wasabi peas nutrition facts

Wasabi Peas Nutrition Facts

Wasabi peas are these crunchy, salty, and temporarily spicy green peas that are coated with wasabi powder. Usually found in Asian stores, these make an excellent snack and are quite famous for the way the wasabi affects the eater's senses. However, are they healthy? Should a calorie-conscious person opt for it as a healthy snack? This Buzzle article will give you some insightful wasabi peas nutrition facts.

Did You Know? The wasabi plant can be extremely difficult to mass cultivate, even in the best of conditions. Therefore, it is quite an expensive plant. Because it is quite difficult to find this plant outside Japan, an alternative mixture containing horseradish, starch, mustard, and green food coloring is used instead, to get the flavors of real wasabi.
The experience of having wasabi peas for the very first time―without any sort of warning from the giver regarding its taste and aftereffects―is something that is unforgettable. While the one who offers laughs away to joy, the eater of this snack experiences sensations that were not familiar before. Who knew that these normal-looking peas could be so torturous? Nonetheless, we praise the Lord for these effects to be brief and not nagging. The best part about wasabi peas? You can fall in love with them once you get the hang of the taste; however, the question remains, should you get the hang of it? There has been a debate whether this snack is an healthy option, suitable to be included in your diet or not? If the answer to this question is a yes, then what are the safe amounts of its consumption? All these queries will be answered in the following section that throws light on the nutritional value of wasabi peas.
Nutritional Value of Wasabi Peas
Note that the nutritional content may vary depending upon the brand you choose. The following values will give you an approximate idea about the nutrition value of this food item.
WASABI PEAS NUTRITION DATA Serving size: 1 oz. or 28 g
Calories 120
Total Carbohydrates 16 g
Fat 3 g
Protein 6 g
Dietary Fiber 4 g
Sugar 2 g
Sodium 160 mg
Source: Livestrong The combination of wasabi and green peas makes this snack a good source of quite a lot of nutritional elements, carbohydrates being one of them. Approximately 1 oz. or 28 g of this snack contains 16 grams of total carbohydrates, which forms a significant percentage of your daily carbohydrate requirement. Also, if you look at the table above, 3 grams worth of fat, out of which 1 g is saturated, a mere 2 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein do not seem to be as bad; however, the folly here is that these numbers are only for a small amount, and for those who love this snack, stopping at a mere 28 grams isn't as easy as it seems. Another ingredient that goes against wasabi peas being the ultimate healthy snack is sodium. 160 mg of sodium per oz. is a pretty high sodium content, and for a health conscious person, going overboard would be risky, especially when there is susceptibility to blood pressure or heart diseases. Wasabi peas do provide a good supply of protein and dietary fiber. It fulfills almost 9 to 17 percent of your daily fiber needs (depending upon the brand) and is good for smooth digestion. The protein present in wasabi peas adds to almost 11 to 13 percent of the daily protein requirement. However, the aforementioned nutrients along with the added salts and sugar content does not make it a completely healthy snack option.
How Much Should be Consumed?
It takes a lot to burn 100 calories, and just an ounce of these peas has a 120! According to the Health Magazine, if you're looking for snacks under 100 calories, 3 tablespoons of these spicy crunchy peas will cost you only 68 calories. Therefore, you are not completely forbidden to indulge in the spicy, pungent, and hot flavors that these peas contain, provided you keep the quantity consumed, in check. Wasabi peas are a favorite of many for their unique flavor; however, they are not a great source of certain essential vitamins and minerals. According to the website, SFGate, "Potassium and vitamin A are present at less than 5 percent of your daily needs. The rest of the nutrients in wasabi peas come from the mixture of oil, sugar, and salt they are coated with...." Therefore, if you wish to relish their taste without them being a contributing factor to your weight gain, stick to limited quantities.

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