Organic shelled pistachios

Organic natural shelled pistachios, from Spanish agriculture.

Pistachio ( Pistacia vera L. , 1753 ) is a fruit tree belonging to theAnacardiaceae family ^[2] .

It is native to the Middle East, where it was cultivated already in prehistoric times , particularly in Persia . As reported in his famous The Dipnosophists , Athenaeum of Naucratis , a Greek writer and sophist who lived in the 2nd century , in the Roman Empire , several Greek and Hellenistic authors speak of pistachio, placing its cultivation in Syria , Persia and India , and calling it bistachion or pistakia or pistakion . The thesis according to which "pistachio" derives from the Persian language ( Pesteh ) is therefore unfounded. ^[3]

The pistachio is a tree , deciduous and broad-leaved , it can reach a height of around 11-12 metres, but generally stops at 5-6 metres. The pistachio is very long-lived and reaches an age of approximately 300 years, but it grows very slowly.

The fruit is a drupe with an oval endocarp with a thin, hard shell , containing the seed , commonly called "pistachio" which has a bright green color under a purple peel.

The pistachio has unisexual flowers and is dioecious , so there are plants with only male flowers and plants with only female flowers (which produce fruit). The flowers are petaled and collected in tops. One male tree can produce enough pollen to fertilize up to 10 female plants. Flowering occurs in April and fruit harvesting occurs in September-October. The wood is hard and dense, has a yellowish color.

Pistachio: health benefits The richness of nutrients present gives pistachios numerous health benefits.

✓ Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties Pistachios represent an excellent source of molecules with an antioxidant action (in particular proanthocyanidins, carotenoids and vitamin E) which act by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress caused by an excess of free radicals.

✓ Benefits for eyesight Among the active substances contained in pistachio we also find lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids which in this fruit are also highly bioavailable, therefore they are easily absorbed and used by the body. These antioxidant molecules play an important protective action against damage caused by blue light and age-related macular degeneration, promoting overall vision health.

✓ Weight loss If taken in moderation, pistachios can help control body weight thanks to their high satiating effect. Studies show that the reduction of weight gain is favored by the fiber content, the slower digestion they cause and the protein intake. Furthermore, the amount of unsaturated fatty acids and protein content of these fruits would cause an increase in resting energy expenditure.

✓ They lower cholesterol and promote heart health. Among the properties of pistachio we find those affecting the cardiovascular system. According to a 2010 study published in Nutrition, regular consumption of pistachios (30g per day) would act by reducing total cholesterol by up to 10.1%, LDL (bad) cholesterol by up to 8.6% and would improve endothelial function. Additionally, pistachios appear to help lower blood pressure more than other types of nuts.

✓ Reduction of blood sugar According to a 2014 study published in SBDR, regular and prolonged consumption of pistachios would be useful in treating patients suffering from type 2 diabetes as it would have a hypoglycemic effect and reduce insulin levels, thus promoting a healthier metabolic profile [5].

✓ They promote healthy blood vessels Like most dried fruits, pistachios also contain good quantities of L-arginine, an amino acid that is converted into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide plays an important role in vasodilation as it causes the endothelium to relax. Therefore, pistachios can contribute positively to blood vessel health

Source: https://www.viversano.net/alimentazione/mangiare-sano/pistacchio-proprieta-benefici/#Pistacchio:%20Benefici%20Per%20La%20Salute

Nutritional values ​​per 100g (manufacturer's information)
Power	2452 KJ 592 Kcal
Protein (g)	23.8
Fat (g)	48.3	Of which saturated: 5.6
Carbohydrates (g)	10.8	Of which sugars: 5.7
Fibers (g)	9.5
Salt (g)	0.02

100g of pistachios contain:

Selenium (10 μg – 18% VNR)
Zinc (2.1 mg – 21% VNR)
Iron (3.4 mg – 24% NRV)
Biotin (15 μg – 30% VNR)
Magnesium (127 mg – 34% VNR)
Vitamin K (31 μg – 41% VNR)
Manganese (0.85 mg – 43% VNR)
Potassium (960 mg – 48% VNR)
Phosphorus (464 mg – 66% VNR)
Vitamin B6 (0.99 mg – 71% NRV)
Copper (0.71 mg – 71% VNR)
Vitamin E (8.7 mg – 73% NRV)