Healthy nutrition is mostly achievable through whole foods and avoiding industrially processed foods.
Plant sources are especially great due to the abundance of essential nutrients.
In this article, we’re going to look at one amazing source you should probably consider if you haven’t already.
That source is the black-eyed pea.
And no, we’re not talking about the platinum-selling pop band, we’re talking about the actual pea, which is actually a bean (don’t ask us why)
The Nutritional Goodness Of Black-Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are a light-colored, small bean, sporting a black dot from which they get their name.
They are considered a staple in many cultures such as Indian and other east Asian culinary customs.
The flavor and texture make them a great addition to many savory dishes and their diverse, abundant nutrient profile is why we’re giving you some insight into them.
With that said, let’s get into the black-eyed pea and its numerous health benefits.
Top 5 Health Benefits of Black-Eyed Peas
Rich Nutrient Profile
Right off the bat, the black-eyed pea has a profound nutrient profile.
These beans contain many essential nutrients and in great abundance.
Black-eyed peas, also known as cowpeas are a good source of protein too.
This along with their low-calorie profile makes them great for a weight loss regimen.
The nutrients you’ll get from black-eyed peas include:
- Vitamin B6
Improves Digestive Health
The high fiber content in black-eyed peas is a sure way to keep gut health on track.
Fiber acts 2 two main ways to keep your tummy happy.
First off, it allows for smoother, more regular gut motility. That means it allows your digestive system to move solid waste out more efficiently, reducing the risk of conditions such as constipation and other digestive disorders.
Secondly, fiber serves as a prebiotic, a metabolic substrate for the good gut bacteria in your colon.
These bacteria are beneficial to your health. They produce a small number of essential nutrients including some B vitamins and short-chain fatty acids.
The abundance of essential vitamins and minerals serves an antioxidant function.
That means the nutrient profile of black-eyed peas leads to a decrease in oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals, unstable molecules that result from metabolic processes or your environment, accumulate and cause damage to the membranes of your cells. This damage obviously decreases the lifespan of cells, while also wreaking havoc on genetic material.
This accelerates the signs and symptoms of aging.
Antioxidants clear out these free radicals, allowing your cells to maintain a natural, healthy state and lifespan.
The benefits of antioxidants have the run-off effects of providing an anti-inflammatory boost.
Inflammation itself is a useful reaction and is the first step in the healing/recovery process.
The problem comes when inflammation is chronic and persists systematically across your body.
One example of what chronic inflammation means is arthritis, the inflammation of tissue in the joints.
By reducing inflammation, your body can resume healthy physical, metabolic and immune function, making another great case for why you should include black-eyed peas in your diet.
Improves Heart Health
Your heart’s health is constantly under threat. As your heart is one of the most important and busy organs in the body, keeping it ticking and ticking well is tantamount to good health.
And lucky for you, black-eyed peas are considered heart-healthy.
They contain a vast abundance of nutrients that nourish the myocardium or heart muscle.
The nutrients in black-eyed peas are also great for reducing the risk of chronic hypertension in several ways.
One of these is through the reduction of LDL cholesterol. This form of cholesterol is considered bad. Black-eyed peas not only reduce LDL, but also increase HDL or “good cholesterol”.
The nutrients in black-eyed peas have also been shown to boost nitric oxide release in the arteries which helps relieve arterial pressure through vasodilation or the widening of blood vessels.
Black-eyed peas are a perfect addition to a healthy lifestyle and diet.
The amazing nutrient profile and wholesome nature of these beans make them one of our best recommendations to you.
They are a bit on the carbier side of things, so consider this if you’re on any sort of low carb protocol such as keto.
Other than that, these beans are a great, savory meal option for the whole family.