Answer: they are the top two producing areas in the world of a foodstuff that is getting lots of attention lately for its health benefits.
What is this item? Well...
...it originated in the Holy Land and was a favorite of the Queen of Sheba.
...it was first imported to the United States in the 1880s, but didn't really become popular until the early 20th century.
...the first seed planted in America was by a California scientist in 1930, but it didn't mature until twenty years later and wasn't able to be harvested here until 1976!
Can you guess what this amazing member of the Sumac family is? Is it truly good for us, and more importantly, can it be used to garnish a martini without inducing looks of scorn from gin-and-vermouth purists?
Hooray for pistachios! Pistachios?
"Pistachios may keep heart disease away"
Researchers at Penn State announced yesterday the results of an experiment where volunteers were first given a standard diet for two weeks, then placed on one of three different diets for four weeks. Every month the volunteers would take a two week break off of the diet and then resume one of the remaining two diets until they had completed a four-week course of all three diets.
All three diets were variations on the Step I Diet, a cholesterol-lowering diet in general use. The diets included a Step I Diet without pistachios which had 25 percent total fat and 8 percent saturated fat; a Step I Diet including 1.5 ounces of pistachios per day which had 30 percent total fat and 8 percent saturated fat, and a Step I Diet including three ounces of pistachios per day [my emphases] which had 34 percent total fat and 8 percent saturated fat.
Standard blood tests determined the various cholesterol levels in the participant's blood after each diet. Researchers found that 3 ounces of pistachios reduced the amounts of total cholesterol in the blood by 8.4 percent and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called bad cholesterol, by 11.6 percent. The study also found that non-high density lipoproteins (non-HDL) decreased by 11.2 percent. Non-HDL levels are considered reliable predictors of cardiovascular disease risk.
The three-ounce pistachio diet also decreased the ratios of total cholesterol to HDL, LDL to HDL and non-HDL to HDL and apolipoprotein B, which are all measures of cardiovascular disease risk. "We were pleased to see a difference between the two doses of pistachios for the lipoprotein ratios because it would appear that pistachios are causing the effect and that they act in a dose dependent way," says [Penn State researcher Sarah] Gebauer.
Once again we find out that what we put in our handsomely shaped mouths has consequences beyond the risk of a little puff of effluvia. Once again science reminds us that food can help as well as harm our arteries. Who knew that a handful of pistachios a day may keep the cardiologist away? It is this kind of vital knowledge that increases a fellow's chances of being around to enjoy Season 40 of American Idol.
Let's not forget something: if you don't know what your LDL cholesterol level is then it is time to find out. If you don't realize that LDL cholesterol is bad for your coronary arteries perhaps it is time to read this.
As for me, I'm off to the store to buy a fresh bag of pistachios - and I know exactly what to do with them.
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There's really nothing like Iranian pistachios. My grandmother sometimes manages to sneak some over with her when she visits, and they're pretty amazing.
vodka: strike one, and thats enough. Yoouuuuu'ree out.
That looks like a fine little drink, but flavoring that isn't either juniper or olive? It ain't a martini.
(grin - but I'll admit its a bit of a forced grin - Martinis are near-sacred).
I'd venture to say that pistachios grown in southern Arizona are near if not at the top of the best in the world. The high desert (~4000') climate there seems to produce ideal growing conditions.
They don't have the huge producers that California has, so most of the production is sold regionally, though you can find mail-order sources.
My calorie-counter indicates that 1oz. of pistachios has 158 calories. So 3 oz. a day would be 474 calories. That would be 18-20% of a 2,500 calorie diet.
I'm guessing these nuts take about 5 seconds to eat, seeing as how that kind of food is easy to munch down. My concern is that the nuts have a fairly low "chew" value and would end up being added to the days total calorie intake instead of replacing total intake.
So despite their good qualities I imagine that for many, particularly those with weight issues, the cholesterol lowering effects would be offset by weight gain and it's negative effects.
The red dye put on pistachio shells many years ago wound up on everything: your mouth, lips, hands, etc.
Also, a bag of the nuts had enough salt to satisfy your minimum annual requirement for Na ion [NOT!].
Who says today's snacks are more fun?
My friend decided to eat a lot of pistachios for their health benefit, and ended up in the emergency room when they perforated his bowls. Oh well. Pistachio butter, anyone?