This is good news, especially for active adults and athletes.
Proteins are essential for muscles, the skin, the transport of hemoglobin in the body, digestion and even the immune system. They are also much more satiating than other nutrients and contribute to eating less, a key factor in maintaining (or even losing) weight. It is therefore necessary to provide enough of it to the body.
Proteins are mainly found in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs or dairy products. It is also found in plants such as legumes (lentils, peas, etc.) or cereals (rice, corn, barley, etc.), but in smaller quantities or in lower quality. Indeed, most foods of plant origin are so-called “incomplete” proteins, that is to say they lack the necessary quantities of one or more essential amino acids which are not produced by the human body and which must therefore be provided through food. A nutritional mine, one of the dried fruits would be one of the rare foods of plant origin to contain in sufficient quantity all the essential amino acids.
In a good handful of this dried fruit, there are 6.6 g of protein, which is a little more than a large egg which contains 6 grams (according to the Ciqual table of the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES)). “This is big news, especially for active adults and athletes looking for a complete protein that’s easily portable and doesn’t need to be cooked.“, underlines Nigel Mitchell, graduate in science and dietetics.
Another interest, this oilseed has an undeniable cardioprotective effect, notably by reducing the level of total cholesterol and triglycerides, according to a study published in the Journal of American College of Nutrition. Study participants were randomly assigned to follow one of two diets for 3 months, each diet included an afternoon snack consisting of 53g of this dried fruit or 56g of salty pretzels. At the end of follow-up, triglycerides were significantly lower in the “dried fruit” group than in the “pretzel” group.
With its pretty green flesh and its subtle sweet and buttery taste, the pistachio has it all. However, “It’s not because it’s good for your health that you can eat it as much as you want.“, would like to point out Dr Jacques Fricker, nutritionist, who we interviewed previously. Like all dried fruits, they remain high in calories (as much as milk chocolate!). The ideal is to eat a portion of 25030 g per day, or around thirty unsalted pistachios (on the other hand, roasted is possible), alternating with other oilseeds.For example, one day we eat a portion of nuts, the next day a portion of almonds, the next day a portion of pistachios… We do not add up the portions in the same day..