Get The Pistachios Antioxidants Power
Stress, pollution, junk food and the likes seep out health bit by bit from our body but we stay oblivious to this robbery till it confronts us full throttle in the form of low immunity and serious disease. So is there a way to combat this? My vote goes to the antioxidants.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals.
They can help prevent cancer and heart disease, safeguard memory, reduce the risk of degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, protect our joints and heart, soothe pain, reduce muscle fatigue, boost brain health, prevent blindness caused by macular degeneration and cataracts, and even ward off wrinkles. Thus, it is no wonder they are the latest nutrient superstars worldwide.
How to get them?
Antioxidants are present in foods as vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and polyphenols, among others. Scientists are discovering more and more antioxidants every day but there are some foods that are loaded with them, and so one must include them in our diet. Pistachios are one such superfood.
The pistachios superpower
Usually fruits and vegetables are considered as high-antioxidant foods, but a new study conducted by Cornell University and published in the journal, Nutrients, has showcased that pistachios have a very high antioxidant capacity. According to the study the antioxidant powers of this nut are among the highest when compared to many foods commonly known for their antioxidant capacity.
The researchers for the study used the two different methods to measure the antioxidant potential of pistachios – Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and Cellular Antioxidant Activity (CAA) – and found that pistachios have a very high level of antioxidant activities, higher than that of foods often thought of as antioxidant powerhouses including blueberries, cherries, and beets.
According to researchers the high antioxidant activity of pistachios may to be due to the unique compounds in them including vitamin E family (β-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol), carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene), phenolics and flavonoids. The combination or interaction of these beneficial antioxidants, bioactive compounds, along with other nutrients in pistachios, is the key. Pistachios used in the Cornell study were grown in California and have a different nutritional profile than those grown in other countries.
The health benefits of pistachios have been studied over the past 20 years and the results of this study confirm the high antioxidant potential of pistachios, which is great news for those looking to add more antioxidant rich foods to their diet. Plus pistachios, besides being a wonderful plant-based source of complete protein, are an excellent source of copper and a good source of protein, fiber, vitamin B6, phosphorus and thiamin too.
So snack on them, add them liberally to your smoothies, or make a pesto sauce with them. They pair fabulously well with fish and chicken dishes too, so you can cook with them too.
