LET THOSE PEPPERS RIPEN

 Let peppers ripen to get the most from them. The vitamin C levels, antioxidant levels, as well as the carotenoids levels rise as peppers mature. Carotenoids are the beneficial red, yellow and orange pigments that include beta-carotene, lycopene, etc. How to know when a pepper is fully ripe? A pepper that is fully ripe will have deep color, feel heavy for its size, and feel nearly firm to the touch.

VITAMINS IN PEPPERS

Scientist and nutrionists have found that all peppers, whether the hot ones or the sweet ones, contain good levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene which is related to vitamin A.  That is good news since these are known as "healing" vitamins!  But the levels of vitamins in these peppers do vary.  Keep the following tidbits in mind regarding peppers:

1. Peppers allowed to mature from green to red have twice as much vitamin C as when they were green, ie - red sweet bell peppers have 11 times the amount of beta carotene of green bell peppers.  Hot red peppers have even more beta carotene than sweet peppers or hot green peppers. Red Peppers are at the top of the list of vitamin C foods.
2. Peppers are so easy to add to your diet.  In addition to just eating them raw, they make perfect additions to soups, salads, dips, sandwiches, etc.  There is an unbelievable health benefit just in the addition of a few peppers added to your foods.

 

ADD RED BELL PEPPER TO SCRAMBLED EGGS

 Did you know you can get a full day's worth of Vit-C just by tossing a half cup of chopped red bell pepper into your scrambled eggs?  Not only are you getting a good dose of vitamin C, you're also getting a vegetable serving early in the day and adding flavor to your scrambled eggs!

Note it didn't say how many eggs you add that to. No matter, it is still a good idea to add the red bell pepper to your scrambled eggs!