Red pepper benefits and side effects
Red peppers are ripened or matured green peppers. They are mildly sweet with a touch of earthly taste. It is one of the varieties of bell pepper, from the Capsicum annuum family. There are other types of peppers with red color, just like the cayenne pepper. However, it is only the red bell pepper that is referred to as the “red pepper”.
It is one of the most cultivated vegetable produce around the world; particularly in India, Mexico, Central and South America. Red peppers can be found in popular markets, even in supermarkets. Their bright, colorful, and sweet flavor makes them a great addition to dishes.
Nutritional Value of Red peppers
Red peppers are common staples amongst vegetables. They contain antioxidants, several nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and other compounds. They are good sources of Vitamin A, B6, C, E, & K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Folate, Potassium, Beta-carotene, Riboflavin and Fiber. Red peppers contain little to no capsaicin (responsible for their spiciness), unlike its counterparts- paprika and chili peppers.
Red pepper benefits and side effects
Benefits of Red Peppers
Improve Immune System:
Red peppers contain vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that help boost immunity. They help fight against cell damage and increase response of the immune system to microbes. While cooking, avoid frying red peppers for a long time. This could reduce their vitamin C content by up to 25 percent.
Aid Digestion:
Red peppers contain fibers and niacin. These nutrients enable digestion to be easy and faster. As well as easy absorption of carbs too. Red bell peppers can also help prevent constipation, diarrhea etc. Adding this vegetable to your meals can improve the condition of your digestive system.
Improve Eye Health:
The presence of vitamin A and beta carotene in red peppers can improve your eye health. They do so by promoting healthy eye sight and night vision.
Improve Skin Health:
Vitamin A, C and beta-carotene are great for the skin. Red peppers are good sources of these nutrients. Consumption can help support your skin cells by increasing the production of white blood cells in the body, as well as healing wounds. In addition, the antioxidants present help prevent your skin from potential damages, ageing and wrinkles. Vitamin C also helps rejuvenate dead skin cells and tissues, giving your skin a younger and healthy look.
Prevent Cancers:
Vitamin A and C are great antioxidants found in red peppers. Together with lycopene in high amount (an element responsible for the redness of this bell pepper), helps give protection against cancers including lung and prostate cancers.
Promote Weight Loss:
Due to their less dense nutrition properties, adding red bell peppers to your dishes can aid weight loss. They are also extremely low in calories; this makes them ideal for weight loss. Their ability to help reduce cholesterol levels may also contribute to loss of belly fat and excess body weight.
Boost Metabolism:
Red peppers have been shown to increase metabolism. Consumption therefore, will help you burn more calories. Although they have a mild thermogenic action, red peppers can increase your metabolic rate without increasing your blood pressure and heart rate like hot peppers do.
Reduce Inflammation:
Red peppers have anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve joints and muscle pains, and ease aches and inflammation.
Prevents Birth Defects in Babies:
Red peppers are loaded in folate. This nutrient assists with the healthy development of unborn babies in the womb. Additionally, it helps prevent birth deformities when the baby is born.
Side effects of Red peppers
Generally, red peppers are safe and healthy for consumption. There aren’t any side effects recorded from sweet red bell peppers consumption. Most people do not experience difficulties while using it. However, it is recommended you consume or use in the barest minimum; especially for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Known harmful effects due to unguided use or too much consumption includes: heartburn, nausea, indigestion, sneezing, diarrhea, watery eyes, loose stools, burning sensations and stomach upset.
For persons having issues with red peppers indigestion, they can either remove outer skin or fry the red peppers a little for easy digestion.
Stella-maris Achumba
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