The tree of life actually exists. This is not a fantasy praised by writers and artists, not a life-affirming image from biblical writings, but well-known pistachios. For thousands of years these tropical plants have endowed mankind with invaluable fruits, which harmoniously combine excellent taste and beneficial properties. From this article you will learn where and how pistachios grow, in what country they are called "nuts of happiness", how they are useful for people and whether they can be harmful if eaten uncontrollably.
Calorie and chemical composition
Many people like to pamper themselves with salted pistachio nuts and, enjoying the delicacy, do not even realize that at the same time they enrich their bodies with nutrients, vitamins and microelements. It is enough to get acquainted with the chemical composition of the fruit of the tree of life to understand this. 
Did you know? Pistachio nuts are collected at night. The fact is that under the sun's rays, the resins and essential oils contained in the plant are greatly activated and provoke headaches in people.
To get the daily caloric intake, it is enough to eat a good handful of pistachios. The energy value of 100 g of nuts is equal to 556.3 kcal. But do not worry about the calorie content of the product.
In the same portion of cotyledonary nuclei there are:
- fatty oils (66%), including linoleic, palmitoleic, oleic, stearic, linolenic acid;
- proteins (20 g), which are the building blocks for the formation of the most valuable amino acids;
- carbohydrates (up to 25 g);
- vitamins of group A (zeaxanthin and lutein) - 1000 international units (IU);
- B vitamins (B1, B6) - 23 mg;
- vitamin E (9.3 mg);
- vitamin C (4.2 mg);
- starch (1.2 mg);
- glycerides (10%);
- copper 8 (mg);
- phosphorus (35 mg);
- magnesium (22 mg);
- iron (1.08 mg);
- calcium (40 mg);
- manganese (4.7 mg).
Moreover, tannins were found in the leaves of pistachio plants, the amount of which increases to 50% during the formation of specific growths. The value of culture trunks is contained in the resin, from which people have learned how to get the essential oil. Among other competing alternatives, it is the highest quality and deservedly heads the rating of its group.Important! Of all the varieties of nuts, pistachios are in the lead in fiber content, which contributes to the improvement of the gastrointestinal tract and enhances immunity.
A small proportion of oil is found in the foliage of pistachios, but in order to collect a 30-gram bubble of healing liquid, it will be necessary to enclose the branches from a hectare garden.
Pistachio, like cashews, belongs to the Sumach family.
Body benefits
Pistachio kernels can be consumed fried, salted and fresh. For the human body, they are invaluable because they reduce the risk of dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, strengthen blood vessels and cleanse the body of cholesterol. 
But on this pistachios do not exhaust their use. Progressive medical luminaries are recommended to improve the biochemical composition of blood, enhance blood circulation, and establish the reproductive function of both sexes.
Moreover, the vitamins contained in the product have a beneficial effect on the general condition of a person, his vitality. For example, lutein improves eyesight, and tocopherol cleans cells of free radicals, heals hair and rejuvenates skin.
Did you know? Often, pistachios play the role of aphrodisiacs, which accounts for the fact that in China they are called "nuts of happiness." In addition, Eastern medicine confirms the beneficial effects of nuclei on the human nervous system.
Moderate portions of pistachios are indicated during pregnancy. Thanks to fiber, which is present in large quantities, the nucleus improves intestinal motility, promotes the formation of beneficial microflora, improves digestion and prevents the development of dysbacteriosis. In addition, the body is cleared of toxic substances.
Some doctors recommend eating 5-10 nuts a day to clear the bile ducts and liver. It is believed that this product relieves pain during hepatic colic. 
Traditional medicine advises to combine the fruits with honey, which doubles their benefits. There are many medicinal recipesbased on pistachio ingredients (oil and kernels) from:
- tachycardia;
- hypertension;
- heart failure;
- tuberculosis;
- cough and bronchitis;
- psychological exhaustion;
- chronic fatigue;
- ulcers of the digestive tract;
- burns;
- anemia;
- colitis;
- infectious diseases;
- intestinal disorders in case of poisoning;
- skin aging.
Did you know? The largest producer of pistachios in the world is Iran. For the year, workers from the plantations of the country collect more than 255 thousand tons of nuts. In addition, the top three included the United States and Turkey, which annually grow 176 thousand and 82 thousand tons of product, respectively.
In addition, pistachios help with infertility, contribute to the production of eggs and increase potency, than are equally useful for men and women. 
Possible harm
If not controlled to eat pistachios, the body can greatly harm. Specific contraindications of these tasty nuts do not have. But nutritionists warn of possible the risks of obesity and allergic reactions. Particular caution to treat should be allergic. Being a strong allergen, the product can provoke even anaphylactic shock.
We advise you to read about the beneficial properties and hazards of nuts: cashews, pecans, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, hazel, walnut, nutmeg, Manchurian, Brazilian, black.
Doctors categorically insist on reasonable portions of nuts - only then they will be useful, and in all other cases they will bring irreparable harm to the body. Based on these beliefs, it is important for you to find out how many pistachios can be eaten per day, taking into account your weight and state of health.
According to experts, an average physically healthy person who regularly goes in for sports can eat no more than 40 g of fruit every day. Anything above, is already beginning to harm. As a result of such overeating, malfunctions in the digestive organs and kidneys may occur.
Important! During therapy with pistachio kernels, nutritionists advise to minimize the use of butter and vegetable oil.
