Pistachios are eaten raw, toasted, salted, or sweetened as a snack. They have a sweet, fruity taste. Chopped or ground, they are often used in pastries, sweets, or for sprinkling over desserts.
General information:
From Wikipedia: “The pistachio (Pistacia vera), a member of the cashew family, is a small tree originating from Central Asia and the Middle East. The tree produces seeds that are widely consumed as food. Pistacia vera often is confused with other species in the genus Pistacia that are also known as pistachio. These other species can be distinguished by their geographic distributions (in the wild) and their seeds which are much smaller and have a soft shell.”
Characteristics:
“The bush grows up to 10 m (33 ft) tall. It has deciduous pinnate leaves 10–20 centimeters (4–8 inches) long. The plants are dioecious, with separate male and female trees. The flowers are apetalous and unisexual, and borne in panicles. The fruit is a drupe, containing an elongated seed, which is the edible portion. The seed, commonly thought of as a nut, is a culinary nut, not a botanical nut. ... When the fruit ripens, the shell changes from green to an autumnal yellow/red, and abruptly splits part way open ... The splitting open is a trait that has been selected by humans. ...
Each pistachio tree averages around 50 kilograms (110 lb) of seeds, or around 50,000, every two years. The shell of the pistachio is naturally a beige color, but it is sometimes dyed red or green in commercial pistachios. Originally, dye was applied by importers to hide stains on the shells caused when the seeds were picked by hand. Most pistachios are now picked by machine and the shells remain unstained, making dyeing unnecessary except to meet ingrained consumer expectations.“
Nutritional information:
“Pistachios are a nutritionally dense food. In a 100 gram serving, pistachios provide 562 calories and are a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value or DV) of protein, dietary fiber, several dietary minerals and the B vitamins, thiamin and especially vitamin B6 at 131% DV. Pistachios are a good source (10–19% DV) of calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, folate, vitamin E , and vitamin K ...
The fat profile of raw pistachios consists of saturated fats, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.Saturated fatty acids include palmitic acid (10% of total) and stearic acid (2%). Oleic acid is the most common monounsaturated fatty acid (51% of total fat) and linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, is 31% of total fat. Relative to other tree nuts, pistachios have a lower amount of fat and calories but higher amounts of potassium, vitamin K, γ-tocopherol, and certain phytochemicals such as carotenoids and phytosterols.”
“Like other members of the Anacardiaceae family (which includes poison ivy, sumac, mango, and cashew), pistachios contain urushiol, an irritant that can cause allergic reactions.”
Research and health effects:
“In July 2003, the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first qualified health claim specific to seeds lowering the risk of heart disease: "Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces (42.5 g) per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease". Although pistachios contain many calories, epidemiologic studies have provided strong evidence that their consumption is not associated with weight gain or obesity.
A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials concluded that pistachio consumption in persons without diabetes mellitus appears to modestly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Several mechanisms for pistachios' antihypertensive properties have been proposed. These mechanisms include pistachios' high levels of the amino acid arginine (a precursor of the blood vessel dilating compound nitric oxide); high levels of phytosterols and monounsaturated fatty acids; and improvement of endothelial cell function through multiple mechanisms including reductions in circulating levels of oxidized low density lipoprotein cholesterol and pro-inflammatory chemical signals.”
Toxins and safety concerns:
“As with other tree seeds, aflatoxin is found in poorly harvested or processed pistachios. Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic chemicals produced by molds such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. The mold contamination may occur from soil, poor storage, and spread by pests. High levels of mold "growing" typically appear as gray to black filament-like "growing". It is unsafe to eat mold-infected and aflatoxin-contaminated pistachios. Aflatoxin contamination is a frequent risk, particularly in warmer and humid environments. Food contaminated with aflatoxins has been found as the cause of frequent outbreaks of acute illnesses in parts of the world. In some cases, such as Kenya, this has led to several deaths.
Pistachio shells typically split naturally prior to harvest, with a hull covering the intact seeds. The hull protects the kernel from invasion by molds and insects, but this hull protection can be damaged in the orchard by poor orchard management practices, by birds, or after harvest, which makes it much easier for pistachios to be exposed to contamination. Some pistachios undergo so-called "early split", wherein both the hull and the shell split. Damage or early splits can lead to aflatoxin contamination. In some cases, a harvest may be treated to keep contamination below strict food safety thresholds; in other cases, an entire batch of pistachios must be destroyed because of aflatoxin contamination. Pistachio shells may be helpful in cleaning up pollution created by mercury emissions.”
Nutrient tables
The complete nutritional information, coverage of the daily requirement and comparison values with other ingredients can be found in the following nutrient tables.
