Pistachios have come a long way over the centuries. From humble beginnings traced as far back as millennia before Christ’s era in Asia, it is now a common sight in American and European homes, enjoyed as a tasty snack or used as an ingredient in baking and cooking. The nuts come from the pistachio tree (Pistacia vera), a member of the cashew family. Pistachio nuts enjoy popularity as a snack due to their mildly sweet taste (which can be salted according to preference) and the wide range of nutritional benefits it provides.
Do pistachios help you sleep? Well, pistachios contain high amounts of melatonin – a key hormone essential for sleep. And even more impressive, they are one of the plant-based sources with the highest amount of melatonin. The ‘happy nut’ is also a rich source of fiber and contains lower calories when compared to most nuts. These nuts are chock full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
You may have heard pistachios recommended as an alternative to supplements for insomnia or those who have difficulty sleeping after consuming caffeine or caffeinated products. If you’re curious about why pistachios make people sleep, the simple answer is melatonin.
Melatonin is not solely responsible though, other constituents like magnesium, vitamin B6 also work together – melatonin tells the body when to sleep, and magnesium helps the body relax – to provide the qualities that make pistachios a great sleep aid.
What’s so impressive about melatonin, you ask? It’s sleep! Sleep is of critical importance to health, even as important as eating. Melatonin plays a key role in the sleep process as it is essential for quality sleep. Apart from being found in natural sources, melatonin is also produced as a hormone in the body by the pineal gland, located in the middle of the brain.
The hormone helps regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Trusted Source Do Pistachios Contain Melatonin? Pistachios contain melatonin, a naturally occurring protein that signals that it’s time to sleep. www.healthline.com Normally, melatonin levels gradually rise after sunset and remain at high levels when it is dark, causing sleepiness. The levels then drop again in the morning as the sun rises, causing the body to awaken. Consequently, when the brain suffers a melatonin deficiency, the body’s natural sleep cycle gets distorted. This might result in more hours being needed before sleep swoops in for a necessary appearance. Melatonin deficiency can be caused by stress, shift work, not getting enough light in the day, getting too much light at night, and even old age.
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin essential in the central nervous system and the metabolic process. The vitamin works by breaking down ingested food and using it to produce neurotransmitters, red blood cells, and even energy.
Vitamin B6 is notable in disease prevention as it is associated with lowering the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases Trusted Source Vitamin B6 | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in many foods, as well as added to foods and supplements. More on this b vitamin. www.hsph.harvard.edu . The body cannot produce its vitamin B6, so it has to be gotten from food sources and supplements. Some rich sources of vitamin B6 include; beef liver, turkey, tuna, and pistachios.
Like all nuts, pistachios are a substantial source of protein Trusted Source Are Pistachios Healthy? | Time Here’s what to know about the nutritional and health benefits of pistachios, which are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber. time.com . They contain a plant-based protein that would make them a suitable protein source for vegetarians. Though their nutritious capacity in this regard is well talked about, you can be even better served by considering the PLANTERS Deluxe Salted Mixed Nuts and its mix of nuts.
A single serving of roasted pistachios can provide as many as 6 grams of protein. A notable perk of this nut is that it fills you for longer, preventing you from taking any other unhealthy snacks.
Protein is key in the body’s growth and development, as the consumption of protein helps the body repair cells and creates new ones.
While they have significantly low proportions of magnesium when compared to several nuts and seeds, pistachios remain excellent sources of magnesium. Plus, they are richer in fiber and essential amino acids than any other nuts, and that alone is compensation enough.
One serving of pistachios provides 121mg of magnesium; pistachios provide only 8% of your Recommended Dietary Allowance. Magnesium is involved in numerous biochemical reactions in the body, including protein formation, gene maintenance, energy creation, and more. Magnesium also plays a role in mood and brain function, as low levels are linked to an increased risk of depression – there’s more to the ‘happy nut’ name, after all!
After numerous nights where you toss around the bed for hours before getting that precious shuteye and then struggling to wake up without the aid of a blaring alarm like a zombie the next morning, you probably need help getting to sleep. You already know that pistachios are excellent sleep aids, and now you wonder how much is right so as not to take too much or too little. No amount can be too much, and a small quarter cup of Keenan Farms Salted and Roasted kernels, taken about an hour before bedtime, is recommended to be just enough. This can give you that much needed, peaceful sleep through the night. You can also consider exploring other options like a white noise machine to aid your sleeping at night.
This is the end of the road for you pistachio lovers or wannabe lovers—the importance of the snack to the longevity and quality of your sleep. These days, due to most of our work lives and our almost constant attention to screens, many of us, unfortunately, have difficulty sleeping. If you are one of those who have ever wondered, “do pistachios help you sleep?” – we hope you have been convinced.
Pistachios serve as a cheaper option to the otherwise expensive supplements from the drugstore. Just a handful of the tasty nuts would do the trick! You are now educated, albeit basically, on the nutritional capabilities of this wonder nut. Hopefully, you, too, turn out to be a pistachio faithful and continue to munch your way towards healthier living – one handful of kernels at a time.
