Posted on 06/19/2007 6:06:42 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Eating a handful of pistachios every day may help heart health, new research has found.
The study, published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition, and conducted by James N. Cooper of George Mason University and Michael J. Sheridan of Inova Fairfax Hospital, looked at individuals with relatively high cholesterol who replaced high-fat snacks with pistachio nuts on a daily basis.
When on a diet that involved getting 15 per cent of daily calorie intake from pistachios for four weeks -- which means snacking on one to two handfuls a day -- subjects were found to improve blood lipid levels.
"These results are exciting because the research indicates that adding pistachios to the daily diet can help protect the heart without a dramatic dietary lifestyle change," Cooper said in a statement. "This research challenges the previously held belief that a low-fat diet is best for heart health."
The majority of the fat in pistachios is considered a "good" fat, monounsaturated fat, the kind that lowers blood pressure.
"Studies now show that a diet with a moderate amount of healthful monounsaturated fat, like the kind found in pistachios, is a more effective way to prevent heart disease than reducing overall fat intake," Cooper said.
Pistachios are also packed full of polyunsaturated fat, a fat known to lower blood cholesterol when consumed in moderation.
The study adds to a growing body of research suggesting a regular intake of pistachios can help fight off cardiovascular disease and reduce cholesterol levels.
(Excerpt) Read more at canada.com ...
Read this (here) weeks ago, now I have an excuse to indulge in my favorite snack. ;-D
This is good news for the postachio business.
Too bad they’re so salty...ups your blood pressure.
I love pistachios but I tend to eat more than a few hands full!
Wow, a healthy snack I actually like.
Who can eat two handfuls? When I get started on stachis, I go until my thumbnails hurt.
They can be bought unsalted, can’t they?
If I get a prescription from my Doctor, will my health insurance buy them for me?
Of course, I could stand to lose a couple of dozen pounds!
More cholesterol propaganda - my mother just had a stent put in - she has had 160 cholesterol all her life.
I knew a guy who always had a bowl of pistachios on hand in his living room for decades. He died of congestive heart failure at the age of 83. Aside from the heart problem he appeared to be in excellent shape.
Cholesterol is only one factor in developing heart disease. As I understand it, people in good physical condition with otherwise healthy diets don’t seem to suffer that many ill health effects from high cholesterol. Basically it doesn’t stick to healthy veins. If your veins are unhealthy on the other hand it will adhere and build up causing heart disease.
Yes,and the goverment will deliver them free of charge.
...and it reads like a press release from the pistachio grower's association. Replace a high-fat food with a lower-fat food, and - surprise of all surprises - you get less heart disease!
For variation you may wish to eat the occasional Avocado.
My doctor, an old style pill pusher, wanted to put me on Lipitor. I told him no, let me try diet and exercise. I had an avocado a day for 1 month and walked every day. End of that time numbers were down 18 percent. I like pistachios, but think what all the salt is doing to your blood pressure!
For variation you may wish to eat the occasional Avocado.
My doctor, an old style pill pusher, wanted to put me on Lipitor. I told him no, let me try diet and exercise. I had an avocado a day for 1 month and walked every day. End of that time numbers were down 18 percent. I like pistachios, but think what all the salt is doing to your blood pressure!
I love pistachios, but they play havoc with my diverticulitis. Alas, I had to give them up.
Good news. The Chinese just rejected about two boatloads of US pistachios because they were too green, or flea infested or some trumped up charge. It is some kind of trade dispute. Those two lots should be pretty cheap if you can afford to buy, oh say, 450,000 tons worth.
F
Sunkist has started selling them pre shucked, at least I've just started seeing them here in Indy that way. A 6oz bag is the equivalent to 12oz in the shell.
Just opened a bag when I saw this article.
I know, shucking shells can help keep the consumption down but what the heck, I love em.
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