The benefits of bell pepper and its medicinal properties
Bell pepper (lat. Capsicum annuum) is a type of annual capsicum that belongs to the Solanaceae family. This vegetable came to Russia from Bulgaria, which is where it got its name.
Using pepper for illnesses
The benefit of sweet peppers for general health and immune support lies in the high content of vitamin C. Its greatest concentration is around the stalk of the vegetable, which is often cut off.
A rich set of vitamins of groups B, PP and A helps strengthen the human immune system. They help neutralize free radicals in the body, which helps avoid many diseases, including cancer.
The vegetable contains a rare component - lycopene, which prevents heart disease and blocks the development of metastases. And ascorbic acid rejuvenates cells, strengthens capillary walls, and reduces the risk of thrombosis.
Sweet pepper helps cleanse organs of toxins and eliminate pathological changes in organs. Therefore, it is recommended for regular use by people with lung diseases, as well as smokers.
Chewing the pulp of fresh pepper thoroughly and for a long time helps fight bleeding gums and other oral diseases.
Application in dietetics
Since pepper is 90% water, it is a dietary product. Its calorie content is only 27 kcal per 100 g. Regular consumption of sweet peppers is the key to health and well-being; it will help lower cholesterol levels and strengthen blood vessels.
Also, sweet peppers have a positive effect on digestive processes. Eating one vegetable before a meal will help you fully absorb it.
Sweet pepper - benefits and harm for the female body
Eating nightshades has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails. The presence of many micro- and macroelements makes the product indispensable for women's health.
Excessive consumption of vegetables can cause discomfort in pregnant women: frequent belching, heartburn. Therefore, it is recommended to exclude raw food from the diet during periods of nausea, and if you feel normal, stick to the norm: 1 pepper per day.
The vegetable is an indispensable component of cosmetic products. Its juice is added to homemade face and hair masks, lotions and creams.
Vegetables from your own garden bring maximum benefit to your body. Read about how to plant and grow bell peppers in our material.
How does the color of pepper affect its composition and quality?
The color of bell pepper speaks not only about the type of vegetable, but also about its composition. Green, red, or yellow - each has its own characteristics.
Green pepper benefits and contraindications
The young green vegetable is rich in chlorogenic acid, which is the body's natural barrier against carcinogens. This is a powerful protection of blood vessels from cholesterol plaques. But the product can increase the feeling of hunger, so it is not used for dietary purposes.
Red bell pepper - the benefits and harms of vitamin C
Red bell pepper is superior to others in the amount of Lycopene and vitamin C. 100 g. The pulp contains a vitamin norm four times higher than the daily requirement for the body. But don't worry, it won't do any harm.
What are the benefits of yellow pepper?
Yellow peppers contain much more potassium than other flower varieties. This is an undoubted benefit for the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Bell pepper - benefits in fresh and cooked form
The maximum benefit of pepper for the human body can only be obtained by consuming it fresh. After heat treatment, the vegetable loses up to 70% of its vitamins. But in the cold season, when access to fresh vegetables is limited, cooked or canned bell peppers will undoubtedly be useful.
Freezing will help preserve the product and its beneficial properties for a long time. In this form, pepper retains almost all vitamins. To prevent vegetables from taking up much space, it is recommended to chop them and place them in portioned freezer bags.
Restrictions and contraindications for the use of bell pepper
The benefits of bell pepper for human health are undeniable, but the vegetable should be consumed with caution. This is especially true for people with the following diseases:
- allergic reactions;
- hypervitaminosis;
- hypersensitivity;
- thrombophlebitis.
Pepper can cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and painful sensations in the stomach. The ability of vegetable components to lower blood pressure can be dangerous for hypotensive patients. The consumption of vegetables is not recommended for those who have kidney and liver diseases.
Which pepper is healthier, sweet or bitter?
The composition of bitter pepper is practically no different from sweet pepper. Its healing properties are also great. But in order to get a sufficient amount of useful substances from the product, a person needs to eat several fruits a day, which is quite problematic.
Excessive consumption of hot peppers can cause irritation to the digestive system. Therefore, this product is often used as a spice.
You will find detailed information about the composition and beneficial qualities of hot pepper in our article.
Bottom line
The benefits and harms of bell pepper vary from person to person. For a healthy person, there are practically no contraindications, but if you have diseases, you should consult a doctor before eating the vegetable.
