Pea is the oldest member of the legume family. People have known about this culture since ancient times. The places of origin of peas are considered India, Ancient China, as well as some countries of the Mediterranean. Throughout Europe and the New World, it spread precisely from Asian lands. The Chinese have long venerated peas as a symbol of fertility and material wealth.
Plant description
The stem is weak, thin and curly. The leaves of the plant are similar to feathers and end with antennae. It is their peas that they use to find support for growth. The plant has rather large stipules. He has moth flowers. A special feature of peas is a three-rib column, which has a bunch of thin hairs on the top of the head. The fruits of the plant are flat beans, consisting of two wings. The pea pod itself has a saber shape and has from 3 to 10 peas. In their shape, they can be round or slightly angular. Due to the presence of a huge amount of nutrients and vitamins, as well as a pleasant taste, peas are actively used in cooking. It is also used in the manufacture of biological plastics.
Chemical composition
Thanks to its rich composition, peas have great vitamin value and can even be compared with bell peppers, known for their beneficial properties. In this type of legumes, there is also plant fiber and dietary fiber, with which you can replenish vitamins in the body and even improve your health. The chemical composition of peas is represented by macronutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, magnesium and copper. In addition to them, peas have: copper, manganese, aluminum, molybdenum, cobalt, boron, silicon, chromium, fluorine, selenium, tin, titanium and nickel. The product has amino acids, natural sugar, healthy fats and beta carotene. The chemical composition of peas includes vegetable protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. Thanks to the latter, this type of bean is one of the most popular products.
Pea vitamins
When analyzing the chemical composition of peas, special attention should be paid to its vitamin value. It includes the following elements:
- Vitamin A. Normalizes metabolic processes, regulates the amount of body fat, strengthens bones, and also has a beneficial effect on vision.
- Vitamin B1. It affects the activity of the nervous system, helps fight viral diseases, and cleanses toxins.
- Vitamin B2. Improves cardiovascular performance.
- Vitamin B4. Participates in the synthesis of hormones, the reproductive system and liver function.
- Vitamin B5. Prevents the development of anemia and heart disease.
- Vitamin B6. It normalizes the hematopoiesis system, regulates the balance of minerals in the body.
- Vitamin B7. Participates in carbohydrate metabolism, reduces the risk of diabetes.
- Vitamin B8. Beneficial effect on memory, improves the functioning of the nervous system.
- Vitamin C. Has a strengthening effect on the immune system, combats pathogens.
Based on the above facts, we can conclude that the chemical composition of peas has a huge amount of vitamins. For a healthy diet, you must include it in your diet at least 2 times a week.
The nutritional value of peas
Of course, the main advantage of peas is the presence of high-quality and fast-digesting protein. In addition to a pleasant taste, this is what makes people include it in their diet. Due to the chemical composition of peas and nutritional value, it can replace meat with vegetarian nutrition, filling the body with the necessary amount of protein, amino acids, fiber and dietary fiber.
Unlike animal protein, vegetable protein, which is found in peas, is processed by the body much faster. Easy assimilation does not deprive him of nutritional value, which is quite comparable with meat. Peas are recommended to be included in the diet for absolutely everyone, with the exception of those who suffer from individual intolerance to this product. Especially it is worth leaning on it for athletes and those who engage in heavy physical labor. The product supplies the body with energy, improves performance, memory, coordination.
Useful properties of peas
Regular use of this culture has a beneficial effect on the activity of the cardiovascular system, positively affects the work of metabolism and even improves blood pressure. The chemical composition of peas and the nutritional value that it has, makes it beneficial for the heart, it has a positive effect on the heart muscle. By incorporating this type of bean into the diet, the development of hypertension and heart attack can be prevented.
The product has the ability to reduce "bad" cholesterol and cleanse the intestinal wall of toxins and toxins. In addition, nicotinic acid, which regulates cholesterol, removes excess bile and prevents blood clots from forming. Thanks to the presence of antioxidants, peas are an excellent prevention of many diseases. It is especially worth highlighting its ability to prevent malignant tumors and diseases of the thyroid gland. Regularly consuming 100 gr. boiled peas, the nutritional value of which exceeds the performance of most vegetables, you can significantly improve your own body.
Peas are also very beneficial for the digestive system. It prevents and eliminates the symptoms of heartburn by stimulating the intestines with dietary fiber. The antioxidants it contains remove toxins, toxins, metal salts and many other harmful substances that clog the body. Such a cleaning has a beneficial effect on health, well-being, as well as the condition of hair and skin.
Calorie Peas
Young, fresh and green peas have a fairly low calorie content, which is 55 kcal per 100 grams. The composition of boiled peas has all the same useful substances and almost the same calorie content - 60 kcal per 100 g of product. Special attention should be paid to dried peas, which are often used in cooking. Its calorie content is quite higher than green - 298 cal. Some often confuse the nutritional value of green and dried peas. But the difference in its nutritional properties and energy value is very different.
When preparing a dish of peas, it is important to remember that it is necessary to consider the caloric value taking into account all the products involved in its composition. For example, pea soup will have less energy value if you cook it on a vegetable broth instead of meat. Knowing this nuance, you can cook a rather satisfying, but at the same time lean and low-calorie dish, saturated with protein and other useful trace elements.
