Your body needs various types of nutrients every day to remain fit, strong, and healthy. One of the most important amongst these nutrients is protein. It helps to build lean muscles and also repair any damaged muscles, which may be due to heavy workout at the gym. When you talk about protein, 2 things strike your mind, animal protein and plant protein. Animal-based protein is considered good for boosting your strength and building lean muscles. On the other hand, people normally believe that plant-based protein is not as good as the animal-based protein in this area. Well, the truth is completely different from what you think.
Pea Protein
One of the biggest sources of plant-based protein is pea protein. Although it appears to be very tiny, it surely packs in a lot of punch and can easily match the likes of casein, egg, and whey protein. As the name suggests, pea protein is obtained by grinding dried peas. The fiber and starches are extracted from the peas after grinding, which basically leaves behind pure protein.
The protein found in peas is around 8gms per cup. However, it is important for you to note that the protein obtained from peas is not considered as complete. Your body manages to absorb pea protein at a medium-fast pace and your body muscles cannot take up the amino acids found in pea protein as well as it can absorb whey protein. Nonetheless, pea protein is not as slow as casein protein.
Benefits of Pea Protein
Although you may hear a lot of speculations surrounding pea protein, it surely packs in a lot of benefits for you. Some of the benefits that you can enjoy from pea protein have been discussed below.
- Free From Gluten And Allergen: You will come across many people who have allergies to various types of food products such as dairy or milk, peanuts, eggs, soy, and gluten. This is where pea protein scores above others in the market. It is naturally free from all types of allergens and gluten. The long list of allergens tend to restrict people from enjoying a good quality protein shake. However, when it comes to pea protein, no such problems are there.
- Bioavailable and Easily Digestible: There are many people who complain of gastric discomfort after consuming protein shakes and supplements. If you also suffer from a similar problem, then it will be a good idea to try pea protein. It is said to contain 94% digestibility, which basically means that during the process of digestion, all of it will easily break down and will, thus, not create any stress for your gut system. Even when it comes to bioavailability, pea protein has a good score since it is mostly absorbed and also utilized by your body. Apart from being at par with some of the animal-based protein in this matter, it is way higher than other plant-based proteins such as hemp, bean, and soy proteins.
- Rich in Iron: In order to boost the oxygen supply to different parts of your body, you need to have a good amount of iron in your blood. If you go through some data, you will come to know that many people suffer from iron deficiency. Some of the common symptoms of iron deficiency are shortness of breath, fatigue, and restless legs. Having pea protein can easily compensate the iron deficiency in your body. This is because pea protein is said to contain more than 5mg of iron which is almost a quarter of the daily recommended dosage for adults.
Things to Consider While Purchasing a Pea Protein Product
Each serving of a pea protein product provides you with 15gm to 25gm of protein, as well as, 100-150 calories. The calorie content is quite similar to any animal-based protein product. You will come across several brands that combine pea protein with various other types of protein that include rice and soy. As a result of this, low level of cysteine + methionine in pea protein gets sorted out. However, this may give rise to allergic issues due to the presence of soy. Thus, it will be a good idea to check the label and read the contents carefully.
It will not be a bad idea to get a pea protein product that also has digestive enzymes added to it. It has been determined that digestive enzymes with pea protein helps to improve the protein absorption by your body, thus, bringing it at par with whey protein. With age, the consumption of digestive enzymes gets more important as the natural tendency of the body to absorb protein decreases.
People Who Should Consume Pea Protein
If you follow a vegan diet or are a natural vegetarian, pea protein should be you first priority when it comes to a good source of protein in order to boost your active lifestyle and also improve muscle growth and strength. Even if you are not a vegetarian or on a vegan diet, you can surely have pea protein on a daily basis.
Pea protein products will also be a good option for those of you who are allergic to whey and casein and other common allergens such as gluten, lactose, and soy. As discussed above, pea protein is free from all types of allergens that makes it completely safe for those of you who suffer from allergic problems from certain food items. It will be a great option for those of you who suffer from digestive issues and normally experience bloating or gas after having whey protein.
Pea Protein and Bloating
When it comes to pea protein, you may be rest assured that it does not cause bloating at all. Many of you may believe that having pea protein may cause bloating just like it does after you have whole-foods such as beans and peas. Thankfully, this is not the case since starch and fiber get removed from pea in the process of making pea protein. Thus, it will be a great option for those of you who suffer from digestive problems.
