Pistachios help reduce blood pressure and control both daily stress and cholesterol. To confirm the precious properties of pistachios is a new study from Pennsylvania State University, also published in Hypertension, the trade journal of the American Heart Association.
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I pistachios help reduce blood pressure and keep both stress in check daily that the cholesterol. To confirm the precious properties of pistachios is a new study from Pennsylvania State University, also published in Hypertension, the industry magazine of the American Heart Association.
According to the scientists who conducted the research, regularly eat small doses of these precious fruits it is not only a pleasant pastime, but also a concrete and natural help against some pathologies of modern society: high blood pressure, stress and "bad" cholesterol!
Experts came to these conclusions after studying the effects of pistachios on a sample of non-smoking adults, who, however, had high levels of cholesterol and blood pressure.
By giving the volunteers a healthy and balanced diet and small quantities of pistachios, the doctors found an evident improvement in the physical conditions of these patients: in a short time it was possible to decreased systolic blood pressure, vascular resistance and heart rate improved in situations of strong physical or mental stress (the volunteers were first subjected to a math test, then to a cold water resistance test).
As reported by the doctor Sheila G. West, who led the study with Penny M. Kris-Etherton and colleagues from PennState, comparing two diets (designed to allow volunteers to maintain their initial weight) containing pistachios (42 g and 85 g) and a low-fat diet without pistachios, it was found that subjects with high cholesterol levels, with the help of pistachios, they manage to react better to stressful situations.
The doctor in the past years had led uno similar study on the beneficial effects of walnuts
In short then, consume some moderate amounts of pistachios it helps to keep blood pressure and vascular load on the heart under control.
“Everyday events, such as work-related stress, a tight deadline or having to speak in public raise blood pressure, and we know it's impossible to avoid all the stressors in our life. - explained Sheila West Ph.D, Associate Professor of Bio Behavioral Health (BBH) and lead author of the study - These results are significant because they show that physiological responses to stress are influenced by the foods we consume These changes in blood pressure have occurred even though the self-reported levels of mood, anxiety and tension were unchanged ”.
But there's more: because pistachios (as long as they are consumed in small doses) they also help keep bad cholesterol levels in check in the blood and to increase the levels of the "good" one.
"The study has several elements of interest - said Giorgio Donegani, expert in nutrition and food education and President of Food Education Italy - It confirms the positive action of pistachios on blood pressure regulation and, a decidedly innovative aspect, demonstrates that this effect is significant even if salted pistachios are consumed. Furthermore, there are many compositional characteristics of pistachios that justify their properties: the good content of "good" mono and polyunsaturated fats, the high presence of fiber, the significant share of antioxidants and also the contribution of potassium and magnesium, capable to balance the effects of sodium ".
"These results are also very exciting because they demonstrate additional benefits of pistachios on another risk factor for cardiovascular disease - added Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., RD, Lecturer in Nutrition and a leading researcher in the study - Our previous research suggests that including pistachios in a healthy, balanced diet lowers LDL cholesterol in a dose-response mode and increases antioxidants in the blood. "
"This research adds to the growing body of literature on the health benefits of pistachios," said Constance J. Geiger, Ph.D., RD, who works as a nutritional research consultant at American Pistachio Growers. like pistachios, it is an important element of a healthy and balanced diet ".
Once again, therefore, studies confirm that i fruits of the Mediterranean diet they help to keep us healthy without necessarily having to resort to medicines!
Green light therefore to dietetic, healthy and light foods embellished with pistachio grains!
Verdiana Amorosi
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