Why Green Peas Should be in Your Diet

Clinical Professor and Chair for the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Mindy Haar, Ph.D., RDN, is quoted in a Verywell Health article discussing the nutritional benefits of including green peas in one’s diet. Rich in insoluble fiber, the green legume—not vegetable—can help feed healthy gut bacteria and ward off constipation. Haar notes that peas also include soluble fiber, which can help reduce cholesterol levels and soften stools, and recommends having peas with a meal two or three times a week.

“Peas contain significant quantities of prebiotics that research suggests are associated with better digestion and reduced intestinal inflammation,” she says. “It’s especially important to increase water and fluid intake when increasing fiber intake, so that both can work collaboratively to keep the digestive system running smoothly.”