What are black eyed pea benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Here are black eyed pea pros and cons and how buying them will impact your health, the environment, animals and laborers.
Food is something we consume every day and if youāre like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you donāt hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info Iāve found on black eyed pea benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about black eyed pea benefits and side effects. This will include black eyed pea benefits for your health and potential risks, black eyed pea water footprint and black eyed pea carbon footprint, black eyed pea sustainability, if black eyed peas are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if black eyed peas are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about black eyed pea benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Must-Know Black Eyed Pea Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Black-eyed pea health benefits may include:
- better digestion
- anemia treatment and prevention
- eye health and vision
- healthy pregnancy
- strengthened nervous system
- Alzheimerās prevention
- bladder function
- bone strengthening
- detoxification
- heart health
- lower blood pressure
- lower cholesterol
- reduced risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, pancreatic cancer, stroke
- anti-aging
- skin health
- weight loss
Black eyed pea side effects:
- There are no major or notable black eyed pea side effects. Be sure to eat in moderation as with any food. Do not over-consume.
- Like all dry beans, rinse and soak thoroughly before cooking to avoid harmful bacteria and parasites.
Additionally, black eyed peas areā¦
- Acidic 6.0 pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
Environment
Water footprint: high, it takes 6,906 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of dried black-eyed peas or cowpeas / 828 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of black-eyed peas or cowpeas
Carbon footprint: low, 0.56 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of dry black eyed peas, a car driving equivalent of 1.25 miles or 2 kilometers
Destruction: low, black-eyed pea production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Black eyed peas areā¦
- Moderately Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, black-eyed pea production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, black-eyed pea production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from black-eyed pea production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Black eyed peas areā¦
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Black eyed peas areā¦
- A product that may or may not have labor issues
Most black eyed peasĀ are grown on the African continent, particularly in Nigeria and Niger (66% of worldĀ cowpea production).
NigerĀ isĀ the worldās leading exporter ofĀ black eyed peas.
The worldās top exporter of black eyed peas is Morocco, followed by Mexico, Guatemala, USA, Spain, Kenya, Egypt, France, Netherlands, Germany.
Yes! Black-eyed peas areĀ high inĀ protein and fiber, along with micronutrients such as folate, copper, and thiamine.
black eyed peas are acidic.
Are black-eyed peas alkaline or acidic?
Black-eyed peas are acidic.
What is the pH level of black-eyed peas?
Black-eyed peas have a 6.0 pH level, once digested.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
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black eyed peas are gluten free. black eyed pea benefits include fitting into a gluten free diet.
Are black eyed peas gluten free?
Yes, black eyed peas are gluten free. Black eyed peas do not contain gluten. Black eyed peas are a type of legume, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivityā¦
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
black eyed peas are not a common food allergen.
Are black eyed peas a common food allergen?
No, black eyed peas are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to black eyed peas but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
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black eyed peas have a high water footprint.
Do black eyed peas have a high or low water footprint?
Black eyed peas have a relatively high water footprint compared to other foods.
What is the water footprint of black eyed peas?
It takes 6,906 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of dried black-eyed peas or cowpeas / 828 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of black-eyed peas or cowpeas.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
black eyed peas have a low carbon footprint. black eyed pea benefits include not requiring too much energy or emitting pollution.
Does black eyed peas have a high or low carbon footprint?
Black eyed peas has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
What is the carbon footprint of black eyed peas?
It takes around 0.56 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of dry black eyed peas, a car driving equivalent of 1.25 miles or 2 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may includeā¦
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But thatās not all!
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may includeā¦
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
black eyed peas are moderately sustainable.
Overall, are black eye peas eco friendly? Are black eye peas sustainable?
Black eye pea production is moderately sustainable since there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study ā which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet ā found that āavoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earthā as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
black eyed peas are vegan. black eyed pea benefits include not killing, harming or using animals.
Are black-eyed peas vegan?
Yes, black-eyed peas are vegan. Black-eyed peas are legumes and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isnāt happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
Itās the best way to help animals and itās not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
black eyed peas may have labor issues and human rights concerns.
Are black eyed peas a product with laborer concerns?
At this time there are no major concerns with black eyed pea production but that doesnāt mean it isnāt happening! Itās important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve peopleās lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
This post was all about black eyed pea benefits and side effects.
Sources:
black eyed peas – FoodData Central
Blackeye Pea | Agricultural Marketing Service
