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Pistachios

are a

nut that

is

highly appreciated for its

flavor

and is part of many diets for its

nutritional value

. If you want to know more about its

origin

, its

benefits

and how many you can eat a day, keep reading.

Where do pistachios come from?

Pistachios

are the fruit of

Pistacia vera

, a small tree a few meters high also known

as

alfoncigo

. According to

National Geographic

, it is a plant that comes from

the Middle East

, "from the most mountainous areas of

Syria

,

Turkey

,

Iran

and

Afghanistan

." However, it is currently grown in many other countries around the world, including

Spain

.

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The properties of pistachios

Pistachios

are a

nut

with a

hard

shell

that is usually open when picked. This food provides different

nutrients

in a balanced way: 20.6% vegetable proteins, 15.6%

carbohydrates

, 6.5%

fiber

and 44.4%

fats

, of which the vast majority They are

healthy

, according to Dr.

Daniel González

. They are also a source of

minerals

such as

calcium

,

magnesium

,

zinc

,

potassium

and

phosphorus

.

What are pistachios good for?

  • They improve

    heart health

    and

    cholesterol

    .

  • They reduce

    stress

    .

  • They fight

    anemia

    by being rich in iron.

  • They improve

    cardiovascular health

    .

  • They control blood sugar

    level

    .

  • They are

    antioxidants

    .

  • They promote

    intestinal transit

    .

  • They contribute to the maintenance of

    bones

    .

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Is it good to eat pistachios every day?

Dr.

González

highlights that

nuts do not make you fat

unless they are consumed in excess: "They have a lot of

fiber

and are very

satiating

." It is not harmful to your health to eat one or two handfuls daily. "The

recommended serving

of

pistachios

per day should not exceed

30 or 40 grams

, which is equivalent to about

40 or 50

medium-sized shelled pistachios," details the

Pistamed

brand .

Is it good to eat pistachios during pregnancy?

Saber Vivir

experts

explain that

eating pistachios

in a moderate amount, preferably

raw

and

organic

, can be beneficial for pregnant women who have

difficulties regulating

blood sugar

levels

. Therefore, they are useful against

gestational diabetes

.

What vitamins do pistachios have?

Pistachios

provide the body with the

following

vitamins

:

  • Vitamin A

    : contributes to maintaining the

    immune system

    and taking care of

    eyesight

    . It also works as

    an antioxidant

    that protects cells against

    free radicals

    .

  • Vitamin B6

    or

    pyridoxine

    : helps produce

    antibodies

    and

    hemoglobin

    , break down

    proteins

    , maintain

    normal

    neurological function , regulate

    blood sugar

    , and prevent hair loss.

  • Vitamin B9

    or

    folic acid :

    involved

    in

    protein

    metabolism

    and the

    synthesis

    of

    red blood cells

    ,

    white blood cells

    ,

    DNA

    and

    RNA

    . It is very important for

    pregnant women

    , since

    it protects

    the

    embryo

    from possible malformations. It is also essential for the

    growth

    and proper functioning of

    cells

    .

  • Vitamin E :

    Mayo Clinic

    experts

    highlight that it is an important nutrient for

    vision

    ,

    reproduction ,

    blood

    ,

    brain

    and

    skin

    health

    . It also has

    antioxidant

    properties .

  • Vitamin K

    : It is useful for taking care of

    bones

    and

    tissues

    ,

    as well as for

    blood

    clotting

    .

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The (sexual) benefits of pistachios

Pistachios

help combat

erectile dysfunction

problems , according to a study carried out by the

Atatürk University Hospital and Research Center in Ankara

(Turkey): "We showed that a diet with pistachios improved the

IIEF

(

International Index of Erectile Function) without any side effects associated in patients with

erectile dysfunction

." These

nuts

are rich in

arginine

, an

essential

amino acid that has a

vasodilating

effect and helps improve blood flow.

A woman and a man in bedTOA HEFTIBA / UNSPLASH

Do pistachios improve fertility?

Pistamed

, a

brand focused on the cultivation and sale of

pistachios

, explains how this food helps

improve

fertility

.