How to choose when buying
On the shelves of stores, this product is most often found roasted and seasoned with salt, but you can also find raw nuts. The pricing policy for them depends on the size of the kernels and the degree of processing, which does not affect the taste. 
Experts who, in the course of their daily work, daily pass hundreds of tons of this Asian exotic through their hands, when buying, pay close attention to the packaging and label on it, the size and quality of the shell, the color of the kernels.
To make your choice easier, always follow these rules:
- The shell on quality nuts is always smooth, with a uniform structure and a pale yellow color. As a result of the influence of the marinade, in which the roasting takes place, it can come close to the orange hues. The dark color of the peel indicates excessive heat treatment or deteriorated product. In any case, it will not benefit.
- A good core is always green. And the richer it is, the better the taste.
- A thin film that is barely visible in the cracks of ripe specimens between the shell and the cotyledonary nucleus should be brown, not red. Do not forget that some unscrupulous manufacturers are trying to disguise low-quality product with various dyes. Therefore, always reject non-natural colors.
- Sometimes nuts ripen when cracked, which facilitates the extraction of edible grain. But it is better to give preference to whole samples, because some entrepreneurs in the early stages of maturation process pistachios with special chemical solutions, as a result of which an imitation of "ripeness" appears.
- In a high-quality and ripe product, the inside always protrudes slightly from the slightly open shell. If it is deepened, then the "ripeness crack" was imitated by chemical or mechanical methods. In both cases, the taste and nutritional characteristics of the nut are in doubt.
- Never buy bulk goods near fish, meat or sausage shops - it absorbs third-party odors very quickly and for a long time.
- Inspect the weighted nuts for flavor. If there are notes of mildew, rot or dampness, find another product.
- The packaging of pistachio nuts should ideally be transparent so that the appearance of the product is clearly visible.
- Keep guard should the presence of debris and any other third-party items in the bag.
- Do not buy nuts, if you notice in the package a lot of dropped out of the specimens. This is not at all a sign of their ripeness, but on the contrary, a sign of poor transportation, violation of the rules of saving or harvesting terms.
Important! If the surface of pistachio nuts formed a salt coating of any thickness, you should know: the kernels are not fresh, they were collected more than one year ago. And even fake labels with today's dates will not correct this fact.
In what form to use
They say that if the product is nutritious, it will not lose its benefit in any way. It is an indisputable fact that in its original form it is much more useful than after heat treatment. But if the nuts are not burned, then light roast and salt seasoning will not hurt them.
Some gourmet like to indulge themselves pistachio powder, which is obtained from ground raw kernels. The resulting powder is added to homemade sorbet, smoothies, pastries, salads and even porridge.
Pistachios are used in the preparation of many dishes: appetizers, salads, main dishes, desserts. Nuts go well with ingredients such as strawberries, apricots, peaches, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, carrots, melons, zucchini, rhubarb, sorrel, onions, green peas, chicken, turkey.
Whole unsalted nuts are added to yogurt. Especially tasty delicacy is obtained by using vanilla varieties for this and after mixing with pistachios, beat in a blender at fast speed for no more than 10 seconds. 
How to fry pistachios
You can fry nuts about half an hour in the oven or about 3-4 minutes in the microwave. In any case, you need to stock up on a quality product, discard damaged and moldy samples.
If you prefer the oven, first select a skillet with a thick bottom. It is ideal for processing in-shell kernels, and for cleared ones, you can miss this point.
Did you know? Europeans prefer to use pistachios in a very interesting way: they are not salted, but poured with lemon juice and served exclusively with dessert wines and champagne.
When everything is ready, spread the pistachios in a thin layer in a pan and place in the oven, after setting the timer to 40-50 degrees. When the content starts to crackle (and this will not happen before 25 minutes), you can pull out. To prevent the nuts from burning and baking on one side, it is advisable to mix them periodically.
If the process will occur in the microwave, be sure to get rid of the shell. Then pour the cleaned kernels into a saucepan with boiling water and hold over low heat. After 2-3 minutes, drain the liquid and discard it in a colander so that its remnants are drained. When the grains are dry, place them in a shallow and flat glass bowl and put them in a microwave. Until full readiness 5 minutes will be enough. Lovers of pickled nuts are recommended to boil in salted water.
Home Storage
Pistachios are very specific nuts. If stored in a whole shell, the product will save its taste for a long time. It will depend on environmental conditions. For example, in the refrigerator the expiration date will expire in 9 months, and in the freezer only in a year.
Did you know? Pistachio trees can withstand 30 degrees of frost, heat and even drought. And their life lasts at least 4 centuries.
But peeled grains and cracked shells can be suitable for only 3 months, but under the conditions of their proper storage. If you put a box with whole nuts in a kitchen cabinet, away from heat and light, they can lie around half a year. 
To prolong the life of the cores, it is better to store them in a glass or plastic container with tight lids. If you don’t find one in the house, you can get along with fabric bags, but in that case be ready that in 2 months the product will deteriorate.
Nuts that contain insects and moldy fungi, as well as bitter aftertaste and excessive oiliness are not suitable for consumption.
Now you can confidently go to the store in search of unique exotic nuts. With a reasonable consumption of pistachios will bring absolute benefits to the body (regardless of whether it is a man, woman or teenager), but do not forget about contraindications and possible harm.
