Heart Healthy Pistachios (Why You Should Eat MORE!)

Do you love pistachios? Don’t feel guilty!

Despite their previous label as a indulgent snack food with little health value, they’re actually nuggets of pure nutrition and heart healthy too.

Boost HDL and Antioxidants with Heart Healthy Pistachios

A study published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases examined the effects of pistachios on cholesterol levels and oxidative stress of 44 healthy participants.

For the first week of the study, participants ate their regular diet. Then half of the participants substituted pistachios for 20% of their total daily calories for a 3 week period. After 3 weeks, the pistachio-noshing participants enjoyed a significant decrease in their total cholesterol as well as a significant increase in their “good” HDL cholesterol and antioxidant potential (AOP).

Pistachios are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, and also help to lower blood sugar levels, which are partly to credit for their benefits.

Boost your protective cholesterol by enjoying heart healthy pistachios as a snack and adding these delicious nuts to your favorite recipes.

• Pistachio Pesto
• Pistachio-Encrusted Mahi
• Pistachio Pralines