The

nut

is a natural source of zinc, a mineral that "helps improve

reproductive function and maintains

testosterone

levels

in the

blood

." It also offers

fatty acids

, such as

omega 3

: "They increase the levels of the

female hormone

that is responsible for the proper functioning of the menstrual cycle. In addition, they improve the

quality

of the

embryos

."

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Who should not eat pistachios?

If you tend to have

high blood pressure

or suffer from fluid retention problems, you should be careful with

pistachios

. It is a

food

that is often presented with

excess salt

, which can affect your health.

How fattening is pistachio?

This

food

is very caloric and can make you gain weight if you consume it in excess. An edible portion of

100 grams

of

pistachios

provides

611 kilocalories

, as specified by the

Spanish Nutrition Foundation

. You must keep in mind that they are marketed in different ways, so those with

added salt

and other

additives

have different

nutritional values

.

Pistachios forming a heartPIXABAY

What happens if I eat pistachios at night?

A

diet

that includes

pistachios

at

dinner

can help you

fall asleep

and sleep better, since these

nuts

are high in

melatonin

.

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What can you do with pistachio shells?

The

Crafts for Home

channel teaches in this short

YouTube

video how

to

recycle

pistachio

shells

to

decorate

pots

. You just have to stick them in a

container

and paint it. You will achieve a striking result to show off in your garden.

Where to store pistachios?

Store

pistachios

in an

airtight container

, such as a glass container with a lid or a resealable plastic bag. This is essential to preserve them and prevent them from coming into contact with

humidity

, which causes the

nuts

to oxidize. You should keep them away from

sunlight

in a cool

,

dry

place

. Furthermore, in summer it is recommended to put them in the

refrigerator

.

A jar of pistachiosPEXELS

When do pistachios expire?

The

OCU

(

Organization of Consumers and Users

) points out that

nuts do not expire

, so there is no problem eating

pistachios

after the

best-before date

indicated on their packaging, "as long as they are not opened or show signs of deterioration." . It also indicates that these foods may have a worse

flavor

and

texture

, since it is common for them to

soften

and lose their

properties

over time.

Easy recipes to eat more pistachios

If you want to increase your consumption of

pistachios

and include them in different

dishes

, below you will find

easy recipes

to prepare with this product.

A different salad with pistachios

Sara Mancebo

shares through the

TikTok

account (@saborea.saludable) the recipe for a

salad

that includes a handful of

chopped pistachios

and other foods

:

a

zucchini

, a little

cottage cheese

,

cherry tomatoes

cut in half,

Padrón peppers

,

salt

,

pepper

,

olive oil

and

Modena vinegar

.

Try the pistachio carbonara

Cristina Nutritionist shows the recipe for a

carbonara with pistachios

on TikTok

. In addition to the aforementioned nuts (she crushes them in the

Thermomix

), she uses

6 egg yolks

,

pasta

, fried

bacon strips

,

Parmesan

cheese ,

salt

and

water in the dish.

This is how you can prepare stuffed pistachio tartlets without an oven

Nuria Díaz

, a graduate in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, proposes

pistachio tartlets

for

dessert

that she makes

without an oven

. The base ingredients

are

150 grams of

pistachios

and 70 grams of

rolled oats

. The

filling

has other foods, such as a

banana

, 100 grams of

blueberries

and

Greek yogurt

. The

coverage

includes 60 grams of

unsweetened chocolate

and a teaspoon of coconut oil.

Savor this cheesecake with pistachios

Pistachios

are

also present in many

cakes

. For example, the one taught by

Zaira Pons

, who shares recipes for a keto diet on

Instagram

. The

base

of her

cheesecake

is made up of 120 grams of

almond flour

, 20 grams of

pistachio cream

and 20 grams of melted

butter

. For the

filling,

use 250 grams of

cream cheese

, 250 grams of

mascarpone cheese

, 250 milliliters of

cream

, between 20 and 40 grams of

granulated erythritol

, 50 grams of

pistachio cream

, a few drops of

vanilla essence

and three

large

eggs

. If you want to decorate the dessert, she suggests using 20 grams of

white chocolate

melted in a bain-marie, 20 grams of

pistachio cream

and a handful of these chopped nuts.

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