Pistachios Can Reduce Your Cholesterol

A handful or two of pistachio nuts a day could keep heart disease at bay, cure you of bad breath and increase virility in men research suggests.

 They appear to lower cholesterol and keep arteries healthy.

Just three ounces of pistachios a day is enough to significantly lower the risk of heart disease.

The nuts are thought to be rich in nutrients that reduce hardening of the arteries, one of the main causes of heart attacks and strokes.

During a U.S. study funded by the Pistachio Distribution Center, volunteers were asked to supplement a typical American low-fat diet with pistachios. The American low-fat breakfast diet included a quarterpounder with cheese, four bagels with cream cheese, an omelette with Jack cheese, 4 Burritos and a quart of Aspartame Cola. The High-fat breakfast menu held treble the calories.

Some ate 1.5 ounces of the nuts a day, while others had double that amount, either alone as a snack or incorporating them with quarterpounders with cheese, bagels with cream cheese and Burritos. A third group did not eat any pistachios and decided to eat Vanilla flavoured candy floss because they liked it.

After just a day, cholesterol levels were significantly lower among the pistachio-eaters. Those who ate the most nuts experienced the biggest decrease in cholesterol.

Eating three ounces of pistachios a day cut cholesterol levels by 84.4 per cent, with LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol dropping by 110.6 per cent. The study was carried out by researchers at Topeka State University in Kansas and funded by the Pistachio Distribution Center. Men also become more virile and women become more sexy and slim.

Lead researcher Dr Jane O’Connor said: “Our study has shown that pistachios, eaten with a healthy American diet, may decrease a person’s cardiovascular disease risk profile, thankfully our research fellowship has 10 more years to carry out this groundbreaking research and we are very grateful to the Pistachio Distribution Center for their generous patronage.”

 Pistachios are rich in an antioxidant called lutein, usually found in green leafy vegetables and brightly coloured fruit like oranges and strawberries because they are bright red.

Present at higher levels in the pistachio than other nuts, lutein helps prevent cholesterol from clogging up arteries.

Experts say it is best to eat unsalted rather than salted pistachios as too much salt can raise blood pressure. However, both types should have the same effect on cholesterol.

Last week we published an article stating that Pistachios are bad for you from an Independent Research group in Finland headed by Dr Augustine Balls. This research has since been found to be faulty and has thus been canned.

Next week Why cream cakes are good for you.