What is Pea Protein?
Considered a complete protein, pea protein is made from yellow peas. It’s made from the plant’s dry peas. The peas are frozen and ground to a powder. The powder’s protein content is between 42 and 73 percent.
Pea protein is considered hypoallergenic since it’s not a soybean-based product. So if you have a soy allergy, pea protein provides you with a healthy and versatile alternative.
Health Benefits
Pea protein is a valuable source of essential amino acids. That’s important because many protein sources aren’t considered complete proteins, according to research from the University of Houston. A complete protein represents how well a food works to serve as the body’s component for building muscle and tissues.
In addition to helping you maintain muscle mass, pea protein is linked to a lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer, based on a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
Pea protein has been rated as one of the highest vegetable protein sources for its amino acid profile and ability to help you feel full. It also has a low glycemic index, which means it doesn’t have a negative effect on your blood sugar levels.
What Benefits Can Be Gained From Pea Protein?
Beyond general cardiovascular health, pea protein can encourage restful sleep, boost metabolism, and enhance muscle growth.
· Prevent heart disease. The fiber in pea protein and the protein itself help control cholesterol and lower levels of triglycerides, which can help manage heart disease.
· Encourage restful sleep. Since the body digests protein more quickly than fat or carbohydrates, pea protein can be digested more quickly, helping the body to rest more deeply.
· Boost metabolism. Pea protein can increase metabolism, which helps the body burn more calories and maintain a healthy weight.
· Improve muscle development. Pea protein can help boost lean mass in most kinds of active people.
· Tame an irritable bowel. Pea protein has been proven to reduce IBS symptoms, including bloating and constipation.
Pea protein and other plant-based proteins are the most easily digested forms of protein there are. In the past, plant-based proteins were off-putting to many people because they came from nuts and grains that had been soaked and sprouted.
Manufacturers have made pea protein powder easier to use by adding it to smoothies and cooking with it as a replacement for eggs or flours.
Pea Protein Can Help Build Muscle And Strength
Pea protein powder is a plant-based protein powder derived from yellow peas. Almost two-thirds of the protein in peas is of high biological value and is rapidly absorbed by the body. An additional 20 g of protein per cup of cooked peas makes them a popular high-protein side dish.
Peas have been cultivated in India for thousands of years. The highest levels of protein are found in the seeds, which are ground to make pea protein powder. The protein in the powder is similar to that found in most animal proteins, including milk, eggs, and meat. It is nearly 100% pure and contains all the essential amino acids that your body needs.
In addition to the high protein content, pea protein powder is packed with soluble fiber. There is evidence that the soluble fiber in peas may help prevent and control high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Protein powders are gaining popularity among athletes and the general public as a convenient way to get additional protein into their diet. In addition to being easy to incorporate into your diet, protein powders have a low calorie content and can help reduce caloric intake.
Pea Protein Can Help Control Food Intake
If you are concerned about your weight, it is important to understand that overeating can make you gain weight. It takes approximately 20 calories of extra food to increase your weight by one pound.
Pea protein powder has the ability to make you feel full faster than other protein sources so you can control your food intake and weight better. The following are reasons why this protein can help you control food intake.
Pea protein has a higher amount of protein compared to other natural foods. A 100-gram serving of cooked peas has 22 grams of protein. While you can get protein from other natural sources such as nuts and lean meats, peas contain a higher level.
Pea protein contains complete protein ingredients. Compared to other so-called complete proteins which have one to two essential amino acids, pea has all essential amino acids. This means your body can utilize this protein. It is a good source of vegetable protein since you get all essential amino acids from one source.
Plant protein keeps blood sugar levels steady. While your body may store excess carbs as fat, there is no such place to store excess protein. Since your body digests and uses pea slowly, your blood sugar levels remain constant.