Everyone knows that there are red, green and yellow peppers. These are all different varieties of peppers. The red honeycomb is called united. It is red in color because it contains the most pigment, carotene, and the red pigment lycopene. The yellow variety is called indalo. It contains a minimal amount of lycopene, a red pigment, but also contains a large amount of carotenoids, which give it a yellow color. Green pepper - This is an Atlantic variety, which also contains coloring pigments, but in smaller quantities. There are big differences between these varieties of peppers in the elements and vitamins they contain.
In red pepper contains the most vitamin A, almost seven times more than yellow and green. Therefore, red pepper is most useful for children whose growing bodies require a lot of this vitamin, as well as for those people who smoke. It is known that these people's need for vitamin A is much higher than that of non-smokers. Red peppers are also very high in vitamin C. Red peppers contain maximum amount of lycopene– this substance has long attracted the attention of scientists, and it has been proven that it stimulates the human immune system and also prevents the occurrence of cancer.
Green peppers are the lowest in calories. It contains one and a half times fewer calories than red and yellow peppers. Green pepper contains phytosterols - substances of plant origin that regulate fat metabolism in humans, reduce the content of bad cholesterol and increase the content of high-density lipoproteins, which protect our blood vessels from atherosclerosis.
Yellow pepper contains a lot of potassium. It contains almost one and a half times more potassium than other types of peppers. This means that it is good for the heart muscle. Yellow peppers also contain more phosphorus, which is an essential trace element for the musculoskeletal system and the construction of our bones, as well as for normal functioning of the nervous system.
Thus, each type of pepper contains vitamins and beneficial substances for the body. Therefore, the best option would be to eat all three varieties.
Interesting! Bell pepper improves hair growth and skin condition in humans.
Important to remember! During heat treatment, bell pepper loses almost 70% of its beneficial substances.
Bell pepper strengthens the walls of blood vessels due to the fact that bell pepper contains vitamin P and C. Bell pepper baked in the oven contributes to the development of caries, since during the baking process many organic acids leave the cells, and the dish begins to have an increased ability to cause caries. This practically does not happen during cooking and frying.
Important! Bell pepper is contraindicated in case of high acidity of the stomach, because it contains phytoncides and alkaloids. They irritate the stomach and can aggravate gastritis or ulcers. Bell pepper reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. The thing is that it contains vitamins B6 and B9. They slow down the aging of blood vessels. Bell peppers also strengthen the heart muscle, as they contain potassium. Scientists have long proven that this trace element is important for heart health.
Did you find the information useful and interesting? Share the link to the site http://site with your friends on your blog, website or forum where you communicate. Thank you.) is the fruit of an annual herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family. Widely distributed and cultivated in Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece. Today it is a popular vegetable that almost everyone knows about. In this article we will talk about the nutritional value and calorie content of green, as well as what it does for the body.
Nutritional value and calorie content
There are three types of so-called: red, yellow and green. Green is harvested before it can turn yellow, orange or red. Some varieties are grown specifically for this purpose, since when green they are not bitter and are suitable for use. A popular green of this type is Atlantic.
Green is considered the least high-calorie product (only 20 kcal per 100 g), while red is more high-calorie: 100 g of this product contains 37 kcal. It does not contain fat, therefore it is considered a dietary product. However, due to the presence of a certain amount of carbohydrates (6.9 g per 100 g of product), greens are nutritious and are well suited for a light and quick snack. Protein is only 1.3 g per 100 g of product.
Chemical composition
Green fruits are very juicy, aromatic and tasty, and in addition they contain many useful vitamins and minerals. They are rich in antioxidants A, C and E, in addition, it also contains a huge number of vitamin compounds, including: all B vitamins, vitamin K, PP, H, betaine, etc. Depending on the variety of green sweet pepper , it may contain about 30 types of vitamins.
Every person’s body needs ascorbic acid (vitamin C). And sweet pepper contains a large amount of this vitamin; moreover, it is the champion among ascorbic acid content. Vitamin C was first isolated from green bell peppers. For the average person, it is enough to eat only two medium ripe fruits to cover the daily requirement of ascorbic acid. 
Green peppers contain about 300 mg of ascorbic acid. This dose may vary depending on the conditions of the fruit. If the pepper is exposed to the hot rays of the sun, then it will contain more vitamin C than in those fruits that were in the shade for most of their growing season.
Bell peppers are also rich in various macro- and microelements. Its fruits contain large amounts of copper, magnesium, calcium, zinc, fluorine, sodium, phosphorus, etc. Each of these elements has a positive effect on the human body. Zinc and iron are essential microelements for children and pregnant women.
Important! Green peppers contain many more cancer-preventing substances than their yellow and red counterparts.
Calcium and phosphorus give strength to bones and teeth, and the second substance is also essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system. Potassium and magnesium support heart function, improve the functioning of the circulatory system, stabilize blood pressure levels, and prevent the formation of blood clots in blood vessels. 
