For many moms-to-be, gestational diabetes (GD) is a concern. Elevated blood sugar during pregnancy not only impacts the mother’s health, but also may increase the risk factors for the baby to have chronic diseases later in life. A recent study co-funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Pistachio Growers (being released on October 24th) reveals welcome news for pregnant women. The study found that when women ate pistachios (known to be a low-Glycemic Index food), they had a significantly lower rise in blood glucose levels compared to when eating whole wheat bread which provided approximately the same number of calories.
Trista Sutter, who has two healthy children with her husband Ryan whom she met as the “BACHELORETTE”, was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her seventh month of pregnancy, having believed that being pregnant meant that she could eat anything she wanted any time she wanted. Trista will share with your viewers her own experience with gestational diabetes and how she wished she had known pistachios were a food that could lower her blood glucose levels.
Trista will be joined by nationally-renowned nutrition consultant Mike Roussell, who will explain to your viewers why pistachios are a smart choice to support overall health and provide essential nutrients to mom and baby, and how this data adds to a growing body of evidence showing that moderate intake of pistachios is beneficial in controlling blood sugar in pregnant women and after a meal in healthy people and those with diabetes.
