Researchers have brought to light the cholesterol lowering nature of the green pistachio.Pistachios have lent their distinctive flavour to foods for thousands of years, and the Queen of Sheba apparently hoarded all pistachios in her realm.

A test carried out has revealed that when green Pistachious are added to a  heart healthly moderate fat diet ,Cardiovascular disease risk factors are lowered tremendously.

The green pistachio is a small tree native to mountainous regions of Iran.The Pistachios provides a significant amount of the bioactive carotenoid, lutein that is also found in dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli (good for your eyes).

A study was conducted on participants eating a typical American diet. The study has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and states that “Inclusion of pistachios in a healthy diet beneficially affects cardiovascular disease risk factors in a dose-dependent manner, which may reflect effects on Stearoyl CoA Desaturase.

Among tree nuts, pistachios are the richest source of phytosterols, particularly beta-sitosterol and campesterol.Apart from the researchers assertion there is significant evidence that which states a diet that incorporates tree nuts, such as pistachios, is associated with reduced risk of heart disease.

To reach the conclusion and finishing the testing phase, scientists at Pennsylvania State University and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation chose 28 adults whose average bad cholesterol level was “borderline high”.

They first gave them a diet rich in cheese, oil and butter. Then they switched to low-fat diets before incorporating pistachios.

Bad cholesterol levels dropped by 12 per cent when two daily servings of pistachios were eaten. Good cholesterol levels did not change.

The study has been published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites