Health Benefits Of Bell Peppers

Bell peppers come in red, green, orange, and yellow, red and orange varieties. All are great for your health but the red bell pepper contains the most nutrients in the group.

Pop some bell peppers into your shopping basket, and start reaping the following health benefits.

Prevents Cancer

Certain types of cancers can be prevented due to the carotenoid’s powerful antioxidant effects. It deactivates free radicals, which are the cell-damaging oxygen atoms that react with other molecules in your body.

To maximize the antioxidant benefits of bell peppers, make sure to let it ripen first before consuming as ripening increase its carotenoid content. They also contain sulfur which helps prevent cancer.

Eye Health

Bell peppers have more than 30 different types of carotenoids which include lycopene, lutein, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin. Carotenoids, which belongs to a phytonutrient family, are responsible for the orange-yellow, and bright red coloring in many fruits and vegetables.

Various studies proved that they can absorb damaging blue light as it enters the eyes, thereby helping heal the eyes and ward off eye disease.

Balances Mood

Are you feeling blue? Then you really need bell peppers. It is packed with vitamin B6, which help your brain produce serotonin and norepinephrine, two chemicals that affect your mood.

Beautiful Skin

Bell peppers are rich in Vitamin E, which help your skin look young and fresh as well as your hair strong and vibrant.

Weight Loss

Bell peppers have very low amounts of calories and fats – about 9 calories per cup and 1 gram of fat, thus making it a great supplement for the main meal or an ideal snack option. The small amount of fat is enough to provide a reliable storage for bell pepper’s fat-soluble nutrients.

Heart Healthy

Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, bell peppers can lower inflammation in arteries. In other words, bell peppers can help prevent heart disease and diabetes.

Boosts Immunity

Bell peppers are full of vitamin C and with ripening, the amount of vitamin C increases. These can be a great way to stay healthy since a cup of sliced bell peppers gives you 157% of your daily vitamin C content.

Lowers Cholesterol

Bell peppers contain capsaicin, which is a nutrient that lowers the levels of bad cholesterol in your system, therefore, making it a recommended food for those with high cholesterol.

Helps With Pain

Bell pepper relieves chronic pain in many ways. Both found in bell peppers are Vitamin C and vitamin K, which have anti-inflammatory properties that lessen swelling and protects against osteoporosis. Plus, its capsaicin content also relieves chronic pain.

Natural Sleep Aid

Eat some bell peppers for you to be able to have a good sleep at night. The B6 content of bell peppers aids in the production of melatonin, which is needed by your body to regulate its internal clock.