Bulgarian, or