Oranges get all the credit for being such a good source of vitamin C.  Sure they have a little over 100% the recommended daily value of C, but they don’t compete with Red Bell Peppers.   Red peppers have almost 300% the recommended daily value of vitamim C along with a few other fantastic nutrients.  On top of that red bell peppers are one of the most nutrient dense and versatile foods you can eat.  The good this is that when chopped up, you can throw them in many meals without even knowing they’re in there.

Why So Good?

Bell peppers have beta-carotene, which helps to reduce free radicals in your body.  Free radicals are your enemy, floating through your body causing damage to your cells.  Free radicals play a role in raised cholesterol in the arteries, nerve damage and the formation of cancer causing cells.

Red bell peppers also have lycopene, which has been proven to defend against prostate cancer.  The fiber that the peppers have can improve your colon health and also defend against colon cancer.

Red bell peppers also have vitamin A, B6, manganese, potassium and folate while only clocking in 24 calories per cup.  Talk about nutrient dense foods and red bell peppers are at the start of that conversation.

How To Eat?

Peppers can be eaten many different ways, whether it is raw, boiled, sautéed or roasted.  Cut out the middle stem and seeds before you start to cook with the peppers for best taste.

Peppers can be used in salads, with scrambled eggs or used as a bowl when making stuffed peppers.  They are a very versatile food that is good to eat because you are getting a wider array of colors in your meals when eating them.  A good rule of thumb is to get as much color as possible when it comes for fruits and vegetables.