Sweet green peppers also contain essential (lysine, valine, arginine, threonine, tryptophan) and non-essential (alanine, serine, tyrosine, glycine, cysteine) amino acids. Polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids should enter the body of every person. These compounds rejuvenate and energize the body, and they are all found in sweet green peppers. Among them: omega-3, omega-6, oleic, palmitic, stearic and other acids.
What's the benefit?
Due to the low calorie content of green bell peppers and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in its composition, which speed up metabolism, this product represents many of the most popular dietary techniques. In addition, it is able to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract during a diet.
The fruits of this plant have cleansing, antioxidant, strengthening and soothing properties. They are especially useful to use in times when, due to a lack of vitamins, the body’s defenses are running low. Sweet green peppers will benefit children, pregnant women, the elderly and sick people. The product is especially useful during pregnancy, when the body of the expectant mother needs a constant supply of iron, folic and ascorbic acids. 
Green pepper is very beneficial for hair. Thanks to the presence of vitamins A and B9 in its composition, hair becomes manageable and silky. Vitamin B9 can strengthen follicles and improve blood flow to them. Vitamin A prevents hair breakage and dandruff.
It is noteworthy that the more men consume green pepper, the less chance they have of developing alopecia.
Sweet pepper can reduce the level of unpleasant tooth sensitivity, prevent tooth decay and strengthen gums. Along with junk food, various carcinogens enter our body every day, which periodically cause cancer. Due to the fact that the vegetable contains chlorogenic and lycopenic acids, almost all carcinogens are constantly removed from the body. Thus, sweet bell pepper is able to protect the body from the appearance of various types of tumors.
Sweet bell pepper will be a godsend for those who are chasing eternal youth. Due to the presence of antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids, this product helps eliminate oxygen starvation of cells and normalize all metabolic processes in the body. Moreover, it protects the body from various harmful effects, as it strengthens the immune system. 
Potassium and magnesium contribute to normal heart function. These macroelements, when regularly introduced into the body, can prevent coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and hypertension. Omega-3, which is present in small quantities in the vegetable, cleans blood vessels and improves normal blood circulation processes.
Did you know? Archaeologists say that sweet bell peppers were known to people 9 thousand years ago.
Sweet bell pepper is useful for diabetes, as it can reduce blood glucose levels. But in this case, it must be used for food only in fresh form. It also improves intestinal motility, helps in the fight against flatulence and dysbiosis.
Green sweet peppers have another significant advantage - they contain phytosterols: substances that can remove “bad” cholesterol from the body. Phytosterols are very similar to cholesterol, but unlike the latter, they are a product of plant origin. There is an opinion that phytosterols help protect the body from the occurrence of cancer in the intestinal and prostate areas. 
Bell peppers contain rare vitamin K (phylloquinone), which is responsible for blood clotting processes. In addition, without vitamin K, vitamin D and calcium will not be absorbed properly. Phylloquinone protects the body from the manifestation of atherosclerosis and ensures normal energy exchange at the cellular level.
Actually, strictly speaking, bell pepper is not bell pepper at all and not even pepper! This plant does not belong to the pepper family at all, but to the nightshade family and is a distant relative of tomatoes and eggplants. Its homeland is Latin America. The inhabitants there were the first to think of eating sweet pepper pods as food. Pepper also had other uses. The Indians sprinkled seeds on smoldering coals to ward off wild animals or enemy invaders using the acrid smoke that was released when the seeds burned. However, pepper smoke screens did not help the Indians withstand the colonists. And pepper came to Europe thanks to the conquests of Cortes, who took with him almost all the Indian wealth, and at the same time a tasty “secret weapon”.
Europeans also tasted pepper and called it vegetable or salad; another name for this vegetable is paprika or sweet pepper. This type of pepper migrated to Russia from Bulgaria, for which it received its Russian name.
What is inside?
Well, bell peppers really have a lot of names, but they contain even more vitamins. In terms of vitamin C content, sweet peppers are second only to sea buckthorn and rose hips, and among vegetables they are the absolute champion. Just 50 g of bell pepper covers the body’s daily need for ascorbic acid.
But in order not to lose a single gram of vitamin C, pepper must be handled correctly. The fact is that most ascorbic acid is concentrated around the stalk, so you need to peel the pepper carefully, sparing the top as much as possible.
In addition to ascorbic acid, bell peppers contain a lot of vitamin E (protects against early aging and cancer), carotene (provitamin A), potassium (necessary for the heart), calcium (needed for teeth) and iron (improves blood composition).
