Peas, also known as green peas or garden peas, are the tiny, round seeds of the Pisum sativum plant. Though commonly thought of as a vegetable, peas belong to the legume family, similar to beans, lentils, and peanuts.
Peas are highly nutritious, offering a concentrated source of plant-based protein, fiber, and other vitamins and minerals as well as protective plant compounds like antioxidants. Incorporating peas into your diet may benefit your health in several ways.
•Improves Digestive Health
Eating foods rich in fiber is one of the most effective ways to improve the health of your gut.Fiber is essential for healthy digestion, including regular and comfortable bowel movements.
Peas are a rich source of fiber. They are composed of up to 65% fiber, including 10–15% insoluble fiber and 2–9% soluble fiber.Soluble fiber encourages healthy blood sugar and blood lipid levels while promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut while insoluble fiber has a laxative effect and helps increase the water content of stool, which can be especially helpful for people with constipation.
High-fiber diets have been shown to protect against gut-related health conditions such as colon cancer, diverticular disease, and constipation. Research shows people who follow higher fiber diets may have up to a 21% reduced risk of colon cancer compared to people with low fiber intake.Peas pack 8.8 g of fiber per cooked cup, making them an excellent option for boosting your daily fiber intake.
•Helps Promote Your Optimal Body Weight
Peas are an excellent source of protein and fiber, both of which can help in feeling full and managing weight. Protein is the most filling macronutrient, as it helps slow digestion and promotes feelings of fullness after eating.
High-protein diets have been shown to be effective for promoting weight loss and encouraging optimal body weight maintenance.
•Protects Heart Health
Your diet plays a major role in keeping your heart healthy. Eating plenty of fiber-rich foods, like peas, can help reduce heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high blood lipid levels. Peas are also a rich source of magnesium, a mineral essential for blood pressure regulation.
•Its Beneficial for Type 2 Diabetes
High-fiber diets, such as those rich in high-fiber legumes, like peas, have been shown to protect against type 2 diabetes. Also, studies show high-fiber diets can help promote healthy blood sugar levels in people who already have diabetes.
•Protects Eye Health
Eating peas may protect against age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), which is an eye disease that can blur part of your vision. It’s currently the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Peas are rich in the carotenoid pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, which have been shown to help protect against ARMD.
Conclusion
Peas are a nutritious type of legume rich in several nutrients, such as plant-based protein, fiber, folate, iron, and magnesium.
Because peas provide a number of essential nutrients, adding them to your diet could benefit your health in a number of ways, including lowering your risk of heart disease, supporting healthy digestion, and promoting weight loss. Peas are also easy to prepare and can be added to many of your favorite dishes to boost their nutrition content.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.