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Pistachios: My New Diet Food
Eating Pistachios To Lose Weight
Sometimes, the obvious jumps out to prove itself to be very special and we wonder why we've overlooked it for so long.
After enjoying pistachios for years recent circumstances made me aware of how these yummy nuts might be the very best diet food yet.
We Are Pistachio Nuts
Knowing that they are good for us and enjoying the taste, we’ve always been nuts about pistachios. With loads of potassium, and zero cholesterol how could we go wrong to use them as a snack food?
One serving is large--1/4 cup, and they are high in magnesium, manganese, copper, B6, and phosphorus. Clearly, this nut is at the top of the snack fare nutrition scale, making them an ideal food to eat on the run.
The average person could greatly benefit from a daily dose of this uniquely flavorful nut. Since reading studies about cholesterol and pistachios, our goal is to include them in our diets on a regular basis so we can get the most out of what their tiny packages offer.
A Pistachio Discovery
Last month I learned what a truly great diet food they could be. It began by discovering that too many pistachios were behind the difficulty my toddler granddaughter had after eating them. Let’s just say that we had an interesting drive down to Amelia Island.
I was glad she loved them, but I did not realize how much fiber they contained until her parents told us about her previous encounters with them. At first, I was afraid she might be allergic to them! Turns out that a little of these nuts can go a long way with kidlets.
By the end of our trip I began thinking about whether I was benefiting from the fiber I was getting from pistachios. Very sadly, we had to say goodbye to our children back in Knoxville, but we then went on “up the country” to visit some older relatives in Kentucky.
That is where I acquired cuttings from an aunt’s white hydrangea that I put in a bottle of water to take home. (Stay tuned for a new gardening hub this summer!) It was a 7 hour drive back to our house from there but having successfully done this in the past, I pampered the cuttings all the way.
After changing the water halfway through the trip I dropped a pistachio nut into the bottle. This is not a secret gardening tip. I just thought the cuttings could use some of the minerals the nut might leach into the water.
Much to my surprise that nut expanded to twice its size. It was like seeing the fiber in action. Of course, that made me read the information on the product bag and started me thinking about how I could make the most out of all that this awesome food offers.
Fabulous Pistachio Penne with Asparagus Recipe
Pistachios Before Dinner
I remembered an old saying, “Have a piece of candy before dinner to curb your appetite.” I probably tried that once or twice, but it’s not something I could do regularly. It's true, life is short and I would rather eat dessert first, but what a bad example for the kids!
Pistachios, on the other hand, could be a different story. Fiber is filling. These nuts are an easy sell in the nutrition department. Their taste is a powerhouse when it comes to satisfying palates. A serving size is easy to keep handy no matter how busy we get.
Naturally, the facts led me to realize that a small handful of pistachios could help curb my appetite. I’m trying to remember to munch on some about a half hour before it’s time to eat dinner, and to have them on hand when the hungrys hit at other times.
Eating only a few to meet the need is going to be the tricky part. They are so good that we could eat them just because, but I am trying to look at them like a yummy prescription that cannot be overdosed. Using them rather than indulging in them is the key.
This experiment seems successful, so far, but I’ve not been doing it for long. My thinking behind the concept is much like what I wrote about in my hub Flax Seed: Smart Food For Dieting. It's practical thinking, not extreme dieting.
It will be sometime before I have more evidence because this is no drop-25-pounds-in-5-days diet plan. The plan is to make these nutrient and fiber rich nuts a part of healthy living and let them help keep my appetite down while I benefit from their great nutrition.
I’ll try to update this hub at the end of summer. In the meantime, you might like to read up on them at Pistachio Health and give my pistachio diet a try!
Pistachios Marry Chocolate!
California Pistachios
Do you snack on Pistachios?
Health Hubs for You!
Keeping our bodies at a healthy weight isn't debatable. Our health will fail if we fail in doing so. However, an appropriate weight for our age is not the only factor we should consider for getting and maintaining good health.
Check out the following info offered to help you consider your body's needs. The best thing about them is that they can also help you with that smart weight-loss diet you want to follow. No fads, just a little more knowledge that can take you a long way toward healthy living!
• Wanting to jumpstart your diet? This might be just the help you are looking for!
• Want to lower your cholesterol? This has worked consistently!
• Need a healthy egg substitute? This is good for you whether you need it or not!
• Do you wonder why you have insomnia? This could be the hidden culprit!
Important Note:
Changing your diet for health reasons, including weight issues, should be discussed with your doctor.
Pistachios are Wonderful Food!
Must Have Pistachio Recipes
• Pistachio Scones with Rose Water Frosting will steal your heart away!
• Orange Pistachio Biscuits -- these cookies will not get stored away at our house!
