18 unbelievable facts about bell peppers and why every farmer should grow them.

1. Bell pepper, also known as sweet pepper, is one of the most commonly used chili peppers in the Capsicum annuum family and is native to Mexico and northern Latin America. These are scientifically known as Capsicum annuum. The Pepper seeds were later carried to Spain in 1493 and from there they spread to other European and Asian countries.

2. Though most people consider them vegetables, peppers are fruits because they grow on a flowering plant and they contain seeds.

3. Red bell peppers are sweeter than green ones because bell peppers sweeten as they ripen. The red bells are actually green bell peppers that have been left on the vine to continue to ripen. The red ones also have more than twice the vitamin C of green bells, but the green pepper produces the strongest good smell when cooking.

4. Loaded with essential minerals, vitamins and other nutrients, bell peppers have remarkable health benefits. The bell-shaped fruits are low in calories and high in water content. Their cholesterol free feature make them more attractive to fitness conscious people.

5. Bell peppers are different colored due to their native varieties and the stage in which they are picked. Some varieties turn from Green to Red, others turn from Green to Orange, and still others change from Green to Yellow. By being prematurely picked, Green Bell Peppers do not receive all the natural sugars that a Pepper would normally get from the ripening process. This is why Green Bell Peppers have a more bitter taste compared to Red, Orange, or Yellow Bell Peppers – they are picked before they can start to get sweet!

6. Bell pepper have many different names. In the US, India, Canada, and Malaysia, they’re called bell peppers. In Australia and New Zealand and most western African countries they’re called Capsicum. The British and most Southern African countries simply call them pepper, while the Japanese call them papurika. In Ohio, Indiana and other parts of United States, bell peppers are sometimes referred to as mangoes.

7. A bell pepper has the highest levels of Vitamin C of any produce item. A large red pepper provides more than 300% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C and has three times more Vitamin C than an orange. Why does no one talk about this? You hear about oranges and Vitamin C all the time, but never peppers! Vitamin C is an antioxidant that you need for a healthy immune system among other major benefits. The nutritional value of bell peppers varies by color, which includes its vitamin C content. A green bell pepper will have around 95 mg of the vitamin, while an orange only has about 70 mg. A red bell pepper will provide you with over 150 mg of the nutrient.

8. Bell pepper consists of higher amount of Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids which may improve eye health considerably when consumed in sufficient amounts. In fact, they protect the human retina, the light-sensitive inner wall of the eye, from oxidative damage. Research indicates that regular consumption of foods rich in these carotenoids help to cut the risk of both cataracts and macular degeneration. Therefore including bell peppers to your regular diet may be an excellent way to lower the risk of visual impairments.

9. The delicious green bell pepper has surprising benefits to hair, skin, and health. This is a powerful antioxidant that is rich in vitamin A, B, and C that balance the effects of destructive free radicals in our body and maintains the body health. The presence of phytonutrients in the green capsicum relives the breathing trouble to the asthma patients. Due to the presence of vitamin C, it restricts the cardiovascular risks and helps to the good heart pumps.

10. The green capsicum is much helpful to cure certain skin infections such as athlete’s foot, and herpes zoster which is also known as shingles because of its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Green pepper cures rashes, acne, blemishes and many other skin infections with its phytonutrients. Consuming green pepper juice regularly is useful to fight against aging and it keeps the skin healthy.

11. Red peppers have more than 200% of Vitamin C in regular consumption. Additionally, this helps for the iron absorption properly. Red capsicum prevents you from anemia due to the presence of vitamin B6, and folate. The vitamin A content of red pepper helps for the good eyesight especially in night vision. Because of the combined effects of vitamin A and Vitamin C with lycopene, it fights against lungs and prostate cancer.

12. The combination of vitamins, folates and essential nutrients in the yellow bell pepper has numerous health benefits. It acts as an anti-cancer agent with the rich consumption of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients. It also helps to the prevention of esophageal and gastric cancer with its enzymes. Green capsicum helps to lower cholesterol. Whereas yellow capsicum are lycopene-rich that fight against the heart from cardiac arrest. It maintains the immune system of the body and builds the strong collagen that supports the skin and joints. The vitamin K in the yellow bell pepper helps in the formation and circulations of red blood cells. Regular intake of yellow capsicum cures iron deficiency diseases. This stimulates the hair growth and strengthens the follicles.

13. Packages of 3 bell peppers, that is green, yellow and red are sometimes sold as “Traffic Light Peppers”.

14. All colors of the bell pepper will provide you with a high concentration of vitamin A, but the red bell pepper will give you the highest of them all. A 100-gram serving will provide you with a little more than 100 percent of your recommended daily intake. As with vitamin C, the red pepper will provide you with a higher concentration of vitamin A; however, all bell peppers are excellent sources of it regardless of color.

15. The cost of the bell pepper is also tied to the amount of time and resources involved in caring for pepper plants. Because ripe bell peppers spend more time on the trees, they require more resources over the time it takes for them to mature. They cost the farmer more money to produce. The cost of growing them is passed on to the consumer.

16. China is the world’s largest producer of bell peppers, followed by Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia, and the United States.

17. The root, called nalchodoo, is used to treat asthenia of the limbs. The root has also been recorded as a decoction for treating gonorrhea in Peninsular Malaysia. Leaves are used to treat emesis, dysentery, and scabies.

18. Traditional Chinese Medicine use bell peppers as treatment for some medical conditions like poor blood circulation, indigestion, loss of appetite, swelling, frostbite and digestive issues.