identity' of the dried fruit that can become our great ally for beat insomnia problems: pistachio .

In their study 'Melatonin content in raw and roasted American pistachios,' Losso and M. Yeboah-Awudz determined that raw American pistachios contain 660 ng / grams of melatonin (656 ± 6 ng (1), roasted). they are well above those found in other nuts or foods, such as nuts (10 ng / g; most fruits (between 0.05 and 15.00 ng / grams FW); vegetables (0.04 and 18 , 15 ng / grams FW); cereals (1.0 and 125.0 ng / grams FW); or legumes, (0.5 and 10.0 ng / grams FW).

Also known as a sleep hormone, melatononia is produced in our brain (in the pineal gland) in response to darkness (when ambient light decreases) and is maximum between approximately two and four hours. Its deficit can cause disorders to fall asleep. In addition to being recommended as an initial insomnia treatment , melatonin may be beneficial for the regulation of circadian rhythm (delayed dreams, 'jet lag', sleep-wake cycle adjustment).

But, beyond its melatonin content, pistachios are also "very rich in magnesium which, among many other functions, helps eliminate stress and sleep," explains María Amaro, a nutrition specialist at the Feel Good Clinic. (Madrid).

SEXUAL SATISFACTION

Pistachios are not only good in bed to sleep. They can also improve the quality of sexual intercourse , as studies such as those carried out by scientists at the Atatürk University Hospital and Research Center in Ankara (Turkey) have shown. Published in the 'International Journal of Impotence Research', this report showed that 17 men who added 100 grams of pistachios to their diet for three weeks experienced marked improvements in their performance, excitement and satisfaction.

"Erectile dysfunction is related to heart disease or cardiovascular problems because, in order to maintain an erection, relaxation of the blood vessels is necessary. Pistachios, because of their contribution in unsaturated and monounsaturated fats , help maintain normal blood cholesterol and, by improving the circulation of penile tissues, they improve sexual performance, "explains Dr. Amaro.

Similarly, this dried fruit, known as that of happiness or love in many cultures, is "an important source of selenium (antioxidant mineral that protects the heart and neutralizes free radicals), which contributes to normal spermatogenesis. ". Also zinc , which "can help improve fertility and maintain blood testosterone levels within normal parameters."

The question is: how many pistachios should be taken per day to benefit from all its benefits? "About 20 pistachios, which would give us the same amount of potassium as a banana, to give an example. The problem is that the action of peeling them generates the same addictive effect that we experience when eating pipes. Once it starts, it is difficult to stop ".

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