Nuts are a staple of any healthy diet. They have a complex nutritional profile and are packed with energy.
However, their high-fat content has given them a reputation for being bad for weight loss. But nothing could be further from the truth for pistachios.
Not Like Other Nuts
It’s true that nuts are high in fat and it’s easy to overeat them. But denser nuts, such as macadamia and brazil nuts, are far more in line with this than others.
Pistachios are relatively low in fat as far as nuts go. A half-cup of shelled pistachios clocks in at just under 170 calories and 13 grams of fat. That’s really not so bad considering the same amount of walnuts contains closer to 350 calories.
That’s Still Fat, Though
We all know fat is bad for weight loss, right? Well, not really.
The fat in nuts is what you might call “healthy” fat. In other words, it’s mostly monounsaturated fat.
Monounsaturated fats can contribute to lower levels of bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease when consumed in moderation.
Pistachios only contain around 15% saturated fat.
They Boost Vitamin B6 Levels
Since your body can’t store B vitamins very well, you need to continuously replenish your stores. Pistachios are a great source of vitamin B6, which has been linked to improved mood, reduced anxiety, and better fat cell processing.
It’s also a key factor in lower levels of homocysteine. Homocysteine is an amino acid that causes inflammation and is a leading indicator of heart disease and stroke.
