The juicy thick-walled fruit of the nightshade family has firmly entered almost all the cuisines of the world. The rich vitamin composition of crunchy fruits, the ability to give dishes a rich taste and aroma made pepper one of the most popular and eaten crops in the world.
What makes bell pepper special, what is its benefit and harm, is it necessary to limit its use?
Some interesting facts
There are many varieties and varieties of pepper - sweet, hot, chili, ground red, black, etc. Any of them in different countries of the world is called "piper" (pepper) or "paprika" (spice), and only in the post-Soviet space did it have its own name - Bulgarian. And this is not at all because the birthplace of this culture is Bulgaria, just in Soviet times, the main import of vegetables came from Bulgaria, where peppers were grown on an industrial scale and harvested huge crops. And the birthplace of the vegetable is America, where even now its many varieties grow freely even in the wild.
Scientists classify the hollow fruits of the plant as "false berry." Breeders from different countries have tried to develop many hybrid varieties of all kinds of colors, shapes and different taste characteristics, but the main thing is that any of the bell peppers has unique beneficial properties, it is a real storehouse of rare vitamins.
Composition of bell pepper - vitamins and minerals
The chemical composition of the fruit is rich and diverse:
• vitamins A, C, P, PP, group B, beta-carotene;
• minerals: potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, chlorine, iron, fluorine, zinc, iodine.
In addition, bell pepper is a source of coarse fiber, proteins, healthy carbohydrates, and all this with a calorie content of only 28 kcal / 100 g of juicy, crisp pulp! Fiber cleanses the intestines from toxins and contributes to weight loss, therefore, the use of bell pepper is very useful for those who are on a diet, and in any form - raw, in salads, stewed, boiled or baked liver.
Benefits for the body
First of all, it is worth noting the high content of vitamin C - among vegetables, bell pepper is deservedly considered the leader in its quantity and is worthy of competition with blackcurrant and rosehip. Especially a lot of ascorbic acid is concentrated in the stalk and seed box, so you need to try not to damage the flesh, cleaning the fruits from seeds. Thanks to vitamin C and a rather rare vitamin P, which contributes to a more complete absorption of ascorbic acid, bell pepper has a powerful antioxidant effect. Vitamin P has a beneficial effect on the state of blood vessels, making the walls flexible, and C cleans cholesterol plaques, thereby improving blood supply to the brain.
Daily use of one large bell pepper will provide a daily intake of vitamin C and reduce the risk of stroke.
Antioxidants help cleanse the blood of cholesterol, regenerate cells, thin the blood, normalize blood pressure, and reduce the risk of blood clots.
Pepper, as a spice, is characterized by a peculiar sharp taste, which provides the alkaloid capsaicin. In pure form, this substance has a very burning taste. There is not much of it in sweet bell pepper, but even this amount is enough to improve digestion, stimulate the stomach and the entire digestive system. Phytoncides and alkaloids contained in the vegetable contribute to the enhanced production of enzymes in the gastric juice and pancreas.
According to Italian scientists, thanks to recent studies in sweet pepper found lycopene in high concentration, actively fighting cancer cells. Their content is especially high in green bell pepper, which is useful for women - antitumor substances destroy any cancer cells, but they are especially active in relation to neoplasms in the mammary glands. Chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids in pepper also contribute to the neutralization of carcinogens in the human body.
Another useful substance contained in the pulp of green peppers is flavonoid luteolin. This rare antioxidant serves as an excellent prevention of neuralgia - inflammation of nerve cells and endings.
Like all nightshade crops, bell pepper contains nicotine, which has a beneficial effect on the production of dopamine in the brain. Therefore, bell peppers must be included in the diet of people with Parkinson's disease.
Carotene and vitamin A have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, nails, hair, and are also useful for maintaining visual acuity. You can make fresh squeezed juice rich in vitamins from sweet pepper if you have no stomach problems.
To whom it is harmful to use bell pepper
Bell pepper, like almost all products, has contraindications for use, and in some chronic diseases it can harm the body.
First of all, these are diseases of the digestive system: gastritis with high acidity, stomach and duodenal ulcers, chronic pathological diseases of the liver, kidneys, pancreatitis, especially in the acute stage. The harm of bell pepper is due to the fact that it is able to activate the digestive system, stomach and pancreas (pancreas), causing them to work with an even greater load, which, of course, is undesirable during an exacerbation of diseases. The high content of coarse fiber also adversely affects inflamed organs, further provoking bouts of pain and exacerbation.
How to choose, eat and preserve a wholesome fruit
Paprika with proper storage can be eaten year-round, replenishing the body with useful vitamins. When choosing fruits, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the walls, the absence of spots, damage and good turgor - only such pepper will retain all the beneficial properties and vitamins.
You can store the fruits from 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment, and for the winter it is best to freeze. After defrosting, all nutrients and vitamins are preserved most fully.
It is most useful to consume fresh bell peppers freshly - as slices with other vegetables, in salads, for preparing vegetable purees or raw soups in a blender. During heat treatment, vitamin C is completely destroyed, but other beneficial substances are preserved. Dishes prepared with the addition of a large amount of sweet pepper acquire a unique, bright taste and aroma. Stewed vegetable stews, stuffed peppers, baked over an open fire, and any other dishes are best prepared with red copies, as they are much sweeter, and green fruits will give a bitterness.
Bell pepper, a healthy product rich in vitamins, must be present in the diet of people suffering from depression, diabetes, insomnia, loss of strength, memory impairment. The high content of trace elements and vitamins will help restore balance in the body.
