Pistachios are low calorie and full of necessary vitamins and nutrients like protein, iron, and potassium, as well as being low in fat. These powerful, healthy nuts come in Seed & Shell’s delicious pistachio butter as a convenient knife spread for easy, tasty, and good snacking and meal planning.

Which Nut is the Best Nut?

Most people know that the best quality pistachios are not only tasty but really good for you, too. But do you know the exact health benefits? These nuts boast:

• Only 160 calories
• 6 grams of protein
• Only 13 grams of fat and 1.5 grams of saturated fats
• 285 milligrams of potassium
• 0.3 milligrams of vitamin B6
• 1.1 milligrams of iron

Only one ounce of pistachios (or pistachio spread) improves cholesterol and increases “good” HDL cholesterol. They reduce blood sugar and may help improve other heart disease risk factors, including blood pressure, weight, and oxidative status.

All nuts offer some health benefits, but when you buy pistachios, you’re buying a nutrient-dense, low-fat, health-boosting, and tasty snack.

Pistachios are Healthier for the Environment, Too

A common competitor to pistachios is almonds. They boast similar health benefits:

• Both have only 160 calories
• Both have 6 grams of protein
• Both have low regular and saturated fat
• Pistachios offer far more potassium than almonds, while almonds have more magnesium than pistachios
• Both offer 1.1 milligrams of iron
• Almonds have higher calcium and vitamin E, but does not offer vitamin B6 like pistachios

Are almonds or pistachios healthier for you? Both offer great health benefits, but pistachios take the cake every time—why? We’ll look at the personal health benefits later on—however, while both are good for you, pistachios are significantly better for the environment.

Pistachio trees are self-pollinating, meaning that bees do not have to transfer pollen from one tree to another, putting them at a lower risk than almond trees, which require bees. California pistachios also have a very low carbon footprint, at only 1.1 kg CO2e for 2.2 pounds. They cause little environmental destruction, with no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc.

One thing to note of both California pistachios and almonds is their water consumption—all nuts require substantial water to grow. However, the best quality pistachios do not make this water harmful to the environment. According to the University of California, pistachio trees need 50 gallons of water per day during the dry seasons.

On the other hand, it takes approximately 15.3 gallons of water to produce just 16 almonds. While both use a lot of water, pistachios are overall significantly better for the environment.

Potassium and its Benefits

Now let’s take a look at what pistachio products can do for your health. 285 milligrams is a lot of potassium—you may be asking yourself, “what are the health benefits of potassium?” It is not a very well-known nutrient compared to, say, calcium or protein, but it is considered one of the seven essential macrominerals. In fact, the recommended intake of potassium is a whopping 3,400 milligrams per day.

Why? It assists in a range of essential body functions, including:

• Blood pressure and cardiovascular health
• Normal water balance
• Bone and muscle contractions/maintenance
• Nerve impulses
• Digestion/kidney health
• Heart rhythm
• Ph balance (acidity and alkalinity)

When you’re deprived of potassium, a number of negative effects occur. In the short-term, you may experience:

• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• A general feeling of being unwell, or “malaise”
• High blood pressure
• Risk of kidney stones
• Low calcium levels in the bones

However, a severe potassium deficiency can be life-threatening, causing:

• High urine production
• Glucose intolerance
• Muscular paralysis
• Breathing problems
• Changes in heart rhythm, in people with heart disease
• Kidney disease

Higher Protein

Pistachio products also have lots of good protein. And, the best pistachio nut butter will jam-pack all of these nutrients into one convenient peanut butter alternative. Why does your body need protein? Many fitness buffs know that, in order to build and maintain muscle, you need lots of protein. 

As you work out, you get stronger by tearing muscle fibers. As your body repairs these rips, your muscle mass increases and is stronger than before. That’s why you get sore when you work out. What does protein do? Your body uses it to build and repair this tissue.

For those who are unconcerned about muscle growth, you may be surprised at what protein-packed pistachio nut butter can do for you. It oxygenates your red blood cells, which helps carry vital nutrients throughout your body. With all of the health benefits of pistachio products, you need this protein to make it the most effective.

Lower Saturated Fats

Most people are familiar with this so-called “bad” fat. It is found commonly in animal products and processed foods like pizza, cookies, etc. Health professionals agree that saturated fats should be avoided when possible because it causes bad cholesterol and other health issues.

But if pistachios help correct bad cholesterol, how can it also have low saturated fats? All foods contain some natural saturated fats, pistachios included. However, not all saturated fats affect our bodies in the same way. Pistachio fats are considered healthy, building up necessary stores of energy rather than cholesterol.

Did You Know You Can Buy Pistachio Butter Online?

One of the best ways to get the most out of these health benefits is through the convenience of online shopping. If you buy the best and healthy alternative to peanut butter with no added preservatives, sugars, salts, or oils, you will get all of these benefits jam-packed into one tasty spread.

The Best Quality California Pistachios Right to Your Door—Check Out Seed & Shell

With pistachio nut butter and California pistachios delivered right to your door, Seed & Shell is the healthiest and most convenient option to reap all of the health benefits of pistachios. Who knew healthy living could be this easy and delicious!