How pistachios help the heart

By FIONA MACRAE

A handful or two of pistachio nuts a day could keep heart disease at bay, research suggests.

They appear to lower cholesterol and keep arteries healthy.

Just three ounces of pistachios a day is enough to significantly lower the risk of heart disease.

The nuts are thought to be rich in nutrients that reduce hardening of the arteries, one of the main causes of heart attacks and strokes.

During a U.S. study, volunteers were asked to supplement a lowfat diet with pistachios.

Some ate 1.5 ounces of the nuts a day, while others had double that amount, either alone as a snack or incorporating them into cereal, muffins and pesto sauce. A third group did not eat any pistachios.

After just a month, cholesterol levels were significantly lower among the pistachio-eaters. Those who ate the most nuts experienced the biggest decrease in cholesterol.

Eating three ounces of pistachios a day cut cholesterol levels by 8.4 per cent, with LDL or 'bad' cholesterol dropping by 11.6 per cent. The study was carried out by researchers at Pennsylvania State University.

Lead researcher Dr Penny Kris-Etherton said: "Our study has shown that pistachios, eaten with a healthy heart diet, may decrease a person's cardiovascular disease risk profile."

Pistachios are rich in an antioxidant called lutein, usually found in green leafy vegetables and brightly coloured fruit.

Present at higher levels in the pistachio than other nuts, lutein helps prevent cholesterol from clogging up arteries.

Experts say it is best to eat unsalted rather than salted pistachios as too much salt can raise blood pressure. However, both types should have the same effect on cholesterol.

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