All
nuts, with appropriate portion sizes, are a great healthy snack. They are loaded in fiber and protein
which help aid in digestion, provide energy, and satiety. They are also high in the “good” fats,
poly and monounsaturated, which are great for heart health and lowering
cholesterol. Pistachios are being
hailed for a few unique qualities over other nuts. First, pistachios have only 3 calories per nut! In comparison to 14 calories per almond
or 11 calories per cashews, this is a huge caloric deduction. Second, you get more nuts per
serving. Pistachios yield 49 nuts
per ounce, verses 23 almonds or 11 macadamia nuts. And thirdly, pistachios are the only in shell snack
nut. This, without us knowing,
helps us be more mindful of our eating.
Taking the time to each nut individually plus the visual cue of empty
shells, helps us decrease consumption time as well as portion size. FYI: Per serving, pistachios have more antioxidants than green
tea! So next time you go to the store grab some to try and add a serving into
your daily meal plan. Whether it’s
a snack before a workout for an extra energy boost or over your dinner salad
for an added crunch, it will be a healthy addition to your day!
Estelle L. Benoit, RD, LDN
Source: rd411.com