Appearance: Thin flavourful stems with multiple large round leaves and occasional tendrils

Flavor: Crisp and sweet; tastes like freshly picked peas

Nutrients: A great source of beta carotene, Vitamin A and C, folate and fiber.

Health Benefits:

• In a food research study, the nutritional value of pea shoots is fairly stable during storage. However, the study does mention that some water soluble vitamins may be lost, but that can be mitigated by proper storage procedures.
• Flavonoids are an important contributor to pea shoot nutrition. They are used commercially as a health-food additive and in the pharmaceutical & medicinal industries and cosmetic applications. The reason is their proven anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic properties. They also help with crucial cellular enzyme function.
• Pea shoots contain carotenoids, including beta carotene, which is also known as Vitamin A.Carotenoids are compounds of great dietery importance. Recent interest in carotenoids has been stimulated by epidemiological studies that strongly suggest that consumption of carotenoid-rich foods reduces the incidence of several diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diseases related to low immune function, and other degenerative diseases.
• Pea microgreens have high levels of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids help prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts by protecting the eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.
• Pea microgreens are also a rich source of folate (B9), which plays a key role in developing and maintaining the body’s cells and protecting against DNA damage. Pea shoots contain approximately eight times more folate than bean sprouts.This is about 43% of the DV.
• Pea shoots are extremely rich in vitamin C, supplying about 20 % of an adult’s DA. Vitamin C is key in maintaining bones and teeth, proper functioning of the immune system, absorption of iron, wound repair, and many other key bodily functions.

  Pea shoots contain the same amount of vitamin C as blueberries. Although some websites report much more.

• Copper is an essential nutrient and is vital to metabolic processes, it also aids in developing and maintaining strong bones, and ensures proper neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular functioning. By consuming pea shoots you get 36% of the Daily Value!
• Iron is an essential nutrient and plays a crucial role in hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the body’s tissues. As you know, red blood cells are made up of 40% hemoglobin.

  Iron deficiency can lead to fatigue, poor immune function, poor regulation of body temperature, and cognitive impairment. When iron deficiency remains untreated, red blood cells may drop to extremely low levels, resulting in anemia, characterized by extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, hair loss, and extreme confusion. Including Pea shoots micros in your daily diet will contribute 15% of daily value. Those of you that cannot process Iron supplements consider using a cup of Pea shoots daily!

• Magnesium is critical for maintaining strong bones and healthy cardiovascular systems. It is also used for energy production, and helps process in the immune, and nervous systems. It also serves to counterbalance calcium, serving as a calcium channel blocker by preventing calcium from activating nerve cells, thereby relaxing nerves. Pea shoots contribute around 16% of our DV of magnesium.
• Our bodies use zinc daily to produce new cells, bone development, immune functions, and electrical signaling, digestion, and wound repair. Pea shoots contain around11% of the DV of zinc
• Low phosphorus levels may be associated with diabetes or may be caused by certain medications and alcohol use. Pea shoots contain a generous amount of phosphorus up to 16% of the DV.