Featured today on Fiber Focus Friday is the amazingly awesome pistachio! Pistachios are pristine, perfect, and pack a powerful punch!
Pistachios are an extremely tasty nut variety that have a distinct flavor. They come in many different varieties, and are extremely good for you.
Let’s learn about pistachios shall we??
In this article you will be able to answer the following questions:
- Are pistachios good for you?
- What are some fun facts about pistachios?
- What are the different types of pistachios?
- Where do pistachios come from?
- What is the nutrition value of pistachios?
- Can I grow pistachios myself?
- And lastly, where you can find pistachios?
By the end you will know more about pistachios than you ever thought possible, and hopefully you will jump right out of bed (or off your desk), go to the store, and buy some for yourself!
As always, feel free to hit up my inbox with any suggestions for future foods to feature!
Are Pistachios Good For You?
The burning question on everyone’s mind is probaby “are pistachios good for me?” The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Of course they are indeed good for you! Pistachios are a great part of any diet, since they are high in fiber and protein and pack a wicked energy boost. I eat a few handfuls everyday and I can tell you that they are awesome!
These health benefits include:
- Packing a great deal of healthy fats (mostly polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats), protein, fiber (which most of us don’t get enough of! See How Much Fiber Do I Actually Need Per Day?). and many other beneficial vitamins and minerals including vitamin B6, copper and manganese.
- Being high in Vitamin C and in antioxidants which can further boost your immune system and keep those nasty viruses and colds away.
- Keeping the doctor away by aiding in digestion, increasing heart health, helping to manage your weight, and by controling blood sugar levels.
- Being an all around wonderful part of a high fiber diet and are something you can snack on throughout the day.
- Containing carotenoid antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin which can help to prevent against age related Macular Disease.
- Due to being high in potassium, pistachios can lower stress levels.
Pistachio Fun Facts
- In Iran the pistachios is know as the “smiling nut” and the “happy nut” in China.
- Pistachios are one of the only two nuts mentioned in the Bible.
- The green hue that pistachios have is due to their antioxidants.
- The “Pistachio Principle” is the idea that those that eat the in-shell variety of pistachios actually consume less calories. This may be caused by the empty shells as a visual cue, or the extra time it takes to de-shell them as you eat!
- Pistachios are related to mangoes, albeit probably akin to distant cousins.
- The Queen of Sheba herself loved to eat pistachios.
- The pistachios is considered a prehistoric snack as it was eaten 9000 years ago.
What Are the Different Types of Pistachios?
Pistachios come in many different forms ready for eating:
- Roasted and salted with or without shells.
- Roasted with/without shells and no salt added.
- Roasted Pistachios with salt and pepper.
- Roasted with multiple different flavors such as lemon, chili lime, and jalapeno, habanero, etc.
There are also quite a few brands to choose from, but Wonderful is top notch as far as variety and taste. There is nothing like crackin’ into a delicious pistachio, and the Wonderful brand is probably my favorite!
Where Do Pistachios Come From?
- Pistachios are a member of the cashew family of nuts and are grown on trees like most other nuts. They originated in the Middle East, but are now grown in many other places in the world, including the Unites States and more specifically in the state of California.
- Pistachios have been around forever, and were even mentioned in the bible in the book of Genesis.
- Pistachio trees are incredible hardy (able to survive in temperatures from 14 to 118 degrees Fahrenheit) which probably explains why they have been around for so many years!
Nutritional Value of 1 Cup of Shelled Pistachios
Calories 691 Total Fat 56 g Potassium 1261 mg Dietary Fiber 13 g Sugar 9 g Protein 25 g
For even more information check out this awesome pistachio Fact Sheet.
Growing Pistachios
Truthfully, it will take years for you to grow your own pistachios, as the trees need to mature before they can begin to be harvested for this awesome nut. However, if you have the patience, this site is a great way to figure out how to start!
Good luck if you do decide to grow your own pistachios!
Where Can You Find Pistachios?
You can find them in any grocery store near you. Most stores should have a specific section where they keep all of their nuts, and you should be able to find the pistachios there. You can also purchase them online at places like Amazon, but then you would have to wait for them in the mail and that would be no fun!
In order to make that option feasible and valuable you would need to have Amazon prime (The free 2 day shipping service that Amazon offers). This way you don’t have to pay for shipping. However, it probably makes the most sense just to pick them up on your next trip to the store!
Final Thoughts on Pistachios
Hopefully you are now convinced of the benefits of eating pistachios, and of the ease in which you can obtain them and add them to your diet. it is as simple as going to the store NOW, or ordering them! What are you waiting for?
Have fun with this healthy snack, and feel free to let us know what your experiences with pistachios have been. Have any good recipes? Where do you find yourself eating this excellent morsel? Are pistachios your favorite nut or do you prefer almonds or maybe even walnuts?
Let us know in the comments below, and have a great day! Also, Be sure to sign up for the Fiber Guardian mailing list! You will be sent multiple bonuses right away that will jump-start your fiber journey!
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Thanks again for reading, and have an excellent rest of your day!
Jordan, your Fiber Guardian
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