Bell peppers can also protect against stroke. Eating just one pod a day is enough to reduce your risk by half. This is facilitated by the high content of vitamins B6 and B9, which slow down the aging process of blood vessels.
Interesting
Scientists from Italy conducted a study trying to find out which type of pepper people consider sweeter. The majority of respondents gave the palm to yellow fruits. But in fact, red fruits contain the most sugar. However, most people associate yellow with ripeness and sweetness.Color is everything!
Each pepper is useful in its own way.
Red. This type of pepper contains the most ascorbic acid and vitamin A. Thus, a serving of red bell pepper will satisfy approximately half of the body’s daily need for vitamin A, and a serving of green pepper will satisfy only 5%!
Yellow. It surpasses its fellows in terms of the number of routines. This element makes blood vessels more elastic and strengthens their walls. Yellow varieties of pepper also contain more potassium and phosphorus than other varieties.
Green. Has anti-cancer properties. Not long ago, Italian scientists discovered substances in sweet peppers that can reduce the risk of malignant tumors. There are especially many such substances in green fruits.
When choosing pepper, you should also consider what dish you are going to cook from it. Any variety will work for a salad, but for hot dishes it is better to choose red or yellow varieties. Green pods begin to taste bitter after heat treatment.
Personal opinion
Yulia Mikhalkova:
Bell pepper is a very healthy vegetable. I love stuffed peppers, no matter what: meat, vegetables. They are very easy to prepare.
Recipes
Chinese chicken stew
Cut 500 g chicken fillet into small strips. Remove seeds from 200 g of red bell pepper and cut into strips. Chop 2-3 cloves of garlic with a knife. Fry the chicken fillet in oil until golden brown and place in a pan. Then fry the peppers in the same frying pan until soft, adding chopped garlic at the end of frying, and place on top of the chicken fillet.
Red bell pepper promotes weight loss - scientists from the USA came to this conclusion. It turns out that this vegetable contains substances that accelerate metabolic processes in the body, which leads to the breakdown of fat.
In a separate bowl, mix 5 tablespoons of soy sauce, 6 tablespoons of boiled water, 1 teaspoon of potato starch and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Pour the resulting sauce over the chicken fillet and pepper and simmer for 10 minutes until cooked. Serve with rice.
Pepper salad with apples
Peel and cut 300 g of bell pepper into cubes, wash the apples, remove the core and cut them too. Add 100 g of chopped green onions, a few chopped green lettuce leaves to the salad, add ground black pepper and salt and season with vegetable oil.
Spicy cocktail
Grind 5 tomatoes, 1 cucumber and 1 seeded bell pepper in a blender, add a glass of water and blend again with a blender. Then put 1 bunch of parsley and basil, a clove of garlic and 2 sprigs of celery into the bowl and chop again until smooth. The drink is ready
Bell pepper is one of those vegetables whose benefits are practically beyond doubt. It attracts with its bright colors, elastic flesh and pleasant taste. There are countless culinary recipes with its participation - peppers are eaten raw on their own, stewed, boiled, baked, and for long-term storage the vegetable can be dried or frozen. It would seem like an ideal natural product, but even healthy bell peppers can sometimes cause harm. First things first.
The benefits of bell pepper
The beneficial properties of bell pepper are determined by its richness:
- Elastic pepper is a vegetable champion in vitamins C, P and A, it is generously provided with B-group.
- The impressive mineral deposits in pepper include potassium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, iodine, magnesium and calcium.
- Essential oils, alkaloids and phytoncides complement the invaluable storehouse of useful substances.
Health benefits of bell pepper
Vitamins A and P in pepper strengthen the walls of blood vessels, vitamin C helps raise immunity to the proper level and supports normal heart function. Consumption of provitamin Abnormalizes vision, has a beneficial effect on the appearance of the skin, stimulates hair growth and prevents premature baldness. The benefits of bell pepper in the treatment of diabetes and depression have been proven. A sufficient amount of B vitamins helps with insomnia, memory problems, chronic stress and loss of energy.
What are the benefits of bell pepper for the body? The high content of mineral salts in the vegetable enriches the blood, prevents anemia and improves immunity, so it must be present in the diet of people living in areas with high radiation and smokers. Stimulating the gastrointestinal tract, improving appetite, lowering blood pressure and thinning the blood after eating delicious peppers is the merit of the alkaloid capsaicin. The beneficial properties of bell pepper are complemented by antioxidants that cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol plaques, reduce the risk of blood clots and normalize blood pressure, helping cells cope with pathogens.
