National Nutrition Month -

March 2011

Ssponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and its Foundation, it is appropriate and fitting that March is National Nutrition Month, since it is in between winter and spring. Winter holiday gatherings have past and have left many of us with cherished memories and frequently unwanted weight gain!

Healthy eating and routine exercise are needed all year round; but many of us need a friendly reminder to get ourselves back on track. Be kind to your body and reacquaint yourself with healthy eating habits and fitness. Replace your unhealthy habits with smart health choices for a healthier body.  

Did you know that one weapon to put in your arsenal for avoiding diabetes is pistachios? It's true! A newly published study in The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that pistachios, when enjoyed with some high carbohydrate foods, decrease the blood sugar response in the body. Their study reinforces that pistachios may be a smart snack choice for hte prevention of diabetes and heart disease.

Ninety to 95 percent of those with diabetes are diagnosed with Type 2, which can often be prevented through proper diet, regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight. Additionally, high blood sugar levels after a meal increase the risk of developing heart disease. Diabetes affects more than 26 million Americans; more than 81 million Americans are affected by heart disease, the leading cause of death in America.

The study, conducted at the University of Toronto, resulted in some important findings:

• Eating pistachios with white bread resulted in lower rises in blood sugar and the more pistachios that were eaten, the lower the rise in blood sugar.
• Eating pistachios with other commonly consumed carbohydrate foods (including rice, pasta and mashed potates) reduced relative blood sugar responses as well.
• Pistachios consumed alone had a minimal effect on blood sugar due to their low carbohydrate content.

"This study is very exciting because it reinforces what we've already known - pistachios are a nutritious and delicious part of your daily diet," says Constant Geiger, PhD, RD, CD, and nutrition consultant to the Western Pistachio Association. "Pistachios are a good source of fiber and have only 2 grams of sugar per serving. This research supports the recommendation that nuts, such as pistachios, should be an important part of a healthy diet."

So, go ahead.....be a nut!

Source: Medicine.Net; Western Pistachio Association