A nutrition expert has recommended adding a 16p freezer essential to your dishes to improve gut health and increase vitamin consumption. Professor Tim Spector, the creator of Zoe Health, suggests that the frozen form of this vegetable offers more health advantages than its fresh counterpart.
In an Instagram video, Tim shared his secrets to enhancing certain dishes, specifically advocating the use of frozen peas in a delicious butter beans, lemon, and parmesan recipe. This suggestion is part of a tweak to a gnocchi dish from recipe site Mob, aimed at reducing the intake of processed foods.
He states: “I love gnocchi but most of the stuff you buy is ultra-processed, so I’m swapping them out for these butter beans, which are going to go perfectly with this recipe. “
Furthermore, he added his personal touch to the meal: “So, I’ve got some edamame here and frozen peas, which I love. I’m going to use crème fraîche, which is a slightly fermented food that adds microbes extra taste and flavour.
“There you have it – a comforting but nutritionally rich recipe, that you’ll love.”
In his post, he details the benefits of opting for frozen peas, saying: “Swap fresh peas for frozen. Frozen peas are cheaper and available all year round! Contrary to what you may think, they can actually have more vitamin C than fresh peas.”
He elaborated on adding nutritional value with: “I’ve also added frozen edamame so you get double the plant points and a boost of plant protein.”
Peas are loaded with numerous essential nutrients required for maintaining good health. BBC Good Food has noted that a serving of 80g of cooked peas is loaded with benefits: racking up 5.4g of protein, 4.5g of fibre, 1.2mg of iron, and a worthwhile 13mg dose of vitamin C.
This is not the first time Tim has spoken about the benefits of frozen peas over fresh. In a previous appearance on BBC Morning Live he said: “Most people don’t think of frozen peas as a health food. It’s a good alternative to protein from meat.”
He continued by explaining the broader implications for gut health: “Your gut produces all these chemicals that are key for your immune system, key for your brain, they stop you getting depressed, keep your metabolism under control, control your weight, stop you getting hungry. So the more your microbes get to eat, the more chemicals they can produce, the healthier you are. Forget this five-a-day, what you need is 30-a-week.”
And for those keen to boost their pea intake, there’s value for money too – Ocado currently retails a 910g bag of frozen peas for just £1.45, making it an economical option at just 16p per 100g.