Pistachios, not pretzels, are weight-loss snack

Nutrition researchers at UCLA have indicated that choosing to snack on pistachios rather than pretzels as part of a healthy diet not only supports your body mass index (BMI) goals, but also can support heart health.

"This study is important because it's the first of its kind to show that pistachios can be part of a successful weight management program," said Dr David Heber, director of the UCLA Centre for Human Nutrition.

"Snackers often think pretzels are a better choice for weight management compared to a nut like pistachios just because they are lower in fat. This study debunks that myth," he added.

In this 12-week randomized study, 52 overweight subjects were placed on a 500-calorie deficit diet and were assigned to either a pistachio snack or pretzel snack group.

The results showed that the pistachio group had better success with supporting their body mass index (BMI) goals compared to the pretzel group and that pistachios can help support heart health too, proving that pistachios can be included in a healthy diet, even for those who are managing their weight.

The study has been published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.