I hadn’t eaten peas in a while but as I was walking through the grocery store a few months ago I saw peas in the frozen food section and though it had been too long. Unlike most people I actually like peas. They’re delicious! Turns out they are much more nutritious than you’d think too. They are rich in a wide array of nutrients and they’re quite dense in those nutrients also.
Unfortunately peas are too often overlooked. They’re one of the disregarded vegetables. One of the veggies that people perceive as gross. We’ve all heard it “Eat Your Peas” by your mother at one point. They were the last, lonely vegetable lingering on your plate. Hopefully after reading this article they’ll be the first veggie in your belly instead!
After doing some reading and research I realized that this is definitely a vegetable to always have on hand. The nutritional value is truly off the charts and peas are worth every penny, and every bite!
10 Health Benefits Of Green Peas
- An Antioxidant & Anti-Inflammatory: Green peas are healthy in the body to act as an antixodant and strong anti-inflammatory. Green peas contain carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamin c & e, omega 3, ALA and zinc! All these nutrients provide antioxidant or anti-inflammatory benefits to the body. Antioxidants help you cope with aging better. Anti-inflammatory compounds help your body heal and repair faster. Anti-inflammatory compounds also help to prevent dysbiosis in the body that can lead to other health conditions. These nutrients are also important for preventing heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.
- Green Peas Support Blood Sugar Regulation: Green peas are one of the few foods that provide both a high amount of protein and fiber. This is good for maintaining healthy blood sugar regulation. Fiber and protein in high amounts allow for healthier digestion times. This will slow the digestion of sugars in your body, making it easier on your pancreas. Protein and fiber are also both helpful in breaking down starches into sugar as well as carbs moving through the digestive tract. This helps blood sugar levels stay more steady instead of fluctuate rapidly. New research has also found that green peas lower fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin levels. Not only that but because green peas are so rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds it benefits the body in preventing stress that can lead to type 2 diabetes.
- Green Peas Promote A Healthy Heart:
Green peas are a source of Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of alpha-linolenic acid, otherwise known as ALA. Omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for heart health and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Green peas are also a rich source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients. Nutrients that help prevent inflammation and oxidative stress are known to keep the heart healthier. Preventing blood clots and keeping blood vessels healthy. Green peas also contain both potassium and magnesium which are valuable minerals for heart health and heartbeat regulation. Green peas are also a great source of a range of B-vitamins which are known to keep homocysteine levels in check. High homocysteine levels increase the risk of heart disease. - Green Peas Protect Against Stomach Cancer:
A study from Mexico city has found that the consumption of green peas and other legumes help to prevent stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are two causes of the formation of gastric cancer (stomach cancer) and is also a contributing factor to other forms of cancer also. Eating more green peas not only helps you to prevent stomach cancer but also to prevent other forms of cancer and disease also. - Green Peas Are Rich in Vitamin K: Green peas are quite a rich source of vitamin K. 1 cup of green peas gives you 40% of your daily value of Vitamin K. Vitamin K is beneficial for building strong bones, preventing heart disease. Studies have also found that vitamin K works to prevent cancer. It helps with blood sugar levels, to heal bruises and more. It may even help to prevent alzheimer’s disease.
- Green Peas Are Rich in Manganese: Just one cup of green peas provides 36% of your daily value of manganese. Approximately 35% of the population is thought to be deficient in manganese. Manganese is responsible for many functions in the body. The deficiency of maganese causes high blood pressure, other heart ailments, muscular contraction, bone malformation, high cholesterol, poor eyesight, hearing trouble as well as severe memory loss, shivers and tremors sometimes as well. If you have any of these symptoms you could be deficient in manganese. If so, eat more green peas! Manganese plays a role in healthy bone formation, metabolism, sprains, PMS and thyroid health.
- Green Peas Are Rich in Fiber:
One cup of green peas contains 30% of your daily fiber intake. Fiber is essential for keeping the intestines healthy and clean of undigested food particles. This is important because the intestines absorb the majority of nutrients. Up to 95% of the nutrients in your food are absorbed in your intestines. If the intestines are toxic, backed up and not properly clean then your body will not be able to absorb nutrients in the body properly. You need those nutrients to keep every part of your body healthy and able to absorb what nutrients it needs to utilize.
- Green Peas Are Rich in A Variety Of B-Vitamins: Green peas are a great source of b-vitamins. They contain B1, B2, B3 and B6. These b-vitamins are beneficial for producing energy, skin health and hair health. B1 and B2 are beneficial for muscles, nerves and the heart. B3 is beneficial for the nervous and digestive system. B6 is beneficial for strengthening the immune system as well as breaking down protein properly. Many people have a problem absorbing and using protein properly.
- Green Peas Are Rich in Vitamin C: Green peas are a great source of vitamin C. Just one cup of green peas provides 26% of your daily value of vitamin C. Vitamin C is very beneficial for immune health, nervous health, heart health, skin health, eye health and hair health. Vitamin C prevents hypertension, the cold, cancer, stroke and helps wounds to heal faster. It’s also a great mood elevator. Vitamin C plays a role in producing neurotransmitters, like norepinephrine which help the brain function properly and optimally. Vitamin C also helps to prevent asthma as well as heart disease.
- Green Peas Are Rich Nutritionally In Much!Green peas are not only rich in all the above nutrients but they’re also rich in copper, phosphorus, folate, molybdenum, zinc, protein, potassium, magnesium, iron and choline. These nutrients play so many roles in the health of your body. Your heart health, immunity, skin, nervous system, muscles, blood health and so much more are dependent on these very nutrients. Peas enhance health from your toes to the top of your head.
The value of green peas expand much further than you thought, huh? We could classify this as a superfood if we wanted with the nutritional density peas contain. Eat them more often and mix them with other steamed veggies! I mix green peas, green beans, onions, peppers and other organic vegetables and steam them while mixing in herbs and spices with added sea salt.
Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.phptname=foodspice&dbid=55, http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=25978&picture=green-peas-background
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