Bell Pepper Health Benefits

Bell peppers contain very high amounts of vitamin C and Vitamin A. One cup of raw, red bell peppers supplies roughly 290 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C and 105 percent of the RDA for vitamin A. Bell peppers also contain significant amounts of vitamin B 6 and dietary fiber.

Bell peppers are a great, low calorie snack. One red bell pepper contains only 30 to 40 calories and has a satisfying crunchy bite. The fiber that bell peppers contain will help you to feel full with very few calories. Keep slices of bell peppers in the refrigerator, so you’ll always have something healthy to reach for when you’re having a snack attack.

Bell peppers are a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are free radical scavengers that help to keep the body in tip-top shape. Not only are bell peppers high in the antioxidant vitamins C and A, they are also a good source of lycopene. Consuming foods with lycopene has been shown to lower the risk of prostate, bladder, cervical and pancreatic cancers.

Red bell peppers contain lutein, a phytonutrient that has been proven to have a protective benefit against macular degeneration.