Thanks to their “hearty” nutrient profile that includes antioxidants, phytosterols, unsaturated fats and various vitamins and minerals, pistachios make a heart healthy snack.

Seal of Approval

Nuts including pistachios have significant scientific agreement that they can help support a healthy cardiovascular system. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration awarded tree nuts – including pistachios – a qualified health claim in 2003 stating:

"Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces 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. [See nutrition information for fat content.]”

Pistachios are a Heart-Smart Snack

• The highest levels of polyphenol antioxidants of any snack nut
• Almost 90% of the fat is the healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats
• More phytosterols than any other nut (
• The nut with the most potassium

Antioxidant Superfoods

According to the USDA Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) database, pistachios have a total antioxidant capacity of 7983 Trolox Equivalents per/100 grams, making them one of the highest in antioxidants among all snack nuts.

Arginine and Heart Health

Did you know that crunchy, delicious pistachios are known for nutrients like arginine? This amino acid is plays an important part in the cardiovascular system in the boyd. 

The Skinny on Fats

While pistachios provide 14g of fat per 30g serving and almost 90% of that fat is the healthy unsaturated type, mono- and polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fat, mostly as oleic acid, comprises 55% of the fat in pistachios. Polyunsaturated fat, primarily linoleic acid, comprises 32% of the fat in pistachios.

The Truth about Trans Fat

Pistachios are naturally free from trans-fat, which is found mainly in foods cooked with partially-hydrogenated oils such as baked goods including pastries, biscuits, cookies and crackers and fried foods including doughnuts and French fries.

Potassium Power

Pistachios provide about 310mg of potassium per 30g serving (about 1 ounce); more than any other tree nut, and more than is found in half of a large banana. The recommended potassium intake is 4,700 mg/day, but national surveys show that 95% of Americans have inadequate potassium intake.

Go Pistachio for Phytosterols

Phytosterols—or plant sterols—are popping up everywhere on supermarket shelves. They’re being added to orange juices, margarines, yogurt and even chocolate. This is because research shows that due to their similarity in structure to that of cholesterol, it is believed that phytosterols compete with dietary cholesterol for absorption in the body. Plant sterols occur naturally in a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, grain products, vegetable oils, and nuts like pistachios.