According to the most recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition and the newest research from the Institute of Food Research in the UK, nearly ALL of the polyphenols (a type of antioxidant that helps to lower inflammation that can contribute to heart disease) in pistachios are released during digestion. These same antioxidants can be found in fruits and vegetable but due to many factors (including the scary though of figuring out a recipe that will taste good and include all of our family's vegetable servings for the day) prevent Americans from eating their daily recommended intake of 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables.
Previous studies from the University of Pennsylvania have also linked pistachio intake to lowering cholesterol levels and raising the antioxidants in the blood to help us keep healthier cholesterol levels and prevent the oxidation (process responsible for making cholesterol sticky so it can gum up our arteries) of the cholesterol in our blood. According to Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor of nutrition at University of Penn, "our results [from previous studies on pistachios] suggest that a heart-healthy diet including pistachios contributes to a decrease in serum oxidized-LDL levels, in part through cholesterol lowering, and also due to an added benefit of the antioxidants in the pistachios."
So for those of you who don't have some pistachios in your snack drawer, GET CRACKING!!!
PS: Make sure the ones you have at home aren't on the recalled list of pistachio products that are contaminated with Salmonella. Here's the link to find out if they are > http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/salmonella-peanut-butter-47011501
Resources:
1. http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/14186/54/pistachios-all-theyre-cracked-up-to-be-/
2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100520092942.htm
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