Sweet Pepper
Commonly known as Bell pepper, chilli pepper, Capsicum, hot pepper, cayenne, red pepper, Tabasco paprika pepper, green pepper. These are primarily produced in the northern sides of South America.


Sweet Pepper
Origin - Peppers are native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America.
Scientific Name - Capsicum annuum
Ethnic Names - They are called paprika in some other countries.
Appearance - Bell shaped vegetable grown almost throughout the world.
The vegetable is rich in beta carotene, capsaicin and vitamins A and C and comprises of the following nutrients in it
- Carotenoids (Capsanthin, Capsorubin, Carotene and Lutein)
- Proteins, Fats, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
- Capsaicinoid Oleoresin
- Provitamins E, P, B1, B2 and B3
- Steroidal Alkaloidal Glycosides (Solanine and Solasadine)
- Scopoletin (Coumarin)
- The vegetable helps in keeping cholesterol under control.
- Regular consumption of capsicum is beneficial for those suffering from diabetes.
- Capsicum stimulates stomach secretions and improves digestion.
- Capsicum is good for those suffering from constipation.
- Capsicum can also be used for treating arthritis, sore back muscles, rheumatism or sprains and bruises.
- The vegetable has proved to control colds and fevers.

When chopped into narrow slices, this vegetable tastes great as pizza topping. Some may use this vegetable for cooking curries and can also be used as seasoning. Though it is bit hard, cannot be consumed in raw stage.
- It helps to normalize blood pressure levels.
- It controls blood Pressure and prevents cancer.
- The rich vitamin C content present in it mainly prevents Blood Clotting.
Sweet peppers are available in various colours such as green, red, yellow, orange and more rarely, white, rainbow (between stages of ripening) and purple. Green peppers are less sweet and slightly more bitter than red, yellow or orange peppers.
The taste of ripe peppers depend on the growing conditions and post-harvest storage treatment. The more sweetest is the most riped fruit. When compared to green peppers, red peppers have more vitamins and nutrients and contain the antioxidant lycopene.
The level of carotene, like lycopene, is nine times higher in red peppers. Red peppers have double the amount of vitamin C content as in green peppers. One large red bell pepper contains around 207 mg of vitamin C, which is double the content of vitamin C in an average orange.

