Chestnuts vs Split Peas: How Do They Compare?

Although chestnuts and split peas belong to different food groups, and it’s not that common to compare foods from different groups, people are often interested in these comparisons as well.

While chestnuts belong to the nuts and seeds group, split peas belong to legumes food group.

That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares chestnuts and split peas, their nutritional values, similarities, differences, macronutrients, and micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.

Generally speaking, foods from nuts and seeds group are usually higher in healthy fats and lower in carbs than legumes, but both are valuable addition to a plant-based diet.

Now, let’s see how chestnuts and split peas compare specifically.

Chestnuts

Chestnuts (Castanea spp.) are a nut native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

These nuts have a sweet and slightly starchy flavor and are often used in sweet and savory dishes.

Chestnuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

They are lower in fat and calories compared to many other nuts and are a good source of complex carbohydrates, making them a good choice for those watching their carbohydrate intake.

There are many ways to incorporate chestnuts into your diet. They can be eaten raw or roasted and are often peeled and cooked before use.

Chestnuts are often used in sweet dishes, such as chestnut puree or chestnut flour, and used to make chestnut bread or pastries.

They can also be used in savory dishes, such as chestnut stuffing or soup.

Chestnuts are available fresh or canned and are often sold peeled or unpeeled. It is important to store chestnuts in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh, as they can become rancid quickly.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving chestnuts a try.

They are versatile, flavorful, and can be easily incorporated into various dishes.

Chestnuts is an excellent source of Vitamin C.

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin A, and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).

Split Peas

Split peas (Pisum sativum) are a type of legume that are native to the Middle East and have been grown for thousands of years.

They are made by splitting dried peas and removing the outer skin, resulting in a small, round, flat legume that is green or yellow in color.

Split peas are a popular ingredient in many dishes, such as split pea soup, and are highly valued for their nutritional content.

One of the main health benefits of split peas is their high protein content.

They are a good source of plant-based protein, making them a popular choice for vegetarians and vegans.

Split peas are also high in fiber, which can help to improve digestion and lower cholesterol levels.

They are rich in nutrients such as iron, potassium, and B vitamins. They also contain several plant compounds that have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Split Peas are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin K and some Vitamin A, Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).

Chestnuts vs Split Peas Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing chestnuts vs split peas.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of chestnuts and split peas and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.

Chestnuts vs Split Peas Calories

Comparing chestnuts vs split peas for weight loss, chestnuts is slightly lower in calories, with 224 calories per 100 grams, compared to 364 calories per 100 grams of split peas.

However, both chestnuts and split peas can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight.

Chestnuts vs Split Peas Protein

Legumes and most legume products, including chestnuts and split peas, are important sources of plant-based protein.

Split Peas offer around 82% more protein than chestnuts.

Split Peas have 23.1 grams of protein per 100 grams, while chestnuts has 4.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Chestnuts vs Split Peas Carbs

Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.

It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in chestnuts and split peas.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 20% higher in split peas than in chestnuts. They have 61.6 grams per 100 grams, compared to 49.1 grams in chestnuts.

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There’s less sugar in chestnuts than in split peas, 100% precisely.

One handful of chestnuts (28 grams) contains 0 grams of sugar, while the same amount of split peas contains 0.9 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in chestnuts and split peas.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 6.2 grams of fiber per portion, split peas are a better source of fiber than chestnuts which offer 0 grams per portion.

Chestnuts vs Split Peas Fats

Fats in chestnuts and split peas are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.

Total fat in chestnuts and split peas:

• Chestnuts: 1.1 grams per 100 grams
• Split Peas: 3.9 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, chestnuts is 50% lower in saturated fats.

Chestnuts and split peas contain 0.2 grams and 0.4 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Chestnuts vs Split Peas Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of chestnuts and split peas.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Chestnuts has a higher amount of vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

However, split peas have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and vitamin B9 (Folate).

Chestnuts and split peas contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins chestnuts and split peas contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Chestnuts vs Split Peas Minerals Content

Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.

Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the chestnuts and split peas comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Chestnuts is a better source of calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc than split peas.

On the other hand, split peas are a higher amount of magnesium, and manganese.

Chestnuts and split peas contain the same amount of fluoride.

Check out the table below to learn how chestnuts and split peas compare when it comes to mineral content.

The Final Word

Chestnuts and split peas are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both chestnuts and split peas are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Antioxidants found in nuts, seeds and legumes can help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and the effects of aging.

Additionally, the fiber and other nutrients in these foods can support the health of the digestive system and may even help to prevent certain digestive cancers.

Legumes, nuts and seeds are a versatile food that can be incorporated into any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can be served hot or cold, making them a convenient and tasty addition to a variety of dishes.