Buy Pistachio

Pistachio

Pistachio a member of the cashew family, is a small tree originally from Central Asia and the

Middle East.pistachio nuts have been revered as the symbol of wellness and robust health since ancient

times.Pistachios grow well under hot, dry climates with cool winters. They are currently being cultivated

in large scale in the orchards in the USA, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and China. After plantation, it takes

approximately eight to ten years until it produces its first major crop. Once established, it keeps

bearing fruits for centuries.Pistachio nuts are dry fruits of species of trees belonging in the

Anacardiaceae family, in the genus: Pistacia. The plant is a medium sized broad, bushy,

deciduous tree, believed to be originating in the mountain ranges of West-Asian region. Several

cultivars exist; however, the most popular variety grown for the commercial purpose is the kerman.

Pistachio trees have grown in the Middle East for thousands of years. Pistachios have always been

a desired delicacy in this region.A little known fact about the Pistachio nut is that it actually

produces its own salt.Pistachio is a desert plant, and is highly tolerant of saline soil.

It has been reported to grow well when irrigated with water having 3,000–4,000 ppm of soluble salts.

Pistachio trees are fairly hardy in the right conditions, and can survive temperatures ranging

between -10 °C (14 °F) in winter and 48 °C (118 °F) in summer.The shell of the pistachio

is naturally a beige color, but it is sometimes dyed red or green in commercial pistachios. Originally,

dye was applied by importers to hide stains on the shells caused when the seeds were picked by hand.

Most pistachios are now picked by machine and the shells remain unstained, making dyeing unnecessary

except to meet ingrained consumer expectations.Each season, the tree bears heavy clusters of fruits,

which appear somewhat like that of a grape bunch.Pistachio kernel measures about 1 inch in length

and 1/2 inch in diameter and weighs about 0.7-1 gm.The Pistachio are enriched with many health-benefiting

nutrients that are essential for optimum health.
Health benefits of Pistachios
They are rich source of many phyto-chemical substances that may contribute to their overall antioxidant

activity, including carotenes, vitamin E, and polyphenolic antioxidant compounds. Research studies

have been suggestive of that these compounds help remove toxic oxygen-free radicals from the body,

and thus, protect it from diseases, cancers, as well as infections.

Pistachios are an excellent sources of vitamin-E, especially rich in gamma-tocopherol; contain

about 23 g per100 g. vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, essential for maintaining

the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin; offer protection from harmful oxygen-free

radicals
The nuts are packed with many important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin,

thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates.
They are the storehouse of minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium,

zinc, and selenium. 100 g nuts provide 144% of daily-recommended levels of copper. Copper is an

essential trace mineral that is required in neuro-transmission, metabolism, as well as red blood

cell (RBC) synthesis
Pistachio nut oil features flavorful, pleasant nutty aroma and has excellent emollient properties.

It helps to keep skin well protected from dryness. It has also been used in cooking, and as

“carrier or base oil” in traditional medicines in massage therapy, aromatherapy, in pharmaceutical,

and cosmetic industry.
Just a hand full of pistachios a day provides enough recommended levels of phenolic anti-oxidants,

minerals, vitamins, and protein.