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Loading...10 Health Benefits of Peas
- Diana Herrington
- August 8, 2012
- 8:11 am
- 74 comments
Written by Randy Fritz, co-creator with Diana Herrington at Real Food For Life.
Many people think peas are just a poor man’s meat or a cheap restaurant side dish that puts ‘green’ on your plate.
Peas are really little powerhouses of nutrition that are a boon for your health and the whole planet. Read all their benefits, how to use them properly, and some easy recipes. We’ll start with the benefits of this tasty powerfood.
1. Weight management:
Peas are low-fat but high-everything-else. A cup of peas has less than 100 calories but lots of protein, fiber and micronutrients.
2. Stomach cancer prevention:
Peas contain high amounts of a health-protective polyphenol called coumestrol. A study in Mexico City determined you only need 2 milligrams per day of this phytonutrient to help prevent stomach cancer. A cup of peas has at least 10.
3. Anti-aging, strong immune system, and high energy:
This comes from the high levels of antioxidants, including:
- flavinoids: catechin and epicatechin
- carotenoid: alpha-carotene and beta-carotene
- phenolic acids: ferulic and caffeic acid
- polyphenols: coumestrol
4. Prevention of wrinkles, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, bronchitis, osteoporosis and candida:
These come from peas’ strong anti-inflammatory properties. Excess inflammation has also been linked to heart disease, cancer, and aging in general. These properties include:
- Pisumsaponins I and II and pisomosides A and B (anti-inflammatory phytonutrients found almost exclusively in peas)
- Vitamin C and vitamin E, and a good amount of the antioxidant mineral zinc
- Omega-3 fat in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
5. Blood sugar regulation:
Peas’ high fiber and protein slows down how fast sugars are digested.
Their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents prevent or reverse insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes)
All peas’ carbohydrates are natural sugars and starches with no white sugars or chemicals to worry about.
Next page: more benefits:
Read more: All recipes, Diet & Nutrition, Eating for Health, Food, Health, Vegan, Vegetarian, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, carotenoids, cholesterol, fiber, flavinoid, good cholesterol, peas, phytonutrients, polyphenols, protein, snap peas
Diana Herrington
Diana Herrington turned a debilitating health crisis into a passion for helping others with healthy, sugar-free, gluten-free, eating and cooking. After testing and researching every possible healthy therapy on her delicate system she has developed simple, powerful principles which she shares in her recent book Eating Green and Lean, and as host to Care2 groups: Healthy Living Network and Healthy Cooking. She is the head chef at Real Food for Life, where she shares recipes and tips. Sign up for the Real Food for Life weekly newsletter or catch her on Facebook or Twitter (@DancinginLife).
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
Thanks some good ideas here.
They need humans to make their pain & suffering end & plus be with them in the end. You are …
Thanks.
Thank you for the tips.
My grandma used to press flowers, and would let us kids look at her albums full of them! Seeing them…
74 comments
+ add your ownI love peas, thanks!
I have tried peas again and again and just hate them. It's too bad. Although, I have found that I can eat baby peas still in the pod. Hopefully they still have all that nutritional value...
Great post--thanks.
good to know
I cook frozen peas and blend into smoothie for my 9 month old they taste so much better than canned.
I love eating pea! Thank you for the article.
I cannot stand cooked peas but love them fresh from the garden -or frozen in summer!
The humble pea is king of the veggie patch! Who knew it was SO good for one! Wow!
Fresh peas - yum.
What an eye-opener.
I used to think they were little orbs of carbohydrate, but since our Farmers' Market sells tasty fresh peas, I've been buying them regularly.
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