Eat more Peas!

By Chisom Ibemere
Peas have incredible health benefits and favourable nutty taste. It is a seed of the plant Pisum sativum. It is enclosed in a pod which houses several peas which may be of green or yellow colour.
They are annual plants that are cultivated in many parts of the world. The tender or immature peas are basically used as vegetables and may be eaten fresh, frozen or canned, while the dried peas may be used in soups.
Peas as a legume houses Rhizobium, a symbiotic bacterium in it’s root nodules. These bacteria help to fix nitrogen and nutrients into the soil.
Peas are popular and serve as vegetables. They have wonderful nutritional profile. They are known for their numerous health benefits due to the amount of fibre and rich anti-oxidants found in them. They give protection to chronic diseases. And contain all the vitamins and minerals required of the body. It is unique in its high protein and fibre content. This attribute makes them to be more filling compared to other vegetables. Proteins and fibres help to decrease the calorie level by slowing digestion and reducing appetite.
Green peas or peas have low glycemic index which helps in regulating the blood sugar level. They have a lot of attributes that are needed in the prevention of chronic diseases like heart attack, cancer, diabetes etc. High antioxidant in peas helps to protect the body against cancer by preventing oxidative damage to the cells and also prevents the growth of tumours.
The fibre content in peas helps to reduce the bad cholesterol also known as low density lipoprotein. The bad cholesterol is responsible for heart diseases. Peas are rich in Carotenoids, Lutein and Zeaxanthin which give protection to the eye against macular degeneration. They contain vitamins C, E, that boost the immune system and protect the body against diseases.