Pistachio ^Sale

Pistachio is a tree nut obtained from fruits belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, of the genus: Pistacia. The plant is a medium-sized, broad, bushy, deciduous tree, believed to have originated in the mountain ranges of West-Asia and Turkey region (Anatolia). Male and female trees (dioecious) grow separately. Several cultivars exist; however, the most popular variety grown for the commercial purposes is Kermancultivar which is one of the tastiest and best quality pistachios coming from the Kerman region of Iran. Pistachios grow well under hot, dry summer and cool winters. They are currently being cultivated on a larger scale in the USA, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and China. After plantation, it takes approximately eight to ten years until the plant produces its first major crop. Once established, it keeps bearing fruits for many years to come. During each season, the tree bears heavy clusters of fruits which appear somewhat like that of a grape bunch. Pista fruit, in fact, is a drupe (fruit with a large, central located single seed), and it is this seed kernel what actually a sought-after, "pistachio." On its exterior, a mature fruit features hard, an off-white color shell which splits open exposing a light green, oblong shape kernel inside. A pista kernel measures about 2 cm in length and 1 cm width and weighs about 0.7-1 gm. Health Benefits of Pistachios ► Heart Health FDA published a statement in 2003 approving that scientific evidence suggests that eating 1.5 ounces per day of pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Pistachios may help curb less-than-ideal levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol, according to another study published in 2008. In research at Pennsylvania State University, pistachios in particular significantly reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) while increasing antioxidant levels in the serum of volunteers. ► Reducing Risk of Lung Cancer According to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, a diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung cancer.According to the research, pistachios are a good source of gamma-Tocopherol, which is a form of vitamin E, and it is known that vitamin E provides a degree of protection against certain forms of cancer. Therefore it is thought that eating pistachios increases the intake of gamma-Tocopherol, so pistachios may help to decrease lung cancer risk. ► Anti-Inflammatory Benefits Research published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research shows that pistachio oil decreases levels of an inflammatory marker known as "Ifit-2". Inflammation is a biological response to harmful stimuli, pathogens, damaged cells or irritants, and it underlies functional changes associated with many chronic diseases, such as obesity and cancer. The finding that pistachios decrease inflammation, a newly discovered risk factor, for cardiovascular disease as well as other diseases is further support for the key nutrition message about including pistachios in a healthy diet for chronic disease risk reduction.