Benefits of green bell peppers
Sweet green pepper perfectly strengthens the body, promotes recovery from chronic fatigue, prevents inflammation of nerve cells and reduces the risk of developing, especially in the mammary glands. It is useful for fragile blood vessels, blood diseases and bleeding gums. Raw green pepper is indispensable when dieting, as it is an ideal digestive aid. Heat treatment is undesirable - the pepper will be very bitter.
Beneficial properties of yellow bell pepper
Sunny-colored peppers contain large quantities of carotenoids that improve vision. It is richer in potassium than its other counterparts, so it is recommended in old age and for problems with the heart, and in phosphorus, which is important for the musculoskeletal system and kidneys. Yellow pepper is also recommended for significant mental stress - it helps improve memory and concentration, and successfully overcomes depression and insomnia.
The benefits and harms of red bell pepper
Red peppers are champions of vitamins A and C, so they are useful for any problems with visual acuity and reduced immunity. They are also recommended for the prevention of cancer tumors - due to the record amount of antioxidant lycopene, which gives such a bright color. Lycopene also prevents premature aging of body cells.
The benefits and harms of red bell pepper are incomparable, but it should still be used with caution if you have allergies and stomach problems - pepper contains a lot of the alkaloid capsaicin, which gives a spicy, specific taste and irritates the mucous membranes.
Benefits of bell pepper for women
Thanks to vitamin A and calcium, bell pepper strengthens vision, prevents splitting nails, peeling skin and hair loss. The fleshy vegetable is also used in cosmetology - it is used in the manufacture of:
- cosmetic masks - whitening, smoothing, toning and saturating the facial skin with vitamins;
- tonics that perfectly moisturize the skin.
What else is bell pepper good for women? It is very advisable to eat it during periods of special stress on the skeletal system - pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it is better to eat it raw or use vegetable juice.
When wondering what benefits bell pepper has for the body, one cannot help but mention its benefits for weight loss. The vegetable belongs to the food group C - this means that it will take more energy to digest it than will be released from the calories that enter the body. The high fiber content helps stimulate intestinal motility and “accelerates” the metabolism, that is, everything that is deposited on the sides will dissolve and come out much faster.
Benefits of bell pepper: natural treatment
The health benefits of bell pepper are inexhaustible: for example, an ointment or patch with it successfully copes with radiculitis, neuralgia and arthritis. The aromatic oils in pepper cause the production of natural endorphins, which balance out when overexcited or depressed.
Freshly squeezed juice from fully ripened peppers is a rich source of valuable substances - mineral salts and organic acids. Drink half a glass of it before meals, you can add honey. This useful and natural medicine helps to successfully cope with ARVI, vitamin deficiencies, anemia, bronchitis, arthritis, atherosclerosis, hypotension, diathesis, gout, and stimulates hair and nail growth. In the treatment of diabetes, the juice of unripe fruits is used, which normalizes blood sugar levels. It is also effective for stomatitis or periodontal disease.
Harm and contraindications of bell pepper
Unfortunately, sometimes the beneficial properties of bell pepper cannot be fully used due to contraindications, which include:
- Individual intolerance and allergic reactions - rashes and itching. They are caused by essential oils and vitamins contained in pepper. Particular care should be taken when giving the product, especially yellow and red colors, to children.
- Hypertension, arrhythmia, angina pectoris - due to blood thinning when consumed. Before use, consultation with a physician is mandatory.
- Ulcers and gastritis with high acidity - due to the increased content of coarse plant fiber, phytoncides and capsaicin, which irritate the gastric walls. For these diseases, pepper can be consumed after heat treatment.
- Epilepsy, increased excitability, insomnia, mental disorders, hemorrhoids, kidney and liver diseases in a state of exacerbation.
- The use of chemicals during cultivation and soil contamination leads to a significant accumulation of pesticides in peppers - such a vegetable cannot be eaten. Eating pepper exclusively during the season will reduce the risk, and you need to buy it not in the supermarket, but in the market, from trusted manufacturers. Choose a firm, smooth pepper; its freshness will be confirmed by its green, not dry tail.
The contraindications of bell pepper must be taken seriously - despite its beneficial properties, in these cases it can be harmful to health.
In addition, bell peppers are unintentionally harmful to those who include them in their diet when trying to lose weight due to their appetite-stimulating properties. It has also been found that cooking vegetables causes the release of substances that increase the risk of caries.
A balanced assessment of the benefits and harms of bell peppers and careful selection of an environmentally friendly vegetable when purchasing will help you consume it consciously, without fear of unpleasant consequences and enjoying the taste and beneficial effects on the body.
