You may be like me...previously, when I see bell peppers I ignore them. After some encouragement and even persuasion, I tried them and found them to be tasty. So now, I'm preaching the gospel of the "colour your meal". Considering how much I like colour in my life, I've started serving them to others and the word is spreading.
It was interesting to note that they start out green and end up red...isn't that how it is for us in life? We start off toally inexperienced and naive and end up full-blooded* and hopefully totally immersed in Christ and what He did for us.
They have similar and yet different health benefits depending on their colour - likewise, it's God plan that we are beneficial to our world and ourselves at every stage in life.
It was interesting to note that they start out green and end up red...isn't that how it is for us in life? We start off toally inexperienced and naive and end up full-blooded* and hopefully totally immersed in Christ and what He did for us.They have similar and yet different health benefits depending on their colour - likewise, it's God plan that we are beneficial to our world and ourselves at every stage in life.
While green, they contain twice as much vitamin C as an a orange - I found that to be a rather interesting fact. Infact, "it is a powerful antioxidant and it boosts the immune system, and prevents a number of common diseases, from arthritis to cardiovascular disease. The Vitamin A content is also an enabler of strong vision and lung health. Green bell peppers are also good sources of vitamin B6, which assists in a number of bodily functions, from metabolism, to immune and nervous system health."** It is not as sweet or juicy as the yellow, orange or red bell peppers but whoever said all or only sweet things are good for you?
To add to the nutritional value of green bell peppers, one cup of this raw vegetable supplies seven percent of the daily requirement of fiber, which assists in cleansing the body of toxins, as well as a respectable amount of manganese, potassium, thiamine, vitamin E, tryptophan, and copper.**
Yellow, Orange & Red bell peppers are both juicy and sweet - they also contain 3-4 times the quantity of vitamin C in an orange...but don't stop buying oranges. This just so you know you have options when you go to the store and they are out of oranges.
For calorie-counters, orange bell peppers contain less than half the calories of an orange - that's good to know!
"Regardless of their exterior, all bell peppers share a healthy dose of fiber, a hallmark of their characteristic crunch, which helps lower cholesterol and ward off colon cancer. They also offer a wealth of vitamin B6 and folic acid, thought to protect blood vessels from damage. Plentiful A and C vitamins boost immunity and guard against a range of ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and so on."***
I looked but didn't find much more about purple bell peppers than had already been shared above. If you find anything, please kindly share ...remember, there is joy in sharing. Ok let's go on...
"With slight differences in flavor, all of the bell peppers are wonderful served together. In one vegetable variety, they offer a full spectrum of colors, and a concentrated nutritional value that should become a staple of your own personal cuisine."**
Getting colour and health in one meal a great deal - what do you think?
Sources:
*full-blooded means "thoroughbred: of unmixed breed; vigorous: healthily vigorous or forceful" (source: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3&search=full%2dblooded)
***http://www.thefoodpaper.com/features/health/bell_pepper.html
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