IN Jamaica gungo peas are cooked with rice and served with almost any protein. Gungo peas is also known as kardis, gandule bean, tropical green pea, kadios, Congo pea, and pigeon peas. It is a very popular and healthy vegetable in the tropics.

Gungo peas are easy to grow and originated from India, gungo peas are used to make split pigeon peas soup (toordal).

Here are some benefits to including this legume in your meals:

* Pigeon peas contain high levels of protein and important amino acids.

* They contain a significant amount of vitamin C.

* Gungo peas can be used as a remedy for health problems, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, coughs, respiratory infections, colds, chest problems, and sore throat.

* Gungo peas can be used to heal skin problems such as skin rash, genital irritations and dermatitis.

* It is used in the treatment of certain health issues such as blood disorders, anaemia and dysentery.

* Including gungo peas in your diet regularly also offers liver protection.

* The young leaves of the plant are traditionally believed to be useful in treating diarrhoea.

There are also a few side effects to eating too much of these peas, one of which is hyper-acidity.

Persons suffering from heart disease should also refrain from eating gungo peas.

Happy eatings!