Here I am, thirty-eight weeks pregnant and yearning for pistachios. Not a bad thing to crave… in moderation. I buy them unsalted, in the shell, to slow my consumption. An ounce of pistachios is about 49 kernels, which is an appropriate serving size. This little green nut is packed with nutrition, offering vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients including copper, manganese, thiamine, phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, l-arginine, Vitamin E, and B vitamins (riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates). This green nut can benefit the heart, lower cholesterol, promote artery health, control blood glucose, affect the health of both nervous and immune systems, the eyes, and the skin.
There are many ways you can eat these tiny tasty treats, savor them plain, mix them with fruit, toss them into a brown rice dish, include them in bread, muffin, or cookie making, and add them to salads, or yogurt. Eaten in moderation, these nuts can offer a whole host of crunchy, delicious, healthy options!
Contributor:
Acupuncturist, herbalist, Maya abdominal practitioner, and reflexologist Christina Morris is the founder of Element Natural Healing Arts. Writing about health and wellness gives her an outlet to express her care and concern for her beloved community. She believes everyone can achieve better health and happiness–emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.