BariatricSource

Reaching for that chocolate chip cookie? Think twice. The American Heart Association (AHA) recently established the strictest guidelines to date for added sugars. The new guidelines recommend Americans limit added sugars in their diet to no more than 100 calories (six teaspoons) for women and no more than 150 calories (nine teaspoons) for men.

According to the 2001-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the average added sugar intake for Americans was 22 teaspoons per day - a total of 355 calories, up nearly 20 percent in just three decades. Studies have linked high amounts of sugar intake to insulin resistance, hypertension and type II diabetes.

The AHA continues to recommend a diet that incorporates a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean sources of protein; and one that incorporates healthy sources of mono- and polyunsaturated fats coming from food sources including; nuts like pistachios, seeds and fish.

"Pistachios make the perfect snack swap for many of the many sugar-heavy snacks Americans are consuming," said Kelly Plowe, MS, RD, nutrition communications manager at Paramount Farms. "Their fiber and protein combination make them a satisfying snack and they're delicious, so consumers don't have to sacrifice taste for good health."

A Healthy Substitute for Sugar-packed Snacks
Nutrient-packed, a serving of pistachios offers more than 30 different vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Pistachios also offer many cardio-protective properties thanks to their "hearty" nutrient profile that includes antioxidants, phytosterols, unsaturated fats and various vitamins and minerals. In fact, the pistachio is the highest phytosterol and antioxidant snack nut.

Pistachios are also a great snack for anyone trying to control their blood sugar. Recent research from University of Toronto shows that when a handful of pistachios were eaten with a high glycemic index food like white bread, the pistachios helped blunt the rise in blood sugar and reduced hunger-stimulating hormones. That helps control appetite, and is good news for diabetics.

Dubbed the "skinny nut" by nutrition experts, pistachios are one of the lowest calorie, lowest fat nuts and offer more nuts per serving than any other nut; perfect for anyone trying to manage their weight. They're also a good source of both fiber and protein, making them a satisfying snack. Pistachios are a "mindful" snack; as the only in-shell snack nut, pistachios take longer to eat, so they slow consumption time and reduce calorie intake.