New research conducted by the US Department of Agriculture has recently revealed surprising news about a nut that many dieters avoid: the pistachio. Understanding this new research, combined with fascinating work described as the “Pistachio Principle,” could help you drop unwanted pounds you may have accumulated during these past winter months. Read on to determine if snacking on the delicious pistachio can help you achieve your health and wellness goals!
The Agricultural Research Service of the USDA conducted a study with the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center and found that fat from pistachios is not completely digested or absorbed by the gastronomical track. The study also found that amount of energy produced from a 30 gram serving of pistachios is 5-9% less than previous calculations had measured. Both these findings indicate that a person eating pistachios was actually consuming fewer calories and less fat than previously thought. Armed with this new information, are pistachios still a forbidden food on your diet? After reading about Dr. James Painter’s work, they won’t be!
Dr. Painter conducted a study where participants could eat pistachios until they were satisfied, and choose to eat either unshelled pistachios or remove the pistachio shells themselves. It was discovered that the participants who chose to remove the shells themselves ate 50% fewer pistachios and calories than the participants who chose to eat the unshelled pistachios. Dr. Painter calls this the “Pistachio Principle,” and describes the theory as fooling ones body into eating less by requiring work in order to consume food. He states that requiring effort in order to consume food increases satisfaction, correlating to a decreased amount of food needed to achieve a feeling of fullness.
Armed with this new information, are you going to incorporate pistachios into your healthy weight loss and exercise program? Munching on pistachios is a tasty way to aid in shedding those extra layers, just in time for the warmer weather.
