No party or snack can be called as such without salted pistachios with shell, a delicacy enjoyed by all. How many times have you had one first pistachio and been unable to stop? Well, you’re in great company!

Even more interesting, however, is knowing that this delicious snack is not only an excellent food, but also a healthy product whose intrinsic properties few people know about. Before detailing all the salted pistachios benefits in (moderate) consumption, let’s see what it is made of, what ingredients it contains.

A hard and resistant peel contains what we can call a super food, composed of: carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, fats, dietary fibre, minerals, vitamins (especially A, K, E and B6), folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, betaine.

As we have already mentioned, pistachios are a real panacea for the body. Of course, just like any other food and dried fruits in general (for example, cashews or almonds), it is recommended not to abuse them, so as not to achieve the opposite effect.

So, let’s see what are pistachios good for:

• They are friends of our heart, because the monounsaturated fats they contain reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.
• They’re an excellent source of phosphorus. A 100-gram portion of pistachios provides 54% of the recommended daily intake. This mineral is essential in bone formation, RNA and DNA protection and helps in recovery after workouts.
• They contain several B vitamins, which are essential for brain health and help prevent age-related cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
• As we have mentioned, they contain vitamin E and other antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin. These nutrients neutralize free radicals to prevent cell damage.

We already stated that pistachios are excellent for practically every occasion, as they do not require any special preparation, they can be eaten easily, even while standing or walking, and they go perfectly with all dishes.

What you perhaps don’t know, is that you can also make delicious pistachio-based recipes. Do you want some examples?

Some of these savoury dishes include rustic rolls or beef fillet with pistachio crust. On the other hand, there are countless dessert options, ranging from tiramisu to torrone, cakes or a very delicious crunchy treat.  Click here to see all Giallozafferano’s recipes.