Dried Peas Health Benefits
Although dried peas belong to the same family of beans and legumes, they are classified in a separate group due to the preparation. The fully matured pea pods are dried to get dried peas. It is harder and starchier than that of fresh peas and can be readily used when fresh peas are not available. Dried peas are available in yellow, green, and red colors. Health benefits of dried peas are numerous due to their nutritional value.
Dried peas benefits are numerous owing to the presence of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
They are packed with dietary fiber and are a good source of nutrients such as proteins, molybdenum, thiamin, folate, potassium, and phosphorus. Half a cup of cooked dried peas provides:
- 144 calories
- 26 g carbohydrates
- 10 g proteins
- 10 g dietary fiber
- 1 g fat
- 2 mg sodium
- 0 mg cholesterol
Some of the health benefits are as follows:
- Since dried peas have high fiber content, they have a cholesterol lowering effect.
- People with diabetes, hypoglycemia, or insulin resistance problems suffer from irregular glucose metabolism. Dried peas helps to maintain blood sugar levels as it slows down the burning process, thereby providing steady amounts of glucose to the blood.
- A cup of dried peas provide 65.1% of the daily value of fiber, and the fiber helps to relieve constipation and prevent gastrointestinal disorders.
- The isoflavones present in dried peas prevents health conditions like prostate and breast cancer.
- Dried peas are good sources of iron and by eating a quarter cup of peas daily, one can meet 8% of his/her daily iron needs.
- Other dried peas benefits include the lowering risk of heart disease. The ingredients folate and magnesium present in dried peas help to maintain the level of homocysteine and help to avert heart diseases.
- Dried peas are rich in magnesium and potassium. The former helps to improve blood flow, and the latter helps to maintain blood pressure, thus lowering the chance of plaque buildup in blood vessels.
- Sulfites that are commonly used in salads and processed foods cause headache and disorientation. Molybdenum present in dried peas play a vital role in detoxification of sulfites. One can obtain 196% of the daily value of molybdenum by consuming a cup of cooked dried peas.
- Dried peas are also great protein snack with fiber that helps with weight loss. They will curb hunger pangs by keeping the blood sugar levels under control.
References:
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/HG72/hg72_2002.pdf
http://www.nutritionvalue.org/Peas%2C_split%2C_mature_seeds%2C_cooked%2C_boiled%2C_with_salt_nutritional_value.html
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