How to Pick a Pepper

Whatever their color, delicious bell peppers are brimming with age-fighting antioxidants. But which bell has the most -- red, orange, yellow, or green?

Yahoo health had this to say: "If you're going to pick just one, you might be better off red. A study recently showed that reds were the bell of the ball when it came to disease-fighting phenol content. Phenol Defenders, and MorePhenols aren't the only feather in a red bell pepper's cap. According to another study, red bells are also highest in vitamin C -- that mighty antioxidant that helps keep your skin and blood vessels young."

Discover how the vitamin C in red and yellow peppers may help save lives

More Health Benefits of Peppers Include:

1. Protection Against Free Radicals: Peppers are excellent sources of vitamin C and vitamin A (through its concentration of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), two very powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants work together to effectively neutralize free radicals, which can travel through the body causing huge amounts of damage to cells, leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease, the nerve and blood vessel damage seen in diabetes, the cloudy lenses of cataracts, the joint pain and damage seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the wheezing and airway tightening of asthma.

2.Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: For atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, peppers contain vitamin B6 and folic acid. Bell peppers also provide fiber that can help lower high cholesterol levels, another risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

3. Better Eyesight: Bell peppers appear to have a protective effect against cataracts, possibly due to their vitamin C and beta-carotene content. Italian researchers compared the diets of hospital patients who had removed cataracts with patients who had not undergone the operation. Certain vegetables, including sweet peppers, reduced the cataract operation risk. The red variety of bell peppers also supply the phytonutrients lutein and zeaxanthin, which have been found to protect against macular degeneration, the main cause of blindness in the elderly.

Read more details on the World's Healthiest Foods Website, and remember, even if you choose the red pepper, to keep a rainbow of colors on your plate for optimum health and balance!

Posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.