Significant improvements in waist circumference and cholesterol were also observed
A new study published in Food Chemistry evaluated the impact of pistachio consumption on cognitive performance and mood in overweight young adults.
A baseline-final, uncontrolled nutritional intervention was performed in which overweight young adults ate 28 grams of pistachios daily for 28 days. Psychometric tests were applied to estimate cognitive performance and mood. Anthropometric evaluation and biochemical analysis were also carried out and plasma antioxidant activity was measured.
Pistachio consumption was associated with statistically significant reductions in waist circumference, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as an increase in plasma antioxidant activity. Pistachio supplementation was also associated with improved risk tolerance and decision-making strategy, executive functions, and selective and sustained attention, as well as positive modulations of mood state for anxiety, anger-hostility and sadness-depression.
These findings suggest that pistachio consumption could confer various benefits on cognitive performance and mood in overweight young adults.
Landaverde-Mejia, K., Dufoo-Hurtado, E., Camacho-Vega, D., Maldonado-Celis, M. E., Mendoza-Diaz, S., & Campos-Vega, R. (2024). Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) consumption improves cognitive performance and mood in overweight young adults: A pilot study. Food Chemistry, 457, 140211. Advance online publication.