Baku, January 11 (AZERTAC). Delicious ice creams, mouth-watering desserts, tasty gravies - almost every one of these dishes can be enhanced by adding a small amount of pistachio nuts to it. These lovely little nuts are an ancient source of food, originating from Asia Minor and Western Asia, which later spread across the globe, becoming a favourite. You can snack on pistachios, add them to your favorite dish, and even use them as a beauty aid. There is no end to the ways in which they can be used. Apart from being a boon to the taste buds, pistachio is a panacea for a wide range of disorders as well. Did you know that cracking open a handful of pistachio nuts could actually prevent you from cracking open medicines to a large extent? Yes, it is true. Pistachios can help improve your overall health, ranging from cardiovascular health to vision and help aid the fight against cancers, due to the abundance of the phyto-nutrients that they contain. The rest of this article discusses the health and nutritional benefits of eating pistachio, as well as its overall nutritional value.

Pistachios are free of cholesterol and have a high content of monounsaturated fats. They also contain approximately 90% unsaturated fats, thereby boosting HDL cholesterol. This means that they can help prevent heart attacks.

The presence of phytosterols in pistachio helps prevent the body from absorbing too many bad fats that affect the heart and overall health. Apart from this, the anti-oxidants present in it further helps reduce cholesterol. Arginine, a plaque-like substance in the blood, is also reduced. This makes the body avoid its build up in the arteries.

The presence of copper, magnesium and vitamin help strengthen one’s immune system and helps improve overall fitness.

Pistachios are packed with fiber and protein. This makes them a filling snack, which reduce food cravings.

Pistachios are full of phyto-nutrients, minerals and vitamins. This helps the body fight many debilitating diseases, including cancer.

The minerals and vitamins in pistachios can help boost metabolism, build bones up, strengthen tissues, aid the nerves and cardiovascular system, improve vision, and purify the blood stream.

In today’s stress-filled world, pistachio can help reduce acute stress reactions and improve overall behavioral health.

Ground pistachio, when mixed with milk, can be used as a face pack. It helps the skin glow and is a great beauty aid.