Sugar snap peas are a non-starchy vegetable with a lot to offer. Here are some ways to benefit from sugar snap peas.
Promotes Regularity and Prevents Constipation
Women need about 25 grams of fiber a day, while men need 38 grams.
Sugar snap peas contain both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Getting enough fiber promotes regularity by adding bulk to the stool and moving food through the digestive tract. Trading processed snack foods for sugar snap peas is a great way to get more fiber in your meal plan.
Helps Control Blood Sugar
The American Diabetes Association recommends at least three to five servings of vegetables per day. Non-starchy vegetables, including sugar snap peas, are especially beneficial.1 Due to their high phytonutrient content and fiber (which keeps blood sugar stable), sugar snap peas are a wonderful snack for helping to manage diabetes.
Promotes Heart Health
Sugar snap peas have several nutrients associated with cardiovascular benefits. The vitamin C in sugar snap peas decreases inflammation in blood vessels that can lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
Sugar snap peas also provide potassium, which is known to reduce blood pressure. Furthermore, the soluble fiber in sugar snap peas lowers cholesterol levels. On many levels, sugar snap peas are good for the heart.
Supports Weight Loss
Sugar snap peas are a non-starchy vegetable that can help with weight loss. To feel full and get adequate nutrition while losing weight, experts suggest loading more than half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables like sugar snap peas.5 Cooked or fresh, sugar snap peas are useful for healthy weight maintenance.
Aids Eye Health
Sugar snap peas are a modest source of plant-based carotenoids known as lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which act as concentrated antioxidants in a part of the retina known as the macula. In people with macular degeneration, an aging-related disorder that can lead to irreversible vision loss, the increased intake of foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin may help slow the progression of the disease.6