Latest Diabetes Research: Pistachios good for diabetics

Poor blood circulation is a common problem for those suffering from diabetes. But improving circulation can be as easy as eating pistachios, shows a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. According to the study having pistachios may reduce vascular response to stress in type 2 diabetes patients.

For the study, researchers randomized patients with type 2 diabetes with one of the two test diet designed for the study. One of them included a standard heart-healthy diet with 27 percent fat and seven percent saturated fat and another diet had two servings per day of pistachios - about 3 ounces or 20 percent of calories from pistachio nuts. So, typically the patients with pistachio diet consumed about 150 pistachio nuts per day which contained 33 percent fat and 7 percent saturated fat.

It was found that adults with diabetes who has two servings of pistachios daily had lowered vascular constriction during stress and improved neural control of the heart.

Despite being rich in fat, pistachios contain good fats, fibre, potassium and antioxidants. 'Given the high risk of heart disease in people with diabetes, nuts are an important component of a heart healthy diet in this population,' said Sheila G. West, a professor of biobehavioral health and nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University. 'After the pistachio diet, blood vessels remained more relaxed and open during the stress tests,' West said.

Here are some health benefits of pista

1. Helps in production of haemoglobin

Pistachios are rich in Vitamin B6, which helps in the production of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is responsible for supplying oxygen from the lungs to the other parts of the body. This makes pistachios an excellent snack option.

2. Good for your skin

Eating pistachios are beneficial for your skin, since they are rich in Vitamin E which fights signs of ageing, UV rays and can even prevent skin cancer. Pistachio oil is also used as a natural moisturiser which prevents dry skin. (Read: 10 fruits and vegetables that can give you glowing skin)

3. Great for your eyes

Consumption of pistachios has been linked to lower risk of macular degeneration, which is an eye ailment that affects older adults. It is rich in two cartenoids, zeaxanthin and lutein, which prevents damage from free radicals. Read more about Health benefits of pistachios

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

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