What is the difference between snow peas and garden peas? Foods that cannot be eaten together and precautions

Snow peas are one of the very healthy green vegetables in our daily life. They are actually not produced in the Netherlands; the reason they are called snow peas is that the Dutch brought them to China from their place of origin. Many people cannot tell what snow peas look like and always mistake them. So what are the differences between snow peas and garden peas? What should snow peas not be eaten with? What precautions are there for eating snow peas?

1. What are the differences between snow peas and garden peas?

The garden pea is actually a relatively large category, and what we usually call garden peas is actually one type within it, called the sweet pea. It is usually eaten mainly for its seeds and rarely for its pods. In addition, within the broad garden pea category, pea shoots, that is, the tender young seedlings on the plant, are eaten as a vegetable. There is also a type with flat pods, whose seeds are relatively small and not plump enough, so the pods are often the part that is eaten.

Snow peas are also a variety within the broad genus Pisum, and can be said to belong to the flat-pod category.

Snow pea pods are relatively soft and also crisp and tender, so their texture is relatively refreshing and crisp. The surface of garden pea pods contains a large amount of cellulose, which is difficult to chew and swallow, so garden pea pods are generally not eaten. Even after snow peas mature, their pods remain relatively flat and also relatively wide, and the seeds inside are small, occupying only a very small space in the pod. After garden peas mature, however, their seeds are larger and almost fill the entire pod, so they appear cylindrical. It is precisely because of this characteristic of plump seeds that they are often used to produce peas.

Garden peas contain a substance that can break down certain enzymes in organisms, thereby protecting our tissues and thus achieving an anti-cancer effect. In addition, they also contain substances such as phytohemagglutinin and abscisic acid, which have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects in organisms. Snow peas also have relatively high nutritional value, likewise contain many nutrients, and also contain more fiber components, so they are beneficial for gastrointestinal movement and digestion, as well as for relieving constipation and cleansing the intestines.

Through the simple comparison above, it should be relatively easy to distinguish these two things. In fact, as long as you remember the most important point: snow peas are wide and flat, while garden peas are round and plump, you can easily tell them apart.

2. What should snow peas not be eaten with?

1. Bracken fern 

Snow peas should not be eaten with bracken fern; eating them together will destroy the nutrients in snow peas. Snow peas are rich in vitamin B1, while bracken fern contains an enzyme that breaks down vitamin B1, so if the two are eaten together, the vitamin B1 in snow peas will be destroyed, and it will no longer be able to supply the nutrients the human body needs. 

2. Spinach 

Snow peas should not be eaten with spinach; eating them together will affect the human body's absorption of calcium. Spinach contains oxalic acid, and oxalic acid easily combines with calcium to form calcium oxalate, which affects the human body's absorption of calcium. Therefore, spinach should not be cooked together with calcium-rich beans, bean products, wood ear mushrooms, dried shrimp, kelp, nori, and other such foods. Snow peas are rich in calcium and vitamins, so try not to eat them together with spinach. 

3. Mutton 

Snow peas should not be eaten with mutton; doing so can cause jaundice and beriberi. Mutton is more tender than pork and has less fat and cholesterol than pork and beef. However, mutton has a stronger smell and also places a heavier digestive burden on the stomach and intestines, so it is not suitable for people with poor spleen and stomach function. Eating too much mutton may put pressure on the cardiovascular system. Snow peas contain more lipids, and eating them together with mutton can easily cause jaundice and beriberi. 

4. Oysters 

Snow peas should not be eaten with oysters; doing so will lead to excessive protein intake, which is not good for health. Oysters are a high-protein food, while snow peas are a bean food and also contain a relatively high amount of protein. Therefore, eating the two together may lead to excessive protein intake and cause other diseases. Therefore, it is best not to eat the two together.

5. Sweet potato 

Snow peas should not be eaten with sweet potato; doing so can cause bloating and similar conditions. Both snow peas and sweet potato are foods that easily produce gas, and eating too much can cause bloating. People with weaker digestive function and poor stomach and intestines should be especially careful. Therefore, it is best not to eat these two foods together.

3. Precautions for eating snow peas 

1. Snow peas should not be eaten in large amounts over the long term. This is because eating too many snow pea seeds can cause bloating and easily produce gas. 

2. Pregnant women and people with renal insufficiency should not eat snow peas. Patients with skin diseases and chronic pancreatitis should not eat them. 

3. Snow peas that have been damaged by insects cannot be eaten; those that are old and dry can only be eaten after being soaked until soft.

4. Snow peas must be eaten only after being completely cooked, otherwise poisoning may occur. The reason is that snow peas contain protein agglutinin, which can only be destroyed at 100°C.