Pea Protein Can Help Control Blood Glucose
A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that pea protein, when eaten in place of animal protein, can lead to improved blood glucose levels and reduced blood lipid responses.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham in England conducted this study. They assigned 16 men and women with type 2 diabetes to receive either 50 grams of pea protein or 50 grams of wheat protein. They followed this with another test meal containing 25 grams of their assigned protein. In addition, those in this study had their blood glucose and insulin levels measured before and after each daily meal for four weeks.
The study participants who ate the pea protein experienced significantly lower blood glucose levels after eating the second meal of the day when compared with those who had ingested the protein at breakfast. The pea protein group also had significantly less insulin resistance.
While the results of this study are promising, it’s important to note that it was a small study with a limited number of participants. This study was also funded by a company that produces pea protein. So without independent data, any conclusions drawn from these findings must be approached with a grain of salt.
Pea Protein Might Have Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Pea protein powder is an excellent plant-based protein powder. Whether you are a vegetarian or have a soy allergy, pea protein is an excellent way to get more protein.
Pea protein is 35% of the protein contained in chickpeas. Chickpeas are also low-glycemic legumes.
Pea protein can also help with weight loss. A review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that pea protein can help with weight loss in overweight adults.
It is not necessary to consume a high glycemic pea protein powder in order to lose weight. A handful of almonds, walnuts, or pistachios will provide you with a healthy snack or a little bit of crunch to many smoothies and other recipes similar in consistency.
Drinking cannellini or navy beans and then taking the water-drained, shucked pods home is a far better alternative for a plant-based protein powder than soy protein.
Pea protein is also gluten-free. Pea protein powder is a great way to help maintain lean muscle tissue while eating a Paleo Diet.
There are a few concerns with pea protein. Pea protein contains more carbohydrates than protein and the carbs are easily used by the body, which might not be what you’re looking for.
Pea Protein Provides a Simple & Healthy Snack On the Go
Are you well on your way to getting fit, but find it difficult to get the extra protein you need for strength and endurance?
If you’re like me, the idea of drinking a protein shake for breakfast or lunch sounds pretty gross.
Because of my aversion to the texture and color of protein shakes, I wasn’t really able to get the extra protein boost I needed.
Healthy food choices became limited, and I fell into a pattern of snacking on quick and easy, processed treats.
The protein powder from the local health food store was expensive, so I started looking online. I found something a bit better for my wallet in the pea protein powder.
I decided to give it a try, and I was quite happy with my discovery. Pea protein powder was super simple to incorporate into my diet, and my taste buds were happy with my new choice of healthier snacks.
Here are some details on the benefits of pea protein powder as a simple and health summer snack.
Pea protein powder is a pretty simple snack to prepare. You just add a scoop or two to a glass or shaker and mix it with some juice, water, or almond milk. When blended with almond milk for a creamy texture, it makes a nice smoothie.
Potential Side Effects of Pea Protein
If you’re looking for a plant-based protein source to add to your diet, you’re probably looking for more than just a supplement that can help you build muscle or lose weight.
Whether you’re vegan or just want to avoid animal-derived proteins, you need a protein source that’s easy to incorporate into your diet and able to replace the protein found in meat.
Pea protein powder is a fantastic alternative to whey, another popular protein powder derived from an animal source. Compared to whey, pea protein is easier to digest.
In accordance with its vegan roots, it’s also completely plant-derived, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to cut back on or eliminate animal products from their diet.
While pea protein powder is becoming a standard addition to many of the protein supplements on the market today, there are some things that you should know before incorporating pea protein powder into your diet.
It’s Great for Vegans but it’s Not a Sub for Whey
Many people first consider alternative protein sources like pea when they’re starting a vegan diet. They’re eager to shed off some of the weight of their unhealthy animal-based diets and improve overall health.
Final Thoughts
All in all, as you can see, there are many advantages to using pea protein powder supplements. In addition to your health, there are also environmental and ethical reasons to buy pea protein powder.
When you use pea protein powder, you minimize your carbon footprint. As a perennial plant, peas don’t require pesticides to grow, and they have a short growth cycle.
Pea protein can reduce the reliance on animal products, which have been linked to the destruction of animal habitats, as well as the rise in global warming.