🫑Bell pepper🫑 is a variety of sweet peppers from the nightshade family. A few centuries ago, he met exclusively in southern countries. Now a cultivated vegetable is available for cultivation on every continent, therefore it is widely used in culinary business. This fruit is versatile: you can pick bell pepper from the garden and immediately prepare a salad based on it, or use it as an addition to gourmet dishes.
Сalories
27 calProteins
1.30 grFats
0 grCarbohydrates
5.30 grNutritional value per 100 g. Calories calculated for raw foods.
Glycemic index
32Common allergen
noMake sure that you do not have an individual intolerance to this product.
The first cultures of bell pepper grew in the countries of Central America more than 9 thousand years ago. Its fruits became famous for their medicinal properties and were used as a remedy for anemia, headaches and broncho-pulmonary diseases. With the dawn of agriculture, the inhabitants of Peru and Mexico began to grow fruit crops as an edible vegetable, as is known from archaeological finds. In addition, the peppery taste was able to replace salt, which was a precious commodity in the countries of the ancient world.
In the 16th century, vegetable culture, along with immigrants, came to Spain, and from there it quickly spread across the European and Asian continents. In Russia, pepper became known only in the 17th century. Bulgarian settlers introduced this vegetable into Russian cuisine, which is why the fruit got its characteristic name. But the cultivation of a new vegetable was not limited to gardeners’ gardens, but quickly grew into an industrial scale.
The chemical structure of the fruit crop is so rich that it can be used in all branches of medicine. And there is more than one confirmation of this fact.
✅ Immune support – fresh bell pepper is known as a real storehouse of vitamin C, in this regard it overtakes even citruses and currants. This element stimulates the formation of interferons – the main fighters against viruses.
✅ Cancer Protection – Vitamin C has a second important medical value. It increases the activity of natural killer cells that destroy degenerate tumor cells.
✅ Prevention of cardiovascular diseases – vitamins P and C have a protective effect on the wall of blood vessels, especially on the capillary network. Therefore, people with vascular pathologies are advised to expand their diet in favor of bell pepper.
✅ Normalization of appetite – the alkaloid capsaicin, which has extractive properties, was found in the skin of the fetus. This discovery made it possible to use pepper to stimulate appetite, as well as to stimulate the stomach in atrophic diseases.
✅ Elimination of cognitive impairment – the beneficial effect of pepper on the nervous system is far from accidental. B vitamins help nerve cells cope with stress and general fatigue, which normalizes disturbed sleep. It is noticed that the systematic use of paprika has a good effect on the normalization of memorization processes.
✅ Help with arthritis – the abundance of trace elements in pepper and its ability to stimulate blood circulation are used in rheumatological practice. Ointments and gels, the structure of which includes pepper components, help to alleviate the condition in diseases of the joints.
✅ Prevention of premature aging – the vitamin complex was taken into account by cosmetologists, who began to use paprika as an element of anti-aging masks and anti-wrinkle products.
✅ Fighting the effects of smoking – the inclusion of a vegetable in the diet helps to remove the metabolic products of tobacco smoke.
✅ Support for vision – vitamin A is able to protect the structure of visual cells from destruction. This element is necessary for the normal operation of rods and cones involved in twilight and daytime vision.
✅ Prevention of anemia – bell pepper contains a lot of active iron, which is absorbed by the body and goes to compensate for hemoglobin deficiency. It is involved in the transport of oxygen to the cells, and its deficiency is known as “anemia”.
Sometimes the love of sweet pepper can have negative consequences for the body. Most often, the cause is the abundance of active substances in its composition, which worsen existing diseases.
❌ Allergic reactions – typical for the use of bright red fruits, in the skin of which there are coloring pigments that provoke various reactions. There is no big danger in such an allergy, but some symptoms can temporarily worsen your well-being. Signs of an allergy to bell peppers include a skin rash, watery eyes, a feeling of heat, and nausea.
❌ Pesticide Poisoning – Sweet peppers are listed as vegetables that can accumulate pesticides and other chemicals. The desire of the producer to grow massive fruits and give them a marketable appearance can affect the health of consumers. Poisonous substances contribute to the appearance of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
❌ Decompensation of cardiovascular diseases – pepper fruits are contraindicated for people who suffer from hypertension, various types of arrhythmias and chronic heart failure. The fact is that the rich mineral composition of the vegetable provokes electrolyte disturbances in the heart tissue, which aggravates the prognosis of the disease.
❌ Increased stomach acidity – the ability of bell pepper to stimulate appetite is due to an increase in the secretion of gastric juice, which contains a lot of hydrochloric acid. Due to the high acidity in the stomach, ulcers and reflux disease of the esophagus often develop.
❌ Increasing frequency of epileptic seizures – Neurologists and psychiatrists have developed a ketogenic diet specifically for patients with epilepsy, which reduces the risk of developing seizures. Bulgarian pepper, which has an exciting effect on unstable foci in the cerebral cortex, was included in the number of prohibited foods.
Despite the list of contraindications, it is still possible to make this fruit safe for consumption. Being subjected to heat treatment some of the pesticides, allergens and active trace elements simply disappear. In this form, bell pepper becomes harmless both for allergy sufferers and for people with diseases of the stomach and heart.
Pepper fruits have a sweet taste with a slight hint of spiciness. The combination of juicy pulp and crispy skin makes it unique. Taste properties largely depend on the variety of the fruit crop, on the climatic region and the nature of the soil.
After heat treatment, almost all the sharpness disappears, and only a sweet note remains in the dish.
🫑Sweet peppers are great when fresh, so they are often used in salads. Raw, it is combined with fresh herbs, radishes and carrots.
🫑Cooked peppers are no less popular, for example, this vegetable became the basis for the famous “stuffed peppers”. Another option is to make lecho, adjika and other preservation from it. The vegetable gets a particularly pleasant taste after grilling with the addition of a drop of oil. In addition, it can be added to any stew or homemade soup.
🫑Dried fruit has found its use as a seasoning – paprika. Sweet paprika is used by both professional cooks and housewives to add a touch of sweetness to dishes.
When choosing vegetables for long-term storage, you should focus on fruits with an elastic stem that do not have visible damage. Such vegetables should have a bright color and a dry, glossy surface. Yellow bell peppers may have spots of green or orange tint, while green specimens may have red or yellow inclusions. A similar color indicates the incomplete ripening of the vegetable. Such peppers, although they will be stored longer, are still inferior in sweetness.
Overripe fruits are stored least of all, as evidenced by the dried stalk. A dark and flabby “tail” serves as a signal that it is desirable to eat such a vegetable as soon as possible, as the first signs of decay will soon appear.
Regardless of the degree of maturity, peppers should still be stored in the refrigerator. Slightly unripe vegetables can be stored for up to 3 months at +10°C. Fully ripe fruit should be stored in the refrigerator compartment at 1-2°C. To increase the shelf life, you can pre-pack them in plastic bags or arrange them in trays with porous paper, which will act as a sponge for excess moisture. The maximum storage time of pepper in a suitable form is no more than 3️⃣ months in a refrigerator.
If you want to have fresh peppers year-round, you can use freezing. You can freeze both whole fruits and cuts. The main rule is not to re-freeze the pepper, otherwise it will lose its flavor and benefits.