Types of peas
This type of bean is divided into two different subspecies - sugar and peeling. Chickpeas can not be eaten fresh, as it is used to make soups, cereals and many other dishes that require preliminary heat treatment. Sugar peas can be eaten raw, canned and frozen. At the same time, the pod itself, in which the peas are located, is also edible.
Varieties of peas can also be determined by its shape. For example, smooth and round peas are a starchy species. Brain varieties after final maturation look shriveled. This type of pea is considered the most sweet and delicious. It is he who canned and sold in banks.
Green peas
Few people will give up the pleasure of enjoying a fresh pea, which has only recently been picked from the garden. Especially when you consider the fact that due to the chemical composition of green peas strengthens the walls of blood vessels. It also reduces the risk of heart disease. Its fresh fruits contain a huge amount of flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants. Due to the presence of vitamins, the nutritional value of peas is very high, this makes it useful for various diseases. Green peas prevent oxidation in the body, which is an excellent prevention of cancer.
Despite all the advantages of the product, it has some contraindications. A large number of purines in green peas leads to an increase in urea in the blood. Therefore, it should not be used for children under 3 years of age, as well as those who are predisposed to urolithiasis, arthritis, an allergic reaction, and gout.
Canned peas
Most people's winter menus include this particular popular product. Green peas from a can become a permanent inhabitant of a refrigerator or a home cellar. It is often used to make salads and many other dishes. Low calorie content of 53 kcal per 100 g makes it an indispensable product in the diet of losing weight and monitoring their weight. Canned peas have a large amount of fiber, which removes toxins and cleanses the stomach of toxins. It is also rich in nucleic acids, and they beneficially affect the connective tissues of the body and reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.
Nevertheless, canned peas must be consumed in moderation, despite its nutritional value. The vitamin content in 100 g of peas makes it a very useful product and an excellent substitute for meat. Therefore, do not combine it with meat or other hard-to-digest foods. This can contribute to indigestion. To make it easier for the stomach to absorb all the nutrients of green peas, you need to try to eat it separately from meat products.
Dried peas
Despite the long drying process, it retains all the useful elements that are contained in the fresh product. The chemical composition of dried peas remains the same, with the exception of an increased amount of starch. It is also a dietary product that includes vegetable protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals. However, starch greatly increases its calorie content. Fresh peas have an energy value of 55-60 kcal, while dried peas reach a calorie content of almost 300 kcal.
That is why boiled peas should be used with extreme caution. Large portions of dishes from this product can harm people who are prone to overweight. In the diet, do not include more than 100 g of dried peas per day, and with problems with the intestines, reduce this amount to 50 g and no more than 2 times a week. Pea soups and cereals are a favorite dish of most people. The beneficial substances in this type of legumes make it one of the most popular products among meat substitutes. The nutritional value of 100 g peas (the calorie content of a dry product reaches 300) exceeds the performance of many vegetables, fruits and berries. But even taking into account all its advantages, you can not abuse dishes from it, otherwise there may be problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Sprouted peas
It is often used in folk medicine. Sprouted peas have a high content of vitamins and minerals. Potions, powders, decoctions and infusions are prepared from it. A decoction made from sprouted grains of peas is considered a natural, safe means with a diuretic effect. It helps in the treatment of urolithiasis by dissolving kidney stones.
To prepare a decoction, it is necessary to collect the shoots of peas before the plant begins to bloom. Then they are thoroughly crushed, 2 tablespoons of the raw material are poured with 2 glasses of boiling water and left to infuse. After half an hour, you need to strain the prepared broth and drink 2 tablespoons before each meal. It is recommended to take the medicine until the unpleasant symptoms of the disease are eliminated.
The benefits and harms of peas
The chemical composition of peas and the caloric content that it has, makes this type of bean indispensable in the diet of a healthy person. Peas are a source of useful substances in the treatment of tuberculosis and vascular diseases. It lowers blood pressure, and is also considered a very good diuretic, which is especially important for urolithiasis. Thanks to its rich mineral composition, peas are useful for those who are worried about the state of health and skin. The vitamins and minerals contained in this type of legumes contribute to the growth of hair, nails and well-being. By reducing the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood, peas have a preventive effect on the body, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
However, in some cases, peas can be harmful. It can not be used for gout, inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as kidney diseases. With a stomach ulcer, peas are allowed only in the form of mashed potatoes. The crude product is irritating to the gastric mucosa. The amount of peas consumed must be controlled by the elderly, as well as pregnant and lactating women, in order to exclude increased gas formation.
Peas for weight loss
Thanks to easily digestible proteins in its composition, it is often used in the preparation of dietary dishes. Fresh green peas are added to salads, made various stews and stewed with vegetables. Pea soup in vegetable broth is considered to be no less a dietary product. It can be used as an alternative to meat products that are hard to digest and contain more fat. Diet dishes from peas perfectly saturate, and due to the presence of protein, muscle mass does not burn at all. However, do not forget about the difference in the calorie content of peas. Fresh green peas have a low energy value, and dried peas are quite high. The difference between the two states of peas varies from 300 to 400 calories. This nuance should be taken into account when calculating the calorie content of the finished dish.