Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 1-27-17

Health
The bell pepper is, yes, sweet and versatile, but did you know that it also helps you fight everything from the common cold to can- cer?
The benefits go far be- yond taste — bell peppers have a ton of incredibly es- sential vitamins, antioxi- dants and minerals that will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle (and maybe even shed a few pounds).
If you’d like to reduce your risk of illness, heart disease and cancer, you should eat more bell pep- pers.
The bell pepper is a cul- tivar group of the Cap- sicum annum species of plants, part of the family of foods known as nightshade vegetables. Botanically, it’s a fruit, but nutritionally considered a vegetable.
Caution: If you find that you are allergic, be sure not to eat or cook with them.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BELL PEPPERS
1. Part of a diet designed to help you lose weight
Bell peppers are super helpful with both snacks and home-cooked meals.
At only 37 calories per serving, bell pep- pers can provide your body with a huge num- ber of nutrients while minimally impacting the
amount of calories you consume in a day.
2. Reduces risk of cancer and heart disease
Bell peppers play a role in reducing your risk of cancer and heart disease when they’re a regular part of your diet.
Bell pepper nutrition lists a large number of carotenoids, plant- based antioxidants that help reduce the dam-
age that oxidation causes on your cells. The Red Bell pepper in particular contains very high quantities of beta-carotene, alpha-
carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Eating foods high in carotenoids (especially
beta-carotene!) has been shown to help reduce the risk of cancer and significantly reduce the free radical activity in your body.
3. Supports Healthy Eyes
Bell peppers contain high levels of the antiox- idants lutein and zeax- anthin. Those two antioxidants are must- haves when it comes to
keeping your eyes healthy! Green bell peppers have over half a milligram of lutein and zeax- anthin, which makes it one of the best natural sources of these antioxidants!
4. Improves Immunity
Bell pepper nutrition contains more than one sickness-fighting power punch!
In general, bell peppers are one food that can help reduce inflammation in your body, which is actu- ally at the root of most diseases.
5. Helps you maintain good mental health
The good vitamins in bell pepper nutrition are also beneficial in maintaining prime cog- nitive health. It’s why bell peppers are consider
one of the best brain foods. One such benefit of bell peppers is the high
presence of vitamin B6, which increases the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, some- times referred to as the “happy hormones.”
6. Keeps your skin glowing and healthy
Not only is a large amount of vitamin C good for your immune system, but it’s also great for your skin! This, along with the carotenoids found in bell peppers, improves the health of your skin and promotes collagen production.
People with high levels of Vitamin C have skin that is less dry and wrinkled, and they also are at a lower risk of developing skin cancer.
7. Promotes a healthy pregnancy
Bell peppers contain 14 percent of the daily recom- mended amount of folate, a vital nutrient for pregnant mothers. In fact, the daily recommendation for folate goes up approximately an additional 50 percent in pregnant women because of its role in preventing birth
defects and keeping unborn children healthy.
It’s No Shade In This
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B