Eating Pistachios May Help You Stay Slim

Posted: 12/04/11

Christine Morgan

If you're watching your weight you may be trying to resist high-fat, high-calorie foods - even those that are good for you, such as nuts. But some nuts may not be as high in fat as previously thought, say researchers from the US Department of Agriculture. Or at least, in the case of pistachios, the fat they contain may not be completely absorbed by the body.

pistachio-nuts-fat Pistachios: not as fattening as you might think. Photo: AFP/Getty Images, Karen Bleier

It's true that pistachios aren't the most obvious skinny food, but the researchers claim they are one of the lowest-calorie nuts, weighing in at around 160 calories per 30g serving. After testing the energy value of pistachios by feeding them to a group of healthy adults, the experts reckon the nuts are almost 6% lower in calories than previously calculated - thanks to the way their fat is absorbed.

"This study confirms that the fat from pistachio nuts, specifically, is not completely digested or absorbed, resulting in a lower energy value," says the study's lead researcher David Baer. The study has just been presented at the Experimental Biology conference in the US.

But that's not the only reason why snacking on pistachios could be good for your waistline. According to experts, pistachios are a 'mindful' snack - at least the ones that you have to pop from their shells are. What that means is when you eat pistachios, because you have shell them first it makes you slow down and be more conscious about what you're eating.

And previous research suggests having to remove pistachios from their shells means you'll eat, on average, 41% fewer calories.

What's your favourite nut?

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