Is Pea Protein Good For Your Health?
The interest in pea protein is growing, now that more people are looking for plant-based items. But does pea protein really benefits your health? Let’s find out.
What is pea protein?
Pea protein is a supplement in powdered form that is extracted from green and yellow split peas. It contains all the nine essential amino acids which is a big plus for us since our bodies can’t produce it on their own. However, pea protein has low amounts of methionine and cysteine.
What are the nutrients and nutritional benefits?
Pea protein is packed with nutrients essential for our daily living. It contains protein, carbohydrates, sodium, and iron. It has low calories and total fat that are ideal for those who want to lose weight.
While it’s true that animal proteins are more easily digested than plant-based protein, according to research, pea protein is one plant-based protein that can be digested by our gut easily. Additionally, the essential amino acids found in pea protein promotes muscle growth, healthy blood flow, and heart health.
If you’re iron deficient, pea protein is a great way to boost your intake of this nutrient, since it is rich in iron. However, iron found in plants are not readily absorbed by the body, so combining it with Vitamin C rich foods could enhance iron absorption in the body.
Surprisingly, pea protein works well with any diet since it is naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and doesn’t contain any allergens. However, those who are allergic to peas should avoid it.
What are the health benefits?
The following are the benefits of pea protein for your health:
- Improves muscle growth. While it’s true that pea protein can improve your muscle growth since it contains nine essential amino acids, keep in mind that to experience this benefit you should also combine it with consistent exercise.
- Keeps you full quickly. Pea protein can potentially boost feelings of fullness after meals and this means it may reduce your caloric intake and it could possibly make you lose weight.
- Good for the heart. Animal studies were conducted and shown that pea protein can reduce cholesterol levels and reduce the body’s production of fats. Though this may still be not conclusive to lower cholesterol in humans