While pistachios are a rich source of dietary fat (14g per 30g serving); almost 90% of the fat is the healthy unsaturated type, mono- and polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fat, mostly as oleic acid, comprises 55% of the fat in pistachios. Researchers at UC Irvine recently identified an appetite-suppressing compound in oleic acid called oleoylethanolamide or OEA, which helps you feel fuller longer after a meal.

Everybody’s talking about cholesterol. Well, pistachios can help support cardiovascular management thanks to something called phytosterols (a plant sterol found abundantly in pistachios) which actually compete with cholesterol from the diet for absorption.  Due to their nutritional composition or phytonutrients package, pistachios may be unique from other nuts in their ability to elevate healthy HDL cholesterol levels, when eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat.

The growth cycle of pistachios takes seven years, in which a tree's yield is heavy one year and light the next. Pistachio trees in orchards can live for 40 years and produce high-quality nuts up to a ripe old age. The pistachio kernel itself usually develops on the tree in June.

Packed with protein and minerals as well as key antioxidants, pistachios are the all-natural way to fuel fitness.

Pistachios make the perfect pair for healthy snacks, try them:

• With low-fat cheese
• Alongside apple slices