What Is Pea Protein And Know Its Six Essential Health Benefits?

Pea protein has quickly become a favorite for gym enthusiasts and diet-conscious people. If you have remotely interested in losing a few pounds or getting your body in shape, you must have heard words like gluten-free, dairy-free, or plant-based protein. The manufacturers of protein powders have bombarded these words to launch their pea protein-based products and they are proven to be helpful for their heart, waistline, and kidneys.

Your typical diet caters to your protein requirement every day if you follow a well-balanced and nutritious diet–which hardly includes chips and French fries­. However, preparing a healthy, nutritious meal that is rich in proteins and contains fewer carbohydrates can be a hassle. Thus, the demand for pea protein products has gained traction.

According to Allied Market Research, the global pea protein market is expected to reach $176.03 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 23.6% from 2018 to 2025. High nutritional profile of pea proteins, consistent growth in the food & beverages industry, and increased need for plant-based proteins from the vegan population have boosted the market growth.

What is pea protein?

Protein powders can come in various forms, including whey protein, soy, and brown rice protein powder. The most common protein powders contain whey and brown rice proteins due to their benefits. Pea protein powders are produced by grinding the peas into powder and then removing the fiber and starch to make it more concentrated.

While pea protein powder is not the most popular protein powder yet, it is surely on its way to gaining the spotlight over the new few years due to the rise in health-conscious consumers and push toward a plant-based, sustainable diet.

Pea protein powder is regarded as the most hypoallergenic of all protein powders due to the absence of soy, dairy, and gluten. Moreover, it is easy on the stomach and does not lead to bloating, which is the prime side-effect of the consumption of protein powders. Pea powder is perfect for adding to baked goods, smoothies, or desserts, making them easy to consume. With the rise in the population of lactose-intolerant consumers and gluten-sensitive people, pea protein offers an easy solution to increase protein intake.

What are the major health benefits?

1. Helps in weight loss

Similar to other protein powders, pea protein powders also help in shedding extra pounds, especially you have a limited period to lose weight. Introducing a pea protein-based diet can work wonders who want quick results. What’s more, pea protein can boost energy expenditure and fat oxidation. Reducing intake of proteins is a common yet wrongful method to lose weight; this can result in low weight loss and stall the overall process. On the contrary, an intake of 0.8-1.0g of protein per kg of body weight can help you build muscle and burn excess fat at a faster rate.

2. Favorable to heart health

Pea protein is known for maintaining the health of the heart and is good for the waistline. Some studies suggest that pea protein could reduce high blood pressure as well. A steady intake of plant-based proteins such as pea protein can help reduce the risks of coronary heart diseases. Over the last few years, the prevalence of heart problems has increased drastically. Thus, the addition of pea protein tothe diet can help reduce inflammation, which is the root cause of the majority of heart diseases.

3. Good for kidney functions

Although there is no concrete proof some studies highlight that pea protein can aid delay kidney damage in those who suffer from high blood pressure. Moreover, pea protein can help patients with kidney-related diseases live longer as it helps stabilize blood pressure levels and help the body to eliminate toxins and waste effectively.

4. Helps in muscle gain and increase muscle thickness

Plant-based protein powders cannot help in muscles–this is a common misconception among many people. Multiple studies focus on pea proteins in increasing muscle thickness and muscle gain. The high quantities of L-arginine in pea protein helps in increasing the thickness of muscles even after resistance training.

5. Maintaining blood sugar level

Diabetes is a chronic disease across the globe, which requires constant monitoring of sugar levels. It can lead to a variety of symptoms such as increased thirst, fatigue, slow wound healing, and unwanted weight loss. However, pea protein can help to keep blood sugar levels in check. However, the integration of pea protein in the diet does not much affect appetite and food intake, the blood sugar levels are observed to be lower in diabetes patients.

6. Improves physical performance

Protein is one of the essentials for athletes or those who aim to improve their endurance for heavy physical activities. The incorporation of pea proteins can offer similar outcomes and can improve strength.

The benefits of pea protein and its increasing awareness among people and athletes are expected to open new opportunities in the protein supplement industry. While the traditional protein supplements have satisfied customers with their benefits, the gluten-free and all plant-based nature of pea protein makes it more attractive than its competition surely.

Bio:- Swamini Kulkarni-

Swamini Kulkarni holds a bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation and control engineering from Pune University and works as a content writer at Allied Market Research. She is deeply fascinated by the impact of technology on human life and loves to talk about science and mythology. When she is not glued to the computer, she loves to read, travel and daydream about her areas of interest.