When considering walnuts’ health benefits, we can see that they are a favourite and well known food for many – not only do they look similar to the human brain organ, but also many have considered them to be healthy to it and other organs as well. In an animal test, in aged rats, they ate a diet containing 2 to 6% walnuts and they improved not only with age-associated motor function, but cognitive function as well – however, it was said that a 9% walnut diet actually was reported to impair performance. Looking at the nutritional constituents of this food, we can see that they have omega 3 and antioxidants. It has been stated by the American College of Nutrition that both walnuts and also walnut oil have the ability to improve one’s reaction regarding stress.

In another report, on the 11th October, 2006, Science Daily gave a report saying that a handful of raw walnuts that were along with meals at a high level of saturated fats appeared to reduce the capacity of harmful fat being damaging to arteries. It should be noted that the funding for this study was by the California Walnut Commission and that also the lead researcher who was an MD and PhD called Emilio Ros stressed that this dietary method should not be seen as a band aid and instead that people should avoid unhealthy foods in the first place.

It has been said that comparing walnuts’ health benefits to other specific types of nuts, that they contain the largest amounts of antioxidants, which includes free antioxidants and also antioxidants bound to fiber. In more specific detail, it is reported here: “http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3138/2”, that for every 117 g, walnuts give 639 calories, 18 g of protein, 11% of a calcium and 19% of an iron RDA. Dietary fiber is also given as being at 8 g per 117 g and sugars at 3g.

(reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnut)

Are pistachios good for you? The pistachio nut is a very popular type of food that many might be familiar with as a snack.  The pistachio plant itself is reported to be a desert plant, that is very able to cope with saline soil – it is said that long and hot summers are necessary for proper fruit ripening. In terms of the way that the kernel may be eaten, this can either be fresh, roasted or also salted – they may be used in unusual items such as ice cream or halva; in America, they are used to make pistachio salad. Globally, it is reported that China is the main consumer around the world at 80,000 tonnes yearly.

It is reported that in July of 2003, the FDA accepted the claim that nuts such as pistachios in conjunction with a low saturated fat and cholesterol diet might reduce the danger of heart disease. At Pennsylvania State University, pistachios largely lowered amounts of low-densitylipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) whilst also making antioxidant amounts higher in serum of volunteers. It has also been reported by studies that 32-63 grams each day of pistachios can to a large extent increase plasma levels for lutein, as well as alpha-carotene, additionally beta-carotene and finally gamma-tocopherol.

Furthermore, as regards the question: “Are Pistachios Good For You?” for specific nutritional constituents of pistachios, in analysis of 100 g of dry roasted nuts, which did not have salt added to them, the calorie amount was 571 kcal, carbohydrates 27.65 g, fat 45.97 g and protein 21.35 g. In terms of the B vitamin content, they are said to have 0.84 mg of vitamin B1 (US RDA 73%), 0.158 mg of vitamin B2 (13%), 1.425 mg of vitamin B3 (10%), 0.513 mg of vitamin B5 (10%), 1.274 mg of vitamin B6 (98%), and finally 50 µg of vitamin B9 (13%). Some of the other constituents are calcium at 110 mg or 11%, iron at 4.2 mg or 32%, magnesium at 120 mg or 34%, phosphorus at 485 mg or 69%, potassium at 1042 mg or 22% and zinc at 2.3 mg or 24%.

 (reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistachio)