About Peas
Pea, (Pisum sativum), also called garden pear, is an annual herbaceous plant of the Fabaceae family, cultivated worldwide for its fruit. Peas can be purchased fresh, canned, or frozen, and dried peas are often used in soups. Some species, including snow peas and snow peas, produce edible pods that are eaten or cooked like green beans; they are popular in East Asian cuisine.
The plants are easy to grow and the seeds are a good source of protein and dietary fiber. Although the origin of domestic peas has not been clearly identified, peas are one of the oldest cultivated crops. The forest plant originated in the Mediterranean region and was found in antiquity at the end of the Neolithic period in the Middle East.
Europeans introduced cultures to the New World and other parts of the world. In the 1800s, the monk Gregor Mendel used peas from an Austrian monastery in his pioneering studies on the nature of heredity.
Planting
Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Although peas can grow in some shade, they will not be as sweet or productive as those grown in full sun. Prepare the soil, preferably in the fall, by mixing aged food and/or compost, and thoroughly. Peas like the soil well.
When planting peas
- Sow seeds 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date when the soil is cool, or when it is at the desired temperature:
- Peas planted in cold soil (40ºF) will grow slowly; Peas planted in soil at least 60°F (but no more than 85°F) will do.
- Snow will not harm the emerging bean plants, but many days with heat and young people can. Be prepared to repeat, if the first peas did not.
- Alternatively, try to start your peas in the winter. A second crop of peas can be planted in late summer or early fall, about 6-8 weeks before your first fall planting date.
Weather required
- For growing peas, the temperature should be between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius.
- The maximum rainfall is between 400 and 500 mm.
- During harvest, the temperature should be between 15 and 20 °C, and sowing should be between 25 and 30 °C.
Nutritional Facts of Peas
The fat content of peas is usually low and contains no cholesterol. Peas can be considered as a protein because they contain a lot of protein. Even the protein found in peas is higher than the amount of protein in corn.
Even getting protein from these peas is considered a better option. Another important thing in peas is fiber. Fiber is well known as one of the plant-based foods that cannot be digested by the human stomach. In a 1/2 cup of peas contains 7 g of fiber and most of the fiber is not processed.
The fiber content of peas will increase the bulk of the stool and reduce the time the stool passes through the intestines, which is why fiber is important for preventing constipation. Peas also contain fiber that is highly soluble in the intestine, which provides digestive health benefits.
However, the digestive process in the intestines, including the fermentation process, can produce gas or flatulence. This gas can cause a feeling of discomfort in some people. Not only are they high in protein and fiber, peas are also rich in several sources of vitamins and minerals such as folate, vitamin B12, potassium, and magnesium.
Health benefits
Promotes digestion.
Green peas contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which play important but different roles in the digestive system.
For example, soluble fiber helps to feed probiotic bacteria that help live in our intestines, so food metabolism is not impaired. On the other hand, insoluble fiber adds bulk to the waste and ensures faster transport and elimination from the body. Insoluble fiber also lends itself to constant absorption, reducing the risk of constipation.
A good source of protein
Protein is a macronutrient that is responsible for cell growth and repair, although finding enough can be difficult if you are a vegetarian or vegan.
Green peas are an addition to your arsenal of foods with high protein in such a diet, although they can not be considered enough protein. This is because green peas lack essential amino acids, making it necessary to include other proteins to supplement it.
Either way, eating green peas regularly can go a long way in helping you reach your daily intake goals.
May reduce heart risk
Cardiovascular risk is the chance of having a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. Eating green peas can help reduce your risk in several ways. For example, as mentioned earlier, green peas are very active, which in itself reduces the chance of cholesterol deposits sticking to the walls of blood vessels and reduces the space inside them.
On top of that, soluble fiber works as a type of cholesterol stage, helping to remove bile acids from the circulation, so more cholesterol is introduced to replace this eliminated enzyme. Normally, bile is modified to be less important than cholesterol for production. By removing bile from the circulation, you help raise cholesterol and lower blood levels. Finally, green peas also contain many minerals useful for the cardiovascular system such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.
May help prevent cancer.
Green peas are a source of antioxidants, which play an important role in reducing the risk of developing cancer during your lifetime. Although this protection is not complete, legumes such as peas are some of the best foods that can reduce the risk of contracting this debilitating disease.
Green peas also contain compounds called saponins, which have been shown to have great potential for reducing the risk of mutations occurring in cells. Just make sure that the couple after the consumption of green peas in a healthy lifestyle for maximum risk reduction.