Reenergize your Exercises with Pistachios

As living standards continue to improve and income rises, people who are no longer satisfied with simply meeting the basic needs are increasingly gravitating to health-consciousness and wellness. As a result, the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating a more balanced diet and starting an exercise regime, has become fashionable and trendy among people of all ages. Proper exercise not only can increase cardiopulmonary function, but also can promote gastrointestinal movement, strengthen the immune system, and stimulate the brain’s secretion of dopamine, a chemical that contributes to the feelings of pleasure and happiness. Dopamine also plays a role in sleep regulation and helps maintain a good sleep cycle.

Meanwhile, exercise is an essential factor in order to stay fit and maintain a healthy figure. When it comes to exercising, the ultimate goal is to shed fat and increase muscle mass. Shedding fat requires having a negative calorie intake: expending more energy than is absorbed. One way to reach this state of negative calorie intake is through eating fewer calories while increasing physical activities to burn energy. On the other hand, achieving positive nitrogen balance is key to building muscle mass. This is built on a foundation of scientific and balanced diet, as well as supplemented through resistance exercises such as strength training or weight lifting.

During an exercise regime, there are many dietary requirements to keep in mind. First and foremost, is the need to have sufficient energy intake to sustain the body during physical activities. Second, in order to build muscle mass, the body needs to be supplied with high-quality sources of protein. In addition, the body needs to be replenished with inorganic salts and water-soluble vitamins, especially B vitamins, which are lost via sweating when exercising. Maintaining a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet includes choosing healthy snacks that can provide sufficient energy as well as a multitude of nutrients to the body. 

When it comes to snacks, pistachio is an excellent choice to provide plant-based, high-quality protein, fat and nutrients. It also provides just the right amount of carbohydrates to energize the body during exercising. A single one-ounce serving (about 28 grams) can provide 160 kilocalories of energy and 5.9 grams of protein, which is equivalent to the amount of protein a medium-sized egg provides. In addition, pistachios are rich in nutrients such as beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin K, vitamin E, and minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. They are also a good source of phytochemicals such as lutein and phytosterols, to name a few. Full of high-quality nutrients and rich in health benefits, pistachio is a great snack choice that is perfectly suited to provide the body with energy and nutrients during and after exercising.