Green Peas Are Having a Moment: 4 Health Benefits of the Humble Pea

For years, green peas have not been fully appreciated. You had steamed carrots and peas that were bland and uninspiring on your cafeteria lunch tray. Your mom snuck peas into your mac and cheese. Your grandma served buttered peas alongside your mashed potatoes. Let’s be honest: They were probably the thing on your plate that six-year-old you went to great lengths to avoid.

But green peas are making a comeback. You might even say they’re having a “moment.” There are three main types (garden peas, sugar snap peas, and snow peas), but the most common is definitely garden peas (also called English peas). If you think peas are just starch and nothing else, think again: Green peas offer a host of health benefits that have gone unappreciated for too long.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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