February 26th celebrates National Pistachio Day, and to mark the occasion, we're taking a closer look at this tasty nut to see what sort of benefits it can have on our hair.

What is a pistachio?

A pistachio, although categorised as a nut, is technically the seed of a fruit. Its scientific name is Pistacia Vera and belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. It is contained in a shell, which reveals a green coloured nut with a red/purple outer covering. The green part is generally quite sweet, with a creamy type taste. It is often used in desserts, and other sweet dishes.

Pistachio Nutrition Facts:

Listed below is the nutritional value of Pistachios per 100 gms:
Total Calories: 562
Total Carbohydrates: 28 gm
Dietary Fiber: 10 gm
Total Fat: 45 gm
Vitamin A: 8 %
Calcium: 10 %
Vitamin C: 9 %
Iron: 21 %
Vitamin B6: 85 %
Magnesium: 30 %

What are the benefits of nuts?

Good nuts to add to your diet include walnuts, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and biotin, and Brazil nuts, which are high in selenium. Selenium is not only good for promoting a healthy skin and scalp, but the mineral can also help prevent hair loss.

Nuts, and pistachios in particular, are a treasure of natural iron. Iron is a must for healthy lustrous hair because of ferritin, a protein that is responsible for storage of iron in our bodies. More the stored iron, more is the available oxygen to nourish hair cells.

What are the main benefits of pistachios? 

There are many benefits to eating Pistachios. They help strengthen hair and make it more flexible. It contains a good quantity of biotin, which basically fights against the hair loss and helps promote stronger hair growth. The main factor that leads to hair loss is a deficiency of biotin. It again helps to nourish the dry hair and helps to increase the flexibility of hair strands. Deep nourishment can be done by using a pistachio based hair mask or a topical solution such as a shampoo or serum.

Pistachios simply provide a solution for dehydrating and split ends or any further damage caused. The roots of the hair get strengthened and also the hair locks are made stronger by consuming pistachios. Fatty acids are very essential for proper hair growth that stimulates healthy growth of hair strands.

Other health benefits of pistachios include weight loss, lower cholesterol and blood sugar, and improved gut, eye, and blood vessel health. What's more, they're delicious, versatile, and fun to eat. For most people, including pistachios in their diet is a great way to improve overall health.