Do you think pistachios could help a person eat less at mealtimes?
One of my favorite snack foods are pistachios. Quite often when I'm making dinner I'll have pistachios or almonds. They do seem to curb my appetite.
Good luck with the diet and I'll look forward to your updates.
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Just Ask Susan:
Comments can almost always be positive, but they can't always be this affirming. Thanks very much for coming by and adding your experience to this pistachio diet hub! :)
Ilove pistachios, good to know they can be a diet food too.
These are the best snack ever. No gluten or guilt. I try to keep these in the house. I also like salted and shelled sunflower seeds. Great hub.
I am a nut freak. I just love nuts....any kind. Peanuts to pistachios, nuts are the way to snack. They are so healthy. Thanks for the info. I am going to go get those pistachios out that I found today. They are a little stale but who cares!
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daisyjae:
I'm glad you were able to learn something new about one of your favorite foods--thanks for coming by!
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tammyswallow:
You are so right! Pistachios are a great snack--they are extra good for us and they taste good. The sunflower seed are a real treat , too--I agree!
Thanks kindly for your visit and comments. :)
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rebeccamealey:
We may have to start a club here! Nuts are indeed THE way to snack. Hope you enjoyed your pistachios tonight.
Thanks for stopping in with your input! :)
I never thought of pistachios as a food to help with my diet, but I will now. I use flax seed also. This is great news and maybe I will stay away from the desserts! Thanks for the very useful information.
I love pistachios! Their taste is quite different from other nuts and so mellow. I can eat them every day. I can't believe that 20% said they didn't like them. They are a good source of fiber in the diet, as you mention above. Voted up!
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Pamela99:
So glad you found this info on pistachios to be useful! They are good enough to take the place of some desserts, that's for sure. Thanks much for coming by and joining this discussion!
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teaches12345:
I can't imagine anyone not liking them, but if people eat them for their benefits it won't take long for them to love them. Thanks for checking out this pistachio hub and adding to the discussion!
I remember this as the first ice cream flavor my wife (still my girlfriend back then) and I ate. Sentimental tales aside, nuts are really healthy.
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jpcmc:
Thanks for sharing that sentimental tale with us--very nice! :) Nuts are an amazing food and they are a great busy day food. Portable and nutritious--perfect!
RTalloni, This tribute to pistachios is wonderful. They are among my favorite nuts (come to think of it, there aren't any tree nuts I don't like). The expansion of the pistachio in the jar with the hydrangea is fascinating.
I'm so, so pleased that you've written this! Up + UFABI + sharing.
Kind regards, Stessily
When i saw this hub come up on the main HubPages feed i knew i had to come and read it.Thanks for all this interesting information about pistachios because i just love eating them. Only two problems though, i could eat a whole bag of them and they have gotten very expensive,but i still love them.
Vote up and more !!!
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stessily:
Thanks bunches for your visit to this pistachio hub and for your addition to this discussion! I agree about all tree nuts, I've never met one I didn't like. :)
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kashmir56:
I'm so glad you "had" to come by and read my post on pistachios! :) They are such a perfect snack food and we could indulge in them way too often. I'm glad I've learned that a 1/4 cup (or 49 by some counts) amounts to a daily serving for I can now use that as my prescription rather than eat the bag full. :)
Thanks very much for adding to this conversation!
RTalloni- I just LOVE those Pistachio commercials.. especially keyboard cat! Have you seen them? Ya know, I like Pistachios but I usually don't even think about them but after reading your hub, I have decided I am going to make them a staple in our home. You brought up a lot of great points about them and I love knowing they expand in water. What you said is the key, learning to eat certain amounts and not indulge. When I'm truly trying to eat healthy, my food intake is more like daily medicine than just something that tastes good and I can get full on. I can see how Pistachios can easliy fit into a healthy food plan. Thank you for the inspiration! Voting up, interesting and useful :)
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Jamie Brock:
:) I saw some of them on YouTube. A prescription of food does help us get the right amount
So appreciate that you added your input to this pistachios for diet food hub.
Pistachio and Almonds are my favorite nuts. Good to now the benefit of pistachio. Informative and voted up!
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urmilashukla23:
You made good choices in your favorite nuts! :)
Thanks very much for stopping in with your note!
I love pistachios, too. It would be wonderful if they helped with weight loss! I'm very interested in seeing your future reports about whether or not pistachios are helping to curb your appetite. Good luck!
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AliciaC:
Pistachios definitely help curb both mine and my husband's appetites.
I wrote a hub right after this one about using a nut prescription so we would not eat too many since they are so yummy, but we would know the right amount to eat nutritionally. We trade off between having them for a quick meal and spreading them throughout a day to help us eat less at mealtimes.
