|
Note: Even
though bell peppers exhibit
great nutritional benefits,
they are not a complete
food.
 
Bell peppers are packed
with several nutrients.
They are a good source
of vitamin C,
thiamine, vitamin B6,
beta carotene, and folic
acid. Bell peppers also
contain a large
amount of phytochemicals
that have exceptional
antioxidant activity.
Those
phytochemicals include
chlorogenic acid,
zeaxanthin, and coumeric
acid. When
comparing the nutrient
values of the different
bell peppers, studies
have shown that red
bell peppers have
significantly higher
levels of nutrients than
green. Red bell peppers
also contain lycopene,
which is a carotene that
helps to protect against
cancer and heart
disease.
Possibly due to their
vitamin C and beta
carotene content, bell
peppers have been shown
to be protective against
cataracts. Just like
other nutrient-dense
vegetables, bell peppers
contain many different
powerful phytochemicals.
Bell peppers have also
been shown to
prevent blood clot
formation and reduce the
risk of heart attacks
and strokes probably
due to their content of
substances such as
vitamin C, capsaicin,
and flavonoids.
Although chili peppers
contain a higher amount
of those substances,
bell peppers should
still be promoted
especially for
individuals with
elevated cholesterol
levels.
 
References
All fruits and
vegetables offer
outstanding health
benefits. Nutritional
research shows
that each one contains
its own set of vitamins,
minerals, antioxidants,
and other
important nutrients. To
get the maximum health
benefits, experts
recommend eating a
variety of fruits and
vegetables along with
other natural foods.
Why should you
eat them- These
extremely versatile
vegetables are not only easy
to find, store, and prepare,
they are also super good for
you! One pepper containsyour
entire days worth of vitamin
C and A. They’re also high
in fiber, vitamins K, B6, E,
Potassium and Manganese. The
bright colors assure you
that they are high in
antioxidants which are
important to fight free
radicals. Red peppers are
very high in lycopene.
You’ve probably heard of
lycopene in relation to
tomatoes. It is essential
for fighting all types of
cancer.
One word of advice- try
to buy organic! Bell peppers
are on the list of the top
12 fruits and vegetables
which pesticide residues are
most frequently found
(peaches, strawberries,
apples, blueberries,
nectarines, bell
peppers, spinach,
kale, cherries, potatoes,
and grapes). If you are not
able to find decent organic
peppers, at least make an
extra effort to wash them
thoroughly with a vegetable
wash.
What to look
for- Look for
deep vivid colors. The skin
should be taught with no
bruises or soft spots. The
stems should be green and
fresh looking.
To store-
Peppers can be kept
whole in the fridge for up
to one week. I like to slice
them up and keep them in a
bag for a handy snack.
Having them presliced also
makes it convenient to add
an omelet or stir-fry.
|
