Bell Pepper (Pair, Red, Yellow)

Description

Description:    Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) are fruits that belong to the nightshade family. Hey, are related to chili peppers, tomatoes, and breadfruit, all of which are native to Central and South America. Also called sweet peppers or capsicums, bell peppers can be eaten either raw or cooked. Like most whole plant foods, bell peppers are considered a healthy food. High consumption of fruits and vegetables has been linked to a reduced risk of many chronic illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease. In addition, bell peppers may have a number of other health benefits.

Benefits: 

• Eye health –
• The most common types of visual impairments include macular degeneration and cataracts, the main causes of which are aging and infections (13Trusted Source).
  Lutein and zeaxanthin — carotenoids found in relatively high amounts in bell peppers — may improve eye health when consumed in adequate amounts (9Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).
  In fact, they protect your retina — the light-sensitive inner wall of your eye — from oxidative damage (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

• Anemia prevention
• Anemia is a common condition characterized by a reduced ability of your blood to carry oxygen.
  One of the most common causes of anemia is iron deficiency, the main symptoms of which are weakness and tiredness.
  Not only are red bell peppers a decent source of iron, they are also exceptionally rich in vitamin C, which increases the absorption of iron from your gut (24Trusted Source).
  In fact, one medium-sized red bell pepper may contain 169% of the RDI for vitamin C (1Trusted Source).
  Dietary iron absorption increases significantly when you consume fruits or vegetables high in vitamin C (25Trusted Source).
  For this reason, eating raw bell peppers alongside iron-rich foods — such as meat or spinach — may help increase your body’s iron stores, cutting your risk of anemia.