Focusing on using them rather than mindlessly enjoying them is the key. :)
Thanks much for your input here!
Nice hub, RTalloni! I also like pistachios and agree they could be a good diet food. That video of a dog eating pistachios reminded me of my old Poodle. He could crack pistachios just as effortlessly!
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Om Paramapoonya:
Thanks much for adding your helpful comment here!
That's so funny about the dogs!
i love pistachios..even though its soo expensive. My bestfriend sent me these 1 big box with all kinds of pistachios and nuts. roasted, salted, original.. I love it! I love it more when I read your hub.
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unknown spy:
Pistachios are good food for the money. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy your friend's gift of nuts that included them for they are healthy as well as delicious. :)
The cost factor is just another reason to know the "prescription" for nuts--how many to eat per day in order to benefit from their nutrition. You might like to check out my nut prescription hub. Thanks much for letting me hear from you here!
Very appetizing hub! I am thinking pecans, walnuts, and almonds might be just as good as pistachios. My trouble is, once I start eating nuts, I eat too many.
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JSParker:
Thanks!
The nuts you mention are good for you, but pistachios are higher in fiber and lower in fat/calories than other nuts. They are an energy-dense snack food.
Your trouble with eating too many nuts is the very reason I wrote a hub on having a nut prescription. You might like to check it out.
So appreciate that you came by with your comment!
RTalloni
I love diets with food that I like.
Great hub, interesting facts and food ideas.
I must say that I love all nuts, they remind me of Xmas when we always had them as much for decorations as for a snack.
with respect
Tony
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tonymead60:
Thanks much for letting me know you found this interesting!
This is interesting. I think that I knew this without really knowing it. What I mean is that if I am hungry when I am cooking, I have a small handful of pistachio nuts. That is usually enough to curb my appetite until the next meal.
However, I will take your advice and not feed them to small kids.
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2patricias:
After using them this summer I find that pistachios really are a great prescription!
Your comment, "I think that I knew this without really knowing it" makes me wonder what else we know that we don't think through well enough to benefit the most from it. :)
Seeing that pistachio grow in size after being soaked in water was interesting. We have been snacking on pistachios for some time now and realize that they offer good nutrition. We buy ours at Costco and love the peppered ones. Will look forward to your hydrangea hub. I grew them from my grandmother's cuttings when we lived in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin many years ago. Your mention of them made me think of her. Thanks! Up, useful and interesting votes.
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Peggy W:
Thanks for adding your input to this pistachio hub! We continue to measure and enjoy them. :)
It is very special to have plants grown from cuttings that came from elderly relatives plants, isn't it? I'm sorry to say that this hydrangea did not make it, but I hope to visit this aunt next spring and try again!
Pistachios are one of my favorite snack food; so yeah, now, even more incentives to eat more. RIch in information and nicely told.
I'm nuts for pistachios. They are a powerhouse snack. Very infomative hub. Hopefully others will also learn to appreciate the pistachio.
I love pistachios, walnuts and almonds. They're all good for you. Now I don't feel so guilty about eating them.
Thanks for sharing all the info about the benefits (and yumminess) of pistachios. They've been one of my favorite snack foods for years.
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anglnwu:
You are right, there are lots of reasons to include pistachios in our weekly diets! Thanks much for your feedback here!
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Sunshine625:
Thanks kindly for your visit and comment. These nuts are so good for us that even if they were so tasty I would eat them anyway!
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vwriter:
No, no, absolutely do not feel guilty about eating them! Glad to relieve your mind. :) Thanks very much for taking a look at this hub and leaving your feedback.
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Esmeowl12:
So appreciate your visit and feedback here. I meant to buy more pistachios at the store this morning…sigh. :)
I'm not surprised pistachios are good for us, but I enjoyed reading about all the minerals they contain. What a good idea to eat a few before meals to curb the appetite. We'll have to try that. Unfortunately, pistachios are expensive and not too plentiful in Peru, but we can get them in recent years. Thank you for sharing.
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vespawoolf:
We're still enjoying our pistachio dose, but on an inconsistent basis. Still, it's good to know how many to eat when we are using them to curb appetite! Thanks much for stopping to check this hub out.
Pistachio is one of my favorite treats and this sounds a lovely idea.
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DDE :
Thanks very much for checking out this hub. We've come to love pistachios so much that we have to be careful of how many we eat!
Interesting idea! I absolutely love pistachios, but my problem is that I like to eat them too much and find it hard to eat many, many servings! Delicious, though, if you can keep your serving size down.
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prairieprincess:
Yes, but like my little granddaughter, most peoples' bodies will tell them when enough is enough! The problem is, indeed, that they are so tasty. That is exactly why I needed a prescription for them! Thank much for stopping in!
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