Pistachios Help You Sleep!

American pistachios contain significant amounts of melatonin, much higher than most fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, and seeds. Why is this important? SLEEP!

A good night’s sleep is incredibly important for your health. In fact, it’s just as important as eating healthy and exercising. Unfortunately, there’s a lot that can interfere with natural sleep patterns. People are now sleeping less than they did in the past, and sleep quality has decreased.

Why Sleep is so Important?

Along with nutrition and exercise, good sleep is one of the pillars of health. You simply cannot achieve optimal health without taking care of your sleep.

• Short sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of weight gain and obesity in both children and adults.
• Poor sleep affects hormones that regulate appetite. Those who get adequate sleep tend to eat fewer calories than those who don’t.
• Good sleep can maximize problem-solving skills and enhance memory. Poor sleep has been shown to impair brain function.
• Longer sleep has been shown to improve many aspects of athletic and physical performance.
• Sleeping less tan 7-8 hours per night is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Sleep deprivation can cause prediabetes in healthy adults in as little as 6 days. Many studies show a strong link between short sleep duration and type 2 diabetes.
• Poor sleeping patterns are strongly linked to depression, particularly for those with a sleeping disorder.
• Getting at least 8 hours of sleep can improve your immune function and help fight the common cold.
• Sleep affects your body’s inflammatory responses. Poor sleep is linked to inflammatory bowel diseases and can increase your risk of disease recurrence.
• Sleep deprivation may reduce your social skills and ability to recognize people’s emotional expressions.

What is Melatonin?

A hormone that’s made by the pineal gland in the brain, melatonin helps control your daily sleep-wake cycles. Your body’s internal clock influences how much melatonin the pineal gland makes, and so does the amount of light that you’re exposed to each day. Typically, melatonin levels start to rise in the mid-to-late evening, after the sun has set. They stay elevated for most of the night while you’re in the dark. Then, they drop in the early morning as the sun rises, causing you to awaken.

Melatonin is a Natural Sleep Aid.

At drugstores and natural-food stores, you can buy melatonin supplements, which are often used by those who suffer from jet lag, shift-work-related sleep troubles, or insomnia. But why take a supplement when you can eat pistachios? An analysis conducted by researchers Dr. Jack Losso and Millicent Yeboah-Awudzi at Louisiana State University in partnership with American Pistachio Growers found that American pistachios contain significant amounts of melatonin, much higher than most fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes and seeds. “Pistachios are a highly nutritious snack containing not only melatonin, but a wide variety of vitamins and antioxidants that benefit an individual’s overall health and wellness,” said Losso. According to Losso, pistachios contain certain phenolics which can reduce the breakdown of tryptophan to toxic compounds so that it is converted to melatonin. The increase in tryptophan has the potential to help with delayed sleep onset, sleep duration and quality. Additionally, Yeboah-Awudzi, recommends pistachios as a natural food option worth considering if anyone is looking to increase their melatonin intake. Pistachios also contain B6 and Magnesium which are good for sleep. A 1-ounce portion of kernels eaten about an hour before bedtime should set you up for a good night of sleep.

Start Snacking for Better Sleep!

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico. They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines. Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings. They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets that make great corporate and family gifts. The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for weddings, private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.