Know the Pea Milk and vitamin D benefits

It is Better Than Dairy Milk

There are a plenty of non-dairy milk alternatives around usthese days. To give company to rice, soya, nuts, coconut and seed milk, there is a new kind of non-dairy milk called pea milk. This plant-based milk is vegan, free of lactose and gluten. It is made with pea protein using yellow peas.

In the market, there are differently flavored versions of pea milk that range from sweetened, unsweetened to chocolate and vanilla flavours. Also, the milk is most often fortified with vitamins needed by the body.

Let us get into the details of this non-dairy milk.

The flavour of this milk is pleasant and earthy (not like pea at all). Its texture is silky, creamy and not that heavy. However, it has a chalky after-taste.

Pea milk – what is it?

Bowl of Green Powder on Brown Wooden Surface

Pea milk is a creamy non-dairy milk alternative which is made from yellow split peas. This milk is free of soya, nuts and gluten. It contains the same amount of protein that is present in dairy milk and is a low-calorie beverage in comparison to dairy. Additionally, pea milk has DHA and omega 3 fatty acids with iron and vitamin D that are very important for your health.

The flavour of this milk is pleasant and earthy (not like pea at all). Its texture is silky, creamy and not that heavy. However, it has a chalky after-taste.

What are the benefits of using pea milk?

1) The amount of protein in pea milk is same as what is found in cow milk. This means that it provides you with enough energy and helps you stay full for a longer period of time. Hunger pangs can be kept at bay with this plant-based milk.

2)  This milk does not have nuts and gluten in it and is therefore free of common allergies. The plant-based milk is suitable for anyone who is lactose intolerant or suffers from nut allergy. You can use pea milk to make your beverages healthier!

3) Pea milk is neither green in colour nor does it have a pea like taste. So, you need not worry at all and use it in your beverages.

4) Almond milk has been a lot in use lately as it is also a good non-dairy milk alternative. However, studies reveal that making almond milk can harm the environment. On the other hand, the carbon footprint of peas, pulses and beans is the lowest. Peas need less amount of water to be grown when compared to dairy. Plus, peas give nutrients back to the soil keeping the cycle going. It is always important that you consider the betterment of the environment before trying a new food trend.

5) Being a low-calorie option when compared to dairy milk, you can add it to your diet plan if you are planning to lose weight.

Full Frame Shot of Green Peas

The limitations of pea milk

Just like other non-dairy milks, this milk is also more expensive than cow milk.

Though it is a great source of protein and omega 3s, there is a lack of certain nutrients that only dairy milk can provide you with. This is probably why cow milk is referred to as a wholesome meal.

Do take the advice of your nutritionist before switching to pea milk.

Truth About Excess Of Vitamin D

Round Yellow and Red Fruits

Vitamin D toxicity means that vitamin D levels are so high in the body that they can cause harm. It is also called hypervitaminosis D.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. Unlike water soluble vitamins, it is not easy for the body to get rid of fat soluble vitamins. This is probably why excess of it gets built up in the body.

Hypercalcemia is the main symptom of vitamin D toxicity, which refers to elevated calcium levels in the blood. High levels of calcium can cause a lot of health issues.

How much vitamin D is excessive?

As much is not known about vitamin D toxicity and how it works, it is difficult to define the precise threshold for safe or toxic vitamin D intake. The Institute of Medicine says that 4000 IU is a safe level of daily vitamin D intake. But even doses to the tune of 10,000 IU have not shown symptoms of vitamin D toxicity in healthy people.

Carrots Tomatoes Vegetables and Other Fruits

As already mentioned, vitamin D toxicity is caused by consuming excess of vitamin D supplements and not by sun exposure or diet. Though this condition is rare, the recent increase in usage of supplements had lead to an increase in cases of vitamin D toxicity. Toxicity in humans is seen when there is a daily intake ranging from 40,000-100,000 IU i.e. 1000 to 2500 micrograms for 1 to several months. It is 10 to 25 times the recommended upper limit. In several cases the toxicity is due to errors in manufacturing of the supplements, when they have 100 to 4000 times higher vitamin D than what is stated on the package.

Vitamin D toxicity is by large reversible but when it is severe, it may cause kidney failure and calcification of arteries.

Vitamin D Toxicity- Symptoms and Treatment

Bunch of White Oval Medication Tablets

Hypercalcemia is the main consequence of vitamin D toxicity. The early symptoms of hypercalcemia are nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and weakness. People may also develop excessive thirst, high blood pressure, a varied level of consciousness, calcification of kidney tubes, kidney failure and even loss of hearing.

It may take a few months to resolve hypercalcemia as vitamin D gets stored in the body fat and is slowly released into the blood. Treating vitamin D toxicity involves avoiding exposure to the sun and eliminating dietary as well as supplemental vitamin D. Your doctor may also help in correcting your calcium levels by increasing salt and fluids.

Large vitamin D doses can cause harm even without showing symptoms of toxicity

At times the symptoms of toxicity may not appear right away. It may take months or even years for the symptoms to show up. This is probably why it is difficult to detect vitamin D toxicity.

To be on the safer side, don’t exceed the 4,000 IU upper limit of vitamin D without consulting the doctor.

The final line: Different individuals respond differently to high vitamin D doses. It becomes hard to evaluate what dosage is safe and what is not!

By - P. Sakthi Vel, The Choose Healthy Food