In the Philippines, green peas are a common staple. We get them fresh, canned, bottled and even fresh frozen. We use them in a lot of different meals and vegetable dishes. Although we are familiar with the ingredient, not everyone knows the health benefits that they can offer. More importantly, we are not so familiar with its cousin, the yellow peas.
Contrary to popular belief that yellow peas are just dyed peas, these round yellow bursts of flavor actually grow naturally. They are also part of the legume family and is a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber. While both kinds of peas are healthy and nutritious, the biggest difference is in their flavor. Yellow peas are milder than green peas and have a nuttier taste. These are typically used in dishes where you wouldn’t want a pronounced bean taste.
Whether you opt for green or yellow peas, you are getting a very nutritious vegetable that will aid your body functions in many ways. One of the greatest benefits of peas is being able to manage blood sugars in the body. The high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after each meal. In the Philippines, diabetes is one of the top 3 killer diseases and consuming peas will help you get out of that statistic.
Apart from fiber, yellow and green peas provide generous amounts of important minerals such as vitamin B and protein with virtually no fat content. It’s also packed with phytonutrients that protect your health. For example, coumestrol is one phytonutrient that is found in peas and has recently been linked to preventing stomach cancer. Amazingly, one cup of peas contain only 230 calories with only 0.8 grams of fat content. That proves it to be a very healthy and nutritious vegetable that’s good for the body.
Peas are rich in all sorts of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C, iron, copper, zinc and manganese. Eating peas regularly has proven to decrease chances of neuronal damage which is a major cause of Alzheimer’s. Peas help you stay sharp and focused and can help your brain function properly and effectively.
Alzheimer’s disease is often associated with old age but studies have proven otherwise. Diet is proven to be one of the main causes of why people develop this disease. In the Philippines, people who have acquired Alzheimer’s has reached a whopping 1,000,000 and the numbers are increasing per year. Eating plenty of peas can help stave off Alzheimer’s at any age because of a unique compound called spermidine. It has been proven to reverse the body’s circadian rhythm which makes it look and feel younger and less prone to such memory altering diseases.
Overall, peas are delicious, versatile and packed with essential vitamins and minerals. One should never take for granted the power of this tiny, round vegetable and how it can improve your body’s overall health.
Benefits of Peas:
- Manages blood sugar
- High in fiber
- High in Vitamin B
- High in protein without the added fat
- High in coumestrol which prevents stomach cancer
- Rich in vitamin C, manganese, zinc that help neural development to fight Alzheimer’s Disease
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