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This Underrated Snack Might Be the Secret to Better Health, According to a New Study
This Underrated Snack Might Be the Secret to Better Health, According to a New Study originally appeared on Parade.
Roughly 21 million American adults report having had a major depressive episode in a year, as reported by the National Institute of Mental Health. That's 8.3% of the population, and a pretty staggering number which doesn't account for the many people who may experience what they consider "minor" depressive episodes, which are also challenging and life-affecting.
Treatment for any kind of depression, or anxiety for that matter, varies from person to person, and should always be directed by a trusted medical professional. But what if incorporating certain foods into your diet more often could help alleviate minor depression or anxiety symptoms, even just a little? Well, that's what one study set out to find out, and it honed in specifically on pistachios.
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In complete transparency, the study in question was supported by the American Pistachio Growers, however it was published in the Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Research, and led to some pretty interesting findings on how the nut can affect emotional health.
Researchers looked at data from over 64,000 adults in the U.S. and found that people who ate pistachios had lower rates of anxiety and fewer problems with depression than those who didn't eat them.
Honing in on a specific demographic, study participants ages 60 and above who ate pistachios had 16% less anxiety, and younger adults (ages 20 - 59) had fewer depression-related issues. Overall, pistachio eaters were about half as likely to have minor depression.
"Pistachios are a rich source of bioactive nutrients, and our research suggests that modest consumption may play a meaningful role in supporting mental well-being," said Kristin Fulgoni, lead author and researcher at Nutrition Impact, LLC. "What we noticed is that even small amounts of pistachios—about an ounce a day—were linked to these benefits."More findings to ponder: Study participants who ate roughly two-ounches of pistachios at night for 12 weeks had more of what's considered "good" gut bacteria (including Roseburiaand Lachnospiraceae) that are known to produce a compound called butyrate. Though more research is needed, early studies suggest that butyrate may support gut and brain health.
Pistachio eaters also had lower levels of other not-so-great bacteria, that have been connected to cognitive decline, poor mood state and other brain health challenges in observational studies.
So is it worth adding pistachios to your diet? Well, that's up to you and your healthcare professional. But if you're already snacking on 'em, now you can certainly feel better about Underrated Snack Might Be the Secret to Better Health, According to a New Study first appeared on Parade on Jun 27, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
