Multiple Benefits
Medical experts have known for a while that getting vitamin E from food, especially a type called gamma-tocopherol, can help protect against certain kinds of lung cancer. Pistachio nuts are rich in gamma-tocopherol vitamin E and are easy to find. They are also packed with antioxidants and have been proven to help lower cholesterol levels.
Ladia Hernandez, a senior research dietitian at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, suggests that eating foods like pistachios, which are naturally high in gamma-tocopherol, could be a practical way to reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Scientific Support
In a study conducted at Texas Woman’s University — Houston Center campus, 36 healthy participants were split into two groups: experimental and control. The experimental group was asked to eat about 2 ounces of pistachios daily, while the control group kept their usual diets.
After a two-week period to establish baseline blood serum levels, participants had their blood tested weekly for four more weeks to check any changes.
According to Hernandez and her team, the participants who ate pistachios had much higher levels of gamma-tocopherol in their blood compared to the control group. Additionally, because pistachios naturally help lower cholesterol, the body mass index of those in the experimental group stayed relatively stable. This indicates that eating pistachios regularly could reduce the risk of lung cancer without negative side effects, like weight gain, which could diminish other health benefits.
Add Pistachios to Your Diet
While pistachios are an excellent source of compounds that fight cancer and cholesterol, they are not the only ones. Various other nuts, such as pecans and walnuts, also contain high amounts of gamma-tocopherol and are readily available.
Adding these nuts to your diet can offer similar health benefits, providing a tasty and nutritious way to support your overall well-being.
