Sweet Bell Pepper Health Benefits, Nutrition and Fruit Facts

Health Benefits of Eating Sweet Bell Peppers

What are sweet bell peppers good for? Bell peppers, known also as capsicums, are popular for their bright colors and also their natural health properties. The culinary fruit provides you with loads of health advantages for being rich in vitamin A, B1, B3, B6, C, and K as well as essential minerals like potassium and manganese.

Being abundant with potent antioxidant vitamin A, capsicums are useful in protecting your eyesight and help prevent eye diseases like age-related macular disease. It is also important for bone development, integrity of the skin and normal growth.
Loaded with another powerful antioxidant vitamin, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), sweet peppers help fight against cancer, cell damaging, aging, relieve inflammation like arthritis and give the immune system a boost.
Bell peppers are also high in vitamin K, which promotes blood clotting to avoid excessive bleeding, fortifies bones and secure your body cells from oxidative damage.
Capsicums are a good source of B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin B1, B3, B6 and B9. Vitamin B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin) and B6 (pyridoxine) assists the body to transform blood sugar, protein and fats into energy while vitamin B9 (folate) aids your body to generate new cells and maintain them.
Red bell peppers have a great amount of carotenoids, such as beta-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. Beta-cryptoxanthin, according to studies, helps lower the risk of lung cancer, while lycopene is effective in protecting you against prostate, pancreas, cervix and bladder cancer.
Capsicums are also a good supply of dietary fiber. According to research reports, enough fiber intakes are critical to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke and coronary heart disease. It is also beneficial to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
Sweet peppers contain significant amount of magnesium and manganese. Magnesium is an essential nutrient to help regulate body temperature, transmit nerve impulses and detoxify your system, while manganese is important for healthy bone structure and absorption of calcium.

Facts about Capsicum

Green, Yellow and Red Sweet Bell Peppers; Raw Capsicums

A bell pepper (scientific name Capsicum annuum) is botanically a fruit, but is prepared as vegetable in various culinary uses. Also known as sweet pepper and capsicum, it can be used to make sandwiches, stews, salads and added to many other cuisines.

The sweet, gentle peppers can be added to virtually any dishes to get a zesty taste. In the U.S., sweet peppers are stuffed with beef, rice, tomato sauce and seasonings to make a delicious meal. Besides, the sweetie fruit can be broiled, baked, sautéed, stewed, roasted, grilled or served as a snack, uncooked. Some people add the colorful fruit just to make their meals lively.

Varieties of Bell Peppers

Capsicums are available in many colors. The most common are yellow, orange, red and green. There are also some with white, purple and rainbow colors. Green peppers are the least sweet among the common varieties, while the red peppers are the sweetest.

Sweet Bell Pepper Nutrition Facts and Calories

Nutritional Value of 1 cup (149 g) Raw Green Peppers (Chopped)
Calories	30 kcal
Total Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	4 mg
Total Carbohydrates	7 g
Dietary Fiber	3 g
Sugars	4 g
Protein	1 g

Sweet Bell Pepper Recipe

Bell Pepper Salad Recipe

Serve: 4

Ingredients:

60 ml vegetable oil
30 ml vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1 red bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized pieces
1 green bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized pieces
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized pieces
1 sweet onion, sliced thinly

Preparation:

In a bowl, combine and stir the oil, vinegar, dried herbs, salt and garlic. Add all the bell peppers and onions. Toss well to coat.

Capsicum Side Effects

There is no known side effect of consuming fresh bell peppers.