Peppers are a delicious vegetable that is also quite versatile. There are many varieties, with bell peppers being the most popular. Just like with most vegetables, peppers have health benefits.
Nutrition
Peppers are low in calories, with green peppers only having 30-40 calories per cup. They also have healthy doses of vitamins, minerals and acids.
Bell peppers are colored differently depending on how long they remained on the vine. Red peppers stayed on the vine the longest and they have the most nutrition out of all the bell peppers. In fact, red peppers have nearly 11 times the beta-carotene than the green variety.
Health Benefits
The vitamins and nutrients found in bell peppers provide a lot of health benefits, including:
- Vitamin A
This vitamin is essential to keeping your eyesight healthy.
- Vitamin C
Known for keeping the immune system running efficiently, vitamin C also helps the body keep tissue healthy.
- Vitamin K
Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting.
- Folate
Folate is responsible for the red blood cells functioning properly. This is especially important in pregnancy because it helps prevent some types of birth defects.
- Carotenoids
Carotenoids are rich in yellow and orange peppers. They could protect you from cardiovascular disease.
- Lycopene
An antioxidant, lycopene gives red peppers their color. It helps fight free radicals from toxins that enter your body. Lycopene might also prevent some cancers.
- Potassium
Balancing fluids and minerals in the body, potassium improves muscle function and regulates blood pressure.
Stock up on bell peppers of all colors to enjoy the health benefits. They can be eaten raw in salads, added in stir fry or even roasted.
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