Green peas can be eaten raw, boiled, stored in the freezer, and can be used processed from the can. It can be a dish in itself or an addition. It always tastes great. People on a diet are also eager to reach for it. It has many valuable nutrients and health ingredients. Why is it worth eating it?
Peas and its varieties
Green peas are the unripe seeds of the common pea (Pisum sativum L.), belonging to the Fabaceae family. Green peas are a vegetable that can be eaten raw. There are already 10 thousand. years ago and won over consumers all over the world. In Europe, it became popular only at the turn of the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries as an addition to many dishes. It has become a staple food for poor people due to its high protein content and its satiating character. Rich people appreciated its unique taste. Nowadays, peas are very popular, they can be easily stored. It has many valuable nutritional values and is also tasty.
There are many plants from which peas can be obtained:
- common pea typical – reaches a height of up to 2 meters, very popular in Poland;
- common field pea – grows wild, has smaller flowers and a little purple in color;
- sugar peas – as the only variety, it can be eaten whole with pods, you do not need to shell, because it has no inner lining.
Peas nutritional values
Peas are a very valuable vegetable, 100 g of this product contains 80 kcal, 5 g of which is pure protein, it also contains a large dose of fiber. Despite its low caloric balance, it is a very valuable and filling product. It is often used by people on a vegetarian and vegan diet due to the content of protein and carbohydrates.
There are numerous vitamins in 100 g of raw peas, including:
- vitamin C – 40 mg, which is 50% of the daily requirement;
- vitamin E – 0,13 mg, which is 1% of the daily requirement;
- vitamin K – 24,8 μg, which is 44% of the daily requirement;
- vitamin B1 (thiamine) – 0,266 mg, which is 23% of the daily requirement;
- vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – 0,132 mg, which is 11% of the daily requirement
- vitamin B3 (niacin) – 2,09 mg, which is 14% of the daily requirement;
- vitamin B5 – 0,169 mg, which is 13% of the daily requirement;
- vitamin B9 (folic acid) – 65 μg, which is 16% of the daily requirement;
- vitamin A – 38 μg, which is 5% of the daily requirement.
There are also valuable minerals in peas, such as: – zinc, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, sodium, potassium, iron and calcium.
Peas- effect on health
Peas, thanks to their rich content of numerous ingredients, have an excellent effect on health.
Health properties of peas:
- prevents osteoporosis, thanks to the content of a large amount of vitamin K, necessary for the process of calcium absorption. Foods with a high content of calcium are not absorbed without vitamin K. In 150 grams of peas it is up to half of the daily requirement. As we know, calcium is essential for the proper functioning of our bones;
- protects the heart against heart attack, thanks to the content of vitamins B3, B6. Folic acid and fiber to lower LDL cholesterol. Thereby the risk of cardiovascular disease is reduced;
- reduces the risk of cancer – the content of fiber and antioxidants helps in this;
- lower risk of anemia – due to the high iron content, it is better absorbed by vitamin C, also present in peas;
- improvement of the condition of the eyes – thanks to the content of lutein, which protects the eyes from fatigue and even some diseases;
- increasing resistance to viruses – there are enzymes in the peas that inhibit the multiplication of viruses;
- Contraceptive effect – studies have shown that eating large amounts of peas reduces fertility in women and men by almost 50%.