Peas, a plant from the legume family, is the oldest cultivated vegetable crop. People have known for a long time how peas are useful, and they use it not only for cooking food, but also use it in medicine. China, India and the countries of the Middle East are considered his homeland. The ancient Romans fed slaves with simple and nutritious pea stews, a little later they learned about it in the Mediterranean and Europe. Peas on the table among Spaniards, French and Germans became traditional and popular. At the time of the Baptism of Rus, we learned about him from us, he became an excellent alternative to meat during fasting.
As far back as the 17th century, the Dutch cultivated a new variety of peas - cereal, it was distinguished by an increased amount of sugar, quickly ripened and had a very delicate taste. To this day, this variety remains the best for canning, it is the most common and consumed peas. The beneficial properties of this bean are a large number of proteins and carbohydrates, vitamins, salts, and starch. The most common varieties of peas are sugar, which is eaten completely with a pod, cerebral, which has already been mentioned, and a peeling, the most high-calorie and starchy variety, which is dried and used only in cooked form.
Is pea healthy?
Definitely yes! It is endowed with many necessary valuable substances and is perfectly absorbed by the body. Pea groats have a therapeutic effect, strengthens blood vessels, has a beneficial effect on metabolism, reduces the risk of malignant tumors and heart diseases. Peas, whose useful properties are also in the cosmetic effect, heals abscesses and boils, and from pea flour make anti-aging face masks , remove age spots and bleach freckles. Proteins contained in peas contain amino acids, such as in meat, as well as vitamins B, PP, carotene, starch and fiber. Its nutritional value is higher than many other vegetables and even potatoes.
The advantage of peas is that it almost does not lose useful properties during heat treatment. Due to the low calorie content of green peas, it is used in nutrition, it restores digestion and establishes metabolic processes in the body. Peas, having a slight diuretic effect, helps to remove stones from the gall and bladder, remove toxins and general cleansing of the whole body. Nicotinic acid, which is part of it, reduces the level of bad cholesterol, and antioxidants - the risk of heart attack, cancer.
Eating peas.
From peas, a hearty and very tasty vegetable, people learned how to cook a wide variety of lean dishes - salads, vinaigrettes, snacks. It is used in soups, cereals, side dishes, added to the fillings of pies and pies, casseroles and pancakes are made from it. One of the most nutritious and traditional pea dishes is pea puree. It is used both as a side dish and as an independent dish. An important advantage of a bean such as peas, the useful properties of which are already known, is its low price and long shelf life. In its dry form, peas are stored in a dark place almost forever, unless insects or mold get in it, of course.
Contraindications to the use of peas.
Peas are contraindicated in people suffering from gout, nephritis and inflammatory processes in the intestines and stomach. With a stomach ulcer, it can be consumed, but exclusively in the form of a well-cooked mashed potato. You can prevent bloating after taking pea dishes if you add bread and carrots to them.
Undoubtedly, the most useful and healing is fresh, freshly peeled green peas from the garden . But you can also freeze peas, the useful properties of which will remain almost unchanged. It can and should be regularly eaten, because it is an indispensable source of protein of plant origin.