Mumbai: According to a study conducted by the University of Toronto, Pistachios, when eaten with common high-carbohydrate foods like white bread may actually slow the absorption of carbohydrates into the body, resulting in a lower than expected blood sugar level.

The study "Glycemic Response of Pistachios - A Dose Response Study and Effect of Pistachios Consumed with Different Common Carbohydrate Foods on Postprandial Glycemia," is the first of its kind to examine the effects of pistachios and glucose levels in combination with carbohydrates.

Healthy snacks like pistachios can help control diabetes in a country like India where 40 million people suffer from the disease and this figure is likely to go up to 80 million by 2025, the university stated.

Dr. Cyril Kendall, lead researcher of the study and a professor in the University of Toronto's department of nutritional sciences, said, "Controlling blood glucose levels is important for preventing and controlling diabetes. Pistachios have been shown to decrease risk factors for diabetes. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that suppressing the glycemic (blood sugar) response of high carbohydrate foods may be part of the mechanism by which pistachios contribute to the prevention and control of diabetes."

Individuals with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease. In the last few decades, India has emerged as the world capital for heart diseases. There are more people with heart problems in India than anywhere else in the world.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 60 per cent of the world's cardiac patients will be Indian by the end of 2010. Recent research found eating one to two handfuls of pistachios a day results in a nine to 12 per cent reduction in "bad" LDL cholesterol levels. "In the past five decades, the rates of coronary disease among urban populations have more than doubled from four to 11 per cent. The situation is of concern in India where more and more young people are getting affected by heart diseases like stroke and peripheral vascular disease. The mono-unsaturated fat in pistachios has been scientifically proven to help lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase the good cholesterol (HDL) which protects the heart. It also reduces C-reactive protein levels that are linked with inflammation and risk of heart diseases," said Dr. RR Kasliwal, chairman, Clinical & Preventive Cardiology, Medanta, The Medicity.