Pistachio
The pistachio tree, which produces delicious pistachios in the autumn, which are for some reason also incorrectly called pistachios in our language, is from the Masticaceae family (or Pistachio family).
Pistachios, whose homeland is the Middle East, are grown in the Mediterranean basin in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and in India, where their seeds were later taken, and even in Mexico. The places where pistachios are grown in our country are primarily Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Diyarbakır and Siirt.
The pistachio, a short tree, has green leaves consisting of five leaflets and small flowers that bloom in clusters. When these flowers mature, they produce a fruit (or kernel) that is 2-2.5 cm long, has a reddish and soft shell on the outside, a hard shell inside it, and a green or yellow interior.
The green ones are covered with a thin shell for being more delicious. The hard shell of the pistachio cracks when roasted or hit with a hard object. The cracked shell, which is forced by hand, splits in two. The inside of the pistachio, which can be stored for a long time, is enjoyed as a dried fruit (snack) and is used in confectionery, pastry, halva and dessert making (especially in baklava making).
NUTRITIONAL VALUES
The nutritional values contained in 100 g of pistachio kernels can be listed as follows: 594 calories; 20.8 g. protein: 51.6 g. fat: 16.4 g. carbohydrate; 0 cholesterol; 2 g. fiber: 500 mg. phosphorus: 136 mg. calcium; 7.3 mg. iron: 1.020 mg. potassium: 158 mg. magnesium; 66 IU vitamin A; 0.62 mg. vitamin B1; 1.45 mg. vitamin B2: 0.4 mg. vitamin B6; 7 mg. vitamin C and 5.2 mg. vitamin E.
BENEFITS TO OUR HEALTH
In addition to the very important nutritional values listed above;
o Syrup made from pistachios is an expectorant and is also good for bronchitis: For this, pistachios are crushed in a mortar with a little water. Then, some more water and sugar are added and boiled. The syrup prepared in this way is drunk.
o Pistachios reduce glucose absorption in the small intestine and prevent blood sugar from rising: In this respect, diabetics are advised to eat pistachios.
o Additionally, pistachios reduce the risk of high blood sugar levels due to the high amount of unsaturated fat in their structure.
o It does not contain cholesterol and has a lowering effect on blood cholesterol levels: thus reducing the risk of coronary heart failure.
o Pistachios also have aphrodisiac (sexual potency enhancing) effects: For this, pistachios are eaten in large quantities or foods containing pistachios are consumed.
