Diabetes Info

Amazing Health Benefits of Pea Protein For Optimal Health

Healthy Living With Type 1 Diabetes Health Benefits Of Pea Protein For Weight LossSo the other day, I fielded a question in regards to pea protein and if it was really a viable protein source when compared to the almighty whey. Let me just say that even though I am not vegan, I do incorporate a lot of plant based proteins into my diet, and I think you are going to be quite surprised when it comes to all the amazing benefits.

From shedding those unwanted pounds to building lean muscle mass and even stabilizing those pesky blood sugar spikes you definitely need to take a look at pea protein.  Or maybe your looking to cut down on the amount of animal protein in your diet.  Either way, lets take a closer look! 

Pea Protein and BCAAs:

By now, especially if your into working out your pretty familiar with what branched chain amino acids are. If not, here is a little refresher for you.  BCAAs are three essential amino acids.  Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine.  They are essential because the body is unable to make them out of other amino acids so they must be consumed via food or in supplement form.  In a nut shell, BCAAs help promote muscle growth and repair and reduce muscle soreness after exercise.

Studies show a diet rich in BCAAs can help keep your body in a muscle building state throughout the day.  Not only that, BCAAs can assist in decreasing belly fat, help keep you fuller longer between meals and energize your workouts. The good news, like whey, pea protein is packed with BCAAs!

Pea protein powder has roughly 5 grams of branched chain amino acids. This is almost as much as whey which has a little more than 6 per serving.  Pretty awesome I must say!

Pea Protein And Weight Loss:

Cravings anyone?  Did you know that this can be contributed to a lack of protein in your diet? 

A common symptom of lack of protein in ones diet is constant cravings. When it comes to dieting, cravings can completely derail you from your ultimate goal…losing weight.  Most people simply don’t know how to get their cravings under control when they are trying to lose those unwanted pounds and set themselves up for complete failure.

A lot of dieters eat far less protein than they need, which ends up being a roadblock in trying to shed those unwatned pounds.

One of the great things about pea protein? Pea protein produces a large number of peptides when ingested and these can actually slow down the emptying of your stomach. Why is this important? Because by slowing down the emptying of the contents of our stomach, we essentially slow down the creation of the hunger hormone, ghrelin. 

Studies have found pea protein to be as effective as dairy-based proteins in helping satiety and feeling fuller for a longer period of time.  You can read about that by clicking here.

For Heart Health:

Lets face it, as diabetics we run the gamut when it comes to associated side effects with just about every part of our body, especially if our numbers are out of whack and our A1Cs are consistently high.  Heart health is a major concern for most diabetics so that’s why it is so important to be eating healthy and making good, sound food choices when it comes time to eat.

Per Dr. Josh Axe:

Not only is pea protein good for your weight, but it’s proven to support a healthy heart. In 2009, Canadian scientists found that pea protein lowers high blood pressure. The rats in the study showed a 20 percent decrease in blood pressure over the course of just eight weeks of pea protein treatment. (3)

In another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found that intake over time of plant-based proteins, rather than animal-based proteins, decreased the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). (4) If you are at any sort of risk for heart problems, the best thing you can do is to eat foods that reduce inflammation and avoid the opposite. Inflammation is the cause of almost every major heart disease, and CHD is not excluded from that list.

Pea Protein Is Hypoallergenic:

If you have dived into the world of drinking protein shakes, whether as a meal replacement OR as a post workout Healthy Living With Type 1 Diabetes Health Benefits Of Pea Protein For Weight Lossrecovery drink you may have noticed that drinking whey, casein, egg, and even soy protein powders daily for extended periods of time can sometimes lead to the development of an allergy or intolerance.

This is caused by the protein and other ingredients in these shakes. What happens is that, when you develop an allergy to them you end up getting gas, feeling bloated, or perhaps even nauseous. This quickly becomes frustrating, especially if your spending the day in the bathroom.

With pea protein on the other hand, it does not have any allergenic ingredients. This makes it a great protein choice to decrease the risk of developing an allergy.  Or better yet, If you cannot drink animal based protein powders due to some pre existing allergy or intolerance, pea protein is a fantastic option to drink regularly without sacrificing any of the benefits. Pea protein is naturally dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free. So if you are allergic or avoiding any of these foods, no problem!

So if your in the market to try out a new protein mix, or perhaps you’ve been considering trying something new, why not give pea protein a whirl?  Our very own organic balanced meal contains pea protein and certainly does not disappoint!

If this article on pea protein was helpful, please leave a comment below or hit the share button to share with your family and friends ðŸ˜€

Thanks for Reading!

Chris

Chris - The Organic Diabetic

As a type 1 diabetic, I made the switch to an organic lifestyle several years ago after being diagnosed with Diabetes in 2006. Living with diabetes is hard enough, why make it more difficult by consuming products with chemicals, toxins and other harmful, unhealthy ingredients. To me, the choice was easy and just made sense. We hope you enjoy our blog! Feel free to look around and check out all of our products by clicking through the tabs above! Thanks for stopping by and also please be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter by liking our pages below! You never know what freebies we will be giving away!! Don't forget to check out the website as well at www.theorganicdiabetic.org

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