Nutritional Information
|
per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Energy | 560 kcal 2'343 kJ | 28.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 2000kcal |
Fat/Lipids | 45 g | 64.7% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 70g |
Saturated Fats | 5.9 g | 29.5% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 20g |
Carbohydrates (inc.dietary fiber) | 27 g | 10.1% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 270g |
Sugars | 7.7 g | 8.5% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 90g |
Fiber | 11 g | 42.4% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 25g |
Protein/Albumin | 20 g | 40.3% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 50g |
Cooking Salt (Na:1.0 mg) | 2.5 mg | 0.1% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 2.4g |
Essential micronutrients with the highest proportions | per 100g | 2000 kcal | |
---|---|---|---|
Fat | Linoleic acid; LA; 18:2 omega-6 | 14 g | 141.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the CH-EDI-Verordnung: 10 g |
Min | Copper, Cu | 1.3 mg | 130.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.0 mg |
Vit | Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | 1.7 mg | 121.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.4 mg |
Prot | Tryptophan (Trp, W) | 0.25 g | 101.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.25 g |
Vit | Thiamine (vitamin B1) | 0.87 mg | 79.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.1 mg |
Prot | Valine (Val, V) | 1.2 g | 77.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.6 g |
Prot | Threonine (Thr, T) | 0.68 g | 74.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.93 g |
Prot | Isoleucine (Ile, I) | 0.92 g | 74.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.2 g |
Elem | Phosphorus, P | 490 mg | 70.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 700 mg |
Prot | Phenylalanine (Phe, F) | 1.1 g | 70.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.6 g |
Detailed micronutrients and daily requirement coverage per 100g
Explanations of nutrient tables in general
The majority of the nutritional information comes from the USDA (US Department of Agriculture). This means that the information for natural products is often incomplete or only given within broader categories, whereas in most cases products made from these have more complete information displayed.
If we take flaxseed, for example, the important essential amino acid ALA (omega-3) is only included in an overarching category whereas for flaxseed oil ALA is listed specifically. In time, we will be able to change this, but it will require a lot of work. An “i” appears behind ingredients that have been adjusted and an explanation appears when you hover over this symbol.
For Erb Muesli, the original calculations resulted in 48 % of the daily requirement of ALA — but with the correction, we see that the muesli actually covers >100 % of the necessary recommendation for the omega-3 fatty acid ALA. Our goal is to eventually be able to compare the nutritional value of our recipes with those that are used in conventional western lifestyles.
Essential fatty acids | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Linoleic acid; LA; 18:2 omega-6 | 14 g | 141.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the CH-EDI-Verordnung: 10 g |
Alpha-Linolenic acid; ALA; 18:3 omega-3 | 0.29 g | 14.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the CH-EDI-Verordnung: 2.0 g |
Essential amino acids | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Tryptophan (Trp, W) | 0.25 g | 101.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.25 g |
Valine (Val, V) | 1.2 g | 77.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.6 g |
Threonine (Thr, T) | 0.68 g | 74.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.93 g |
Isoleucine (Ile, I) | 0.92 g | 74.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.2 g |
Phenylalanine (Phe, F) | 1.1 g | 70.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.6 g |
Leucine (Leu, L) | 1.6 g | 66.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 2.4 g |
Lysine (Lys, K) | 1.1 g | 61.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.9 g |
Methionine (Met, M) | 0.36 g | 39.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.93 g |
Vitamins | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | 1.7 mg | 121.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.4 mg |
Thiamine (vitamin B1) | 0.87 mg | 79.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.1 mg |
Biotin (ex vitamin B7, H) | 18 µg | 36.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 50 µg |
Folate, as the active form of folic acid (née vitamin B9 and | 51 µg | 26.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 200 µg |
Vitamin E, as a-TEs | 2.9 mg | 24.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 12 mg |
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) | 0.16 mg | 11.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.4 mg |
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) | 0.52 mg | 9.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 6.0 mg |
Niacin (née vitamin B3) | 1.3 mg | 8.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 16 mg |
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 5.6 mg | 7.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 80 mg |
Vitamin A, as RAE | 26 µg | 3.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 µg |
Vitamin D | 0 µg | < 0.1% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 5.0 µg |
Essential macroelements (macronutrients) | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Phosphorus, P | 490 mg | 70.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 700 mg |
Potassium, K | 1'025 mg | 51.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 2'000 mg |
Magnesium, Mg | 121 mg | 32.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 375 mg |
Calcium, Ca | 105 mg | 13.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 mg |
Sodium, Na | 1.0 mg | < 0.1% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 mg |
Essential trace elements (micronutrients) | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Copper, Cu | 1.3 mg | 130.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.0 mg |
Manganese, Mn | 1.2 mg | 60.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 2.0 mg |
Iron, Fe | 3.9 mg | 28.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 14 mg |
Zinc, Zn | 2.2 mg | 22.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 10 mg |
Selenium, Se | 7.0 µg | 13.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 55 µg |
Iod, I (Jod, J) | 5.0 µg | 3.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 150 µg |
Fluorine, F | 3.4 µg | < 0.1% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 3'500 µg |
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