February 26: World Pistachio Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 27, 2012 -- February 26th is World Pistachio Day, so why not take a moment to reflect on the amazing history and modern day health benefits of this wonderful nut?

Did you know that pistachios contain only 3-4 calories per nut? They also offer vital nutrients including more than 30 different vitamins, minerals and beneficial phytonutrients making them a great guilt free snack.

Originating from the Middle East, pistachios are one of the oldest flowering nut trees with evidence suggesting that humans were enjoying them as early as 7,000 B.C. Pistachios were first planted in California in the 1930s. From this point it took nearly 10 years of careful research and breeding before the California pistachio – also known as the Kerman variety – was finally perfected. Today, California produces more than 450 million pounds of pistachios each year making it a leading producer of pistachios worldwide.

Going Nuts for Pistachios Across the Globe
In China, the pistachio is known as the “happy nut” because it looks like its smiling.

Often given as a gift during the Chinese New Year, pistachios are a symbol of health, happiness and good fortune. While China leads the world in total pistachio consumption at 200 million pounds per year; Israel has the world's highest per capita consumption of pistachios as 85 percent of Israelis eat nuts and seeds at least once a month.

In India, pistachios are a major part of the population’s diet and are used in the popular saffron pistachio drink. Pistachios are considered a “hot food” and are believed to help keep the body warm and are typically enjoyed during the cold winter months. Conversely, in Russia pistachios are enjoyed as a popular snack to accompany beer during the warm summer months.

In France, where “snack” is not part of the vocabulary, pistachios are served as part of the occasion known as aperitif, a light beverage and snack served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. In Korea, “Daeboreum” or “Full Moon” day is celebrated on February 6 of each lunar year. On this holiday, friends and families gather together to drive evil spirits away with the sounds made by cracking open pistachios.

Pistachios are enjoyed around the world so celebrate with your fellow nut lovers in many different languages: die Pistazie in German, pistaches in French, 开心果in Mandarin Chinese, pista in Hindi, фисташки in Russian, pistache in Spanish and 피스타치오 in Korean.

While many eat pistachios purely for their delicious taste and satisfying crunch, the pistachio is also stacked full of nutritional goodness.

Celebrate the Nutritional Benefits of California Pistachios
New research continues to come to light showing the positive benefits of pistachios:

• Pistachios, “The Skinny Nut”: Pistachios are known as the “Skinny Nut” because they’re one of the lowest calorie, lowest fat nuts and offer more nuts per serving compared to most other snack nuts. Research shows that as one of the only in-shell snack nuts, pistachios help slow consumption and the empty shells offer a visual cue, reducing calorie intake. This effect is known as “The Pistachio Principle.”
• Pistachios are “Fat Enlightened”: Pistachios are a good source of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Almost 90% of the fat found in pistachios is unsaturated fat, i.e. the good stuff, making them a better snack choice than popular fried snacks foods like potato chips.
• Nutrient Packed Powerhouse: A 30g serving of pistachios is an excellent source of vitamin B6, copper and manganese and a good source of protein, dietary fiber, thiamin, and phosphorus.

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