PISTACHIOS ARE A POWERHOUSE OF NUTRIENTS

Pistachios have a excessive antioxidant capability that rivals that of in style antioxidant-containing meals

FRESNO, Calif., Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Meals wealthy in vitamins with antioxidant properties are repeatedly inspired as a part of a wholesome way of life, and analysis suggests {that a} eating regimen excessive in antioxidant-rich meals could even assist to cut back the chance of untimely loss of life.¹ Whereas vegatables and fruits are sometimes regarded as high-antioxidant meals, a brand new examine carried out by Cornell College and revealed within the journal, Vitamins, produced shocking outcomes². Pistachios have a really excessive antioxidant capability, among the many highest when in comparison with values reported in analysis of many meals generally recognized for his or her antioxidant capability, reminiscent of blueberries, pomegranates, cherries, and beets.³^,4,5

Researchers from Cornell College needed to raised perceive the potential mechanism behind the well being advantages which were linked to pistachios in latest research. They analyzed pistachios to find out:

The make-up of pistachio phytochemicals – these are the phytonutrient compounds inside crops that, though not important (in contrast to the nutritional vitamins and minerals that plant meals include), they might assist to decrease the chance of persistent illnesses and maintain the physique working correctly.
The antioxidant potential of pistachios.
Whether or not pistachio extracts may also help to inhibit the expansion of tumor cells (breast, liver and colon most cancers cells) in a laboratory setting.

The researchers used the 2 completely different strategies to measure the antioxidant potential of pistachios – Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capability (ORAC) and Mobile Antioxidant Exercise (CAA) – and located that pistachios have very excessive stage of antioxidant exercise. Whereas these exams do not show a particular well being final result, they counsel a excessive stage of antioxidant compounds inside pistachios. Pistachios are excessive in copper and manganese and are a supply of selenium, zinc, riboflavin and Vitamin E. All these vitamins contribute to the safety of cells from oxidative stress.

“We had been excited to see that the antioxidant capability of pistachios measured so excessive in our examine,” mentioned Dr. Rui Hai Liu, Professor of Meals Science at Cornell College. “When in comparison with values reported in analysis for different frequent, high-antioxidant meals utilizing the identical strategies, we see the antioxidant exercise of pistachios is increased than that of meals typically regarded as antioxidant powerhouses together with blueberries, cherries, and beets.^2,3,4,5 We imagine the excessive antioxidant exercise of pistachios could to be because of the distinctive compounds in pistachios together with vitamin E, carotenoids, phenolics and flavonoids. The mix or interplay of those useful antioxidants, bioactive compounds, together with different vitamins in pistachios, is probably going what contributes to the numerous well being advantages we have now seen in pistachio research from latest years⁶.”

Regular metabolisms of day by day life – every thing from consuming, respiratory, and exercising to the toxins we encounter within the surroundings – can generate free radicals within the physique. Oxidative stress is the imbalance of free radicals (oxidants). Free radicals assault wholesome physique cells and this injury is assumed to contribute to irritation and ageing along with persistent well being situations, together with coronary heart illness and most cancers. Well being professionals suggest meals sources with antioxidants to assist shield wholesome cells from free radical injury within the physique.⁷^,8

Most individuals know that antioxidants are useful to well being, however many do not know precisely how antioxidants work inside the physique. To see an informational video on antioxidants to assist clarify the good thing about antioxidants to journalists, go to https://AmericanPistachios.org/.

A abstract of extra findings from the examine embrace:

Pistachios have all kinds of necessary phytochemicals together with completely different members of the vitamin E household (β-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol), carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene), phenolics and flavonoids.
Pistachios have excessive antioxidant actions as measured by each ORAC and CAA.2 CAA measures antioxidant exercise in a cell—how the cells take up or take in the antioxidants—and is a extra physiologically related assay and thought of reflective of what could occur within the human physique when in comparison with the chemical antioxidant assays³.
Pistachio phytochemical extracts confirmed potent antiproliferative actions in opposition to human breast, liver and colon most cancers cells in vitro with exceptionally excessive exercise seen in opposition to the human breast most cancers cells. Pistachio phytochemical extracts had been proven to inhibit most cancers progress in all three most cancers cells (breast, liver and colon) with out inflicting cytotoxicity to the cells. The researchers report that this space of examine is worthy of future analysis to find out how pistachio extracts are blocking the expansion of most cancers cells as seen on this new examine. Curiously, inhabitants research present an affiliation with excessive frequency of nut consumption and decreased danger of sure cancers.⁹^{, 10}

“The well being advantages of pistachios have been studied over the previous 20 years and we’re excited to dig additional into the particular make-up of pistachios that perhaps contributing to total well being,” notes Amber Wilson, MS, RD, Director of Vitamin Analysis and Communication for American Pistachio Growers. “The outcomes of this examine verify the excessive antioxidant potential of pistachios, which is nice information for these trying so as to add extra complete meals with antioxidant vitamins to their eating regimen.”

Pistachios used within the Cornell examine had been grown in California, which have a special dietary profile than these grown in different international locations.

Pistachios grown within the U.S. are additionally a plant-based supply of full protein and may be a part of a balanced and diversified eating regimen and wholesome way of life. Pistachios are excessive in fibre, unsaturated fat, chromium, potassium, copper, manganese, phosphorus, vitamin B1 & B6. Pistachios additionally present a supply of protein, magnesium, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin B2, E, Ok & folate, in addition to containing oleic, linoleic acid and plant sterols.

For extra details about analysis on the well being advantages of pistachios, go to https://americanpistachios.org/nutrition-and-health.

About American Pistachio Growers
American Pistachio Growers is a non-profit commerce affiliation representing greater than 865 growers, member processors and business stakeholders in California, Arizona and New Mexico.

Notes to Editor:

Why is there such world curiosity in American-grown pistachios in recent times? Child Boomers recall the bubble-gum machines that distributed red-dyed pistachios imported from Iran after they had been kids. On the time, no pistachios had been produced domestically.

Pistachios are one of many latest industrial crops in america, first established in California within the Seventies from the seed of Iranian pistachios, which grew in a bush kind. By way of crop enchancment, analysis carried out by USDA and California universities, a sturdy pistachio tree was developed, and it thrived within the arid climates in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The American pistachio is subsequently physiologically completely different, producing a nutmeat with a nutrient profile that differs from the unique nuts from Iran and different origins, such because the Bronte area of Italy. Outcomes from this examine are restricted to American pistachios.

Quickly, curiosity piqued in vitamin analysis of the improved pistachio. Over the following years, analysis has been carried out by revered universities and establishments in Europe, China, Canada, and america, leading to revealed research that exposed many well being advantages that make American-grown pistachios distinctive amongst different meals. Notably, in March 2020, it was introduced that American-grown pistachios are among the many few plant-based proteins which are additionally an entire protein—that means they include the 9 important amino acids which are obligatory for human progress that’s principally present in animal proteins.

A compendium of the worldwide analysis may be discovered at AmericanPistachios.org.

Whole antioxidant measured by mobile antioxidant exercise: pomegranates 250 +/- 10 µmol QE/100; roasted pistachios 216.76 +/- 6.6 µmol QE/100; 171 +/- 12 µmol QE/100; cranberries 52.1 +/- 1.3 µmol QE/100; beets 41.9 +/- 6.2 µmol QE/100.

Contact:
Amber Wilson
Director, Vitamin Analysis and Communication
awilson@americanpistachios.org
(001) 310-384-4251

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