By Brent Hauver

You may have rebelled against this vegetable as a kid, but I’m afraid your mother was right!–So let’s add one more ingredient to the list of superfoods you don’t want to do without: PEAS!

Peas really are a superfood. The varieties of peas range from delicious and fresh to hardy and dried. Peas are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, thiamine (B1), iron and phosphorus, but fresh peas are not always available. Don’t worry though, dried peas are available at any time of the year, and are an excellent source of molybdenum, dietary fiber and protein, manganese, folate, vitamin B1, potassium and phosphorus. Whichever one you choose, either variety offers an impressive list of health benefits:

• Peas are a low calorie food with virtually no fat!, making them a wise and nutritious choice for those who are trying to lose weight.

• They are rich in dietary fiber which can really help manage blood sugar levels while providing steady, slow-burning energy.

• Peas are a good source of potassium, which is good for lowering high blood pressure, and studies show peas can reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease by up to 82%!

• The high amounts of iron and vitamin C in green peas can help strengthen the immune system.

• They also contain lutein which helps reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

• Green peas have been found to aid energy production, nerve function and carbohydrate metabolism.

• They also provide the body with those nutrients important for maintaining bone health.

• Being rich in antioxidants, like vitamin C, and isoflavones, peas can even help keep cancer at bay.

• Purified pea products do not contain the complex plant-sugars found in fresh beans that are known to trigger flatulence!

By now it’s pretty plain that the pea deserves our praise! And here’s one more little-known health surprise about peas:

Peas are also a remarkable source of plant-based proteins and amino acids! Protein from peas satisfies nearly all FAO essential amino acid requirements. The amino acids found in peas include isoleucine, leucine, valine, lysine, and arginine, which have been associated with healthy growth and bone development; calcium absorption and nitrogen maintenance; building lean body mass and healthy blood vessels; production of antibodies, hormones, enzymes, collagen, and tissue-repair; improved wound healing and immune response; and reduction of body fat.

Now if your grown-up taste buds are still not convinced, I’ve got good news! You can still enjoy all the awesome benefits of peas only in the form of a chocolate or vanilla flavor! We will soon be offering an exciting new product that includes pea protein as well as several other superfood ingredients!

Brent Hauver is a Holistic Health Researcher who owns and operates Sage Health and Empowerment Center in Overton, NV.