Peas belong to the Fabaceae family. They are edible and are consumed all over the world. Sugar peas and snow peas are mostly consumed in the Asian continent. They could either be eaten raw or cooked. The pea plants are highly rich in protein and fiber. Its seed provides the soil with so many benefits because it belongs to the nitrogen-fixing category of crops. The pea’s seeds are usually greenish, yellowish, or whitish. In order to achieve a well-grown pea, it should be planted in a well fertile drained soil. Winters and springs are those seasons one could harvest well-germinated peas.
There Are Various Types of Peas…
Garden Peas
These are one of those peas one could easily find in the market. These types of peas are good for consumption only if their pods are removed. Spring pea, Survivor pea, Thomas Lexton pea, Wando pea, Garden Sweetpea and Mr. Big pea are the varieties of Garden pea. Note that all peas should be removed from their pods before consumption. Other varieties of Garden peas are Perfection pea, Maestro pea, Lincoln pea, Little Marvel pea and Misty Shell pea.
Snow Peas
These are types of peas too. They are also called Sugar pea. Their pods are flat and their peas, super tiny. They`re sweet and could be consumed, whether raw or cooked. Snowbird, Gray Sugar, Sugar Daddy, Oregon Super pods and Oregon Super Pods, and Avalanche are varieties of Snow pea. These Peas are edible, both raw and cooked.
Snap Peas
They are edible, even with their pods. They are plump and roundish in shape and could be consumed either raw or cooked. Types of Snap peas are Sugar Bon pea, Sugar Snap pea, Super Snappy pea, Super Sugar Snap VP pea and Sugar Ann pea. In France, Snap peas are called “mange tout” which means “eat all”. The French call it this name because both the pea and its pod are sweet and thick.
Other types of peas are Split pea, Shell pea, and black-eyed-pea.
All above-mentioned types of peas are edible, although, not all of them could be found in the market. Split pea and Black-eyed-pea are those peas that may not be easily found in the marketplace. Meanwhile, all categories of peas could be frozen, canned and/or dried depending on its consumer’s choice.
Its History and Description
Peas are traceable to the Meditteranean region. Thomas E. Knight was the first to grow the sweet tasting pea in the 18th century. The pod of the pea is greenish, its seeds are whitish and sometimes yellowish. Peas are mostly referred to as “green peas” because of the greenish nature of the pod. Some peas could be consumed with or without their pods. Some peas are however consumed only without their pods, so as to avoid any form of unpleasant taste. Garden pea and Snap pea can be consumed without the pod and with the pod respectively.
The benefits of peas cannot be overemphasized. However, just like other veggies, they have their pros and cons. However, there are more advantages than disadvantages to the consumption of peas.
Benefits of Peas
Weight Loss
They help manage weight. Peas are really low in fats, this makes them consumable for people who want to lose weight, and people who are watching their weight too. They are also rich in protein, fiber, and micro-nutrients which are good for a diet.
Prevention of Stomach Cancer
They help prevent stomach cancer. Peas are rich in coumestrol, a protective polyphenol which helps fight stomach cancer.
Rich in Antioxidants
Peas are highly rich in antioxidants. Flaunoids, carotenoid, phenolic acid, and polyphenols are those antioxidants found in peas. These antioxidants are known to be an aid for anti-aging. They also provide energy to the body and strengthen the immune system.
Prevention of Heart Disease
They help prevent heart disease. Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances are a good catalyst for preventing heart disease. And hey, peas have got antioxidants. Wrinkles and osteoporosis too can be prevented by eating peas. The anti-inflammatory properties found in peas help prevent wrinkles and osteoporosis.
Environment-Friendly
Peas are healthy for our environment. Its crop is a member of those crops that fix nitrogen. The crop works perfectly with the soil by fixing nitrogen from the air and deposits it in the soil.
Stomach-Friendly
Peas are also good aid for preventing constipation and improving bowel health.
Eliminates Bad Cholesterol
Bad cholesterol is known to cause excessive body weight. Peas are great catalysts for reducing bad cholesterol found in the body. This is as a result of the niacin found in peas.
Your Mental Health Isn`t Left Out
Amazingly, peas are beneficial to mental health. People with arthritis and alzheimer’s are usually advised to eat peas so as to limit neuronal damage in their brain. Peas are rich in vitamin K. Vitamin K helps fight arthritis and alzheimer’s.
What Else?
- Doctors recommend peas for pregnant women because they (peas) are a great source of folic acid.
- They aid in good vision. If you are one with either night blindness and dry eye, peas are one of those veggies you should invest in. Peas are so rich in vitamin A, zeaxanthin, carotenes and lutein which all aid in good eye-sight.
- They fight fatigue.
- They repair broken tissue.
- They help treat celiac disease.
- They help prevent diabetes.
- Peas are not only known to be useful to the body, they are also beneficial to the skin and hair of humans.
- Peas help in firming the skin. With the aid of vitamin C found in peas, they help firm the skin.
- They help in treating chilblains which are caused by cold temperature during winter. The swelling and inflammations of the fingers and toes during winter is called chilblain. Chilblains can be cured by boiling peas in water.
- Peas also help the skin glow.
- They could be used as first aid on wounds.
- They help the air grow healthily. Considering the richness of vitamin B such as folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 which are good for the hair. They also prevent hair loss.
Nutritional Facts of Peas
Did you know that peas are really low in calories? Oh, yes! Peas are highly rich in protein, iron, dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B, and minerals like potassium.
A cup of cooked peas contains:
- 40% of vitamin K
- 31% of manganese
- 30% of vitamin B1
- 27% of copper
- 27% of fiber
- 26% of vitamin C
- 23% of phosphorus
- 22% of folate
- 18% of vitamin B6
- 17% of vitamin B3
- 16% of vitamin B2
- 15% of molybdenum
- 15% of zinc
- 15% of protein
- 13% of magnesium
- 12% of iron,
- 10% of choline.
Side Effects of Peas
- As wonderful as peas can be, here are some of the not-so-great-sides.
- If peas are consumed excessively, the body loses calcium. If the body then suffers inadequacy of calcium, such a person is prone to having severe aches of the body. So, it is advisable to consult a doctor before adding peas to one’s diet.
- Peas are known to be rich in proteins. If one then consumes it excessively, it could make one gain more weight.
- Its excessive intake also causes hair loss.
- If not properly consumed, it may cause irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea.
- It may also cause kidney problem because it is highly rich in uric acid.
