Whether you're sautéing them to throw in a stir fry, using them to accompany your favourite dips, or sprinkling them in a salad, bell peppers are a delicious part of many different types of meals. Thankfully, along with this vegetable being convenient and delicious, they come with numerous health benefits.
So, what health benefits do these colourful vegetables provide? Here are six good reasons to eat more:
Fights Free Radicals: Bell peppers contain a natural pigment called lycopene and the red variety is by far the richest in lycopene. According to a report published in Nutrients, lycopene is one of a few different plant pigments that has been found to help fight free radicals in the body. That's important because free radicals are compounds that can cause damage to your body's cells, which creates oxidative stress that can lead to disease. This report states that lycopene helps keep free radicals at bay, and therefore may be able to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues.
Eye Health: Yellow and orange bell peppers contain two natural pigments called zeaxanthin and lutein, which are also classified as carotenoids. These carotenoids have been found to benefit your health in numerous ways. For instance, according to a report published in Nutrients, these naturally occurring pigments can help your eye health - to protect against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Vitamin C: Bell peppers are loaded with vitamin C. In fact, bell peppers actually have more vitamin C than oranges! Something that many people don't know about vitamin C is that aside from its health benefits like building immunity and managing high blood pressure, it has actually been proven to help cognitive function as we age.
Immunity Booster: Taking care of your immunity is an essential part of keeping your body healthy. Bell peppers contain a solid amount of vitamin A, which is known to help with our immune system strength.
Mood Booster: Red bell peppers contain over 35 percent of your daily value of vitamin B6, a vitamin known to improve mood and reduce the risk of depression.
Reduces Blood Pressure: Bell peppers contain a natural color pigment called quercetin. This pigment is part of a group of flavonoids, and it acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body. Quercetin has been linked to many different health benefits, including anti-inflammation, fighting cancer cells, reducing the risk of heart disease, and lowering blood pressure.