Black eyed peas are mainly associated with growing up in the south, or eating them on New Year’s Day for good luck or just including them in a stew. But these little known peas are actually super packed with power for your entire body it’s ridiculous.

Honestly, if I would have known these little babies were as good for me as they are, I would have eaten more growing up. Take a look at five reasons you should eat them each week.

Fat Burner
Yes, black eyed peas can help your shrink fat. In fact, black-eyed peas are a low-fat and low-calorie food, making them a healthy addition to a weight-loss meal plan. Canned versions vary in content, but a 1/2 cup of black-eyed peas is generally less than 100 calories and contains about 1 g of fat. A diet that is low in fat and calories helps you lose weight, prevents weight gain and protects you from many health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and depression.

Protein Power
Black-eyed peas are a great alternative source of protein if you’re trying to cut down on eating meat. Protein is important because it supports most of the parts of your body, including muscles, skin, hair and nails. In addition, protein helps cells grow and repair and provides energy to your body. A 1/2 cup of dry and cooked black-eyed peas contains 6.7 g of protein, and a 1/2 cup of canned black-eyed peas contains 5.7 g.

Iron Man or Woman
A 1/2 cup of canned black-eyed peas has 1.2 mg of iron, while a 1/2 cup that has been cooked from dry black-eyed peas contains 2.2 mg. Getting adequate iron in your diet prevents anemia, which produces fatigue and weakness. Iron carries oxygen throughout your body to your organs, cells and muscles, and if the supply is low you can experience sluggishness. So beef up on your black eyed peas to get you going!

For the full story, go to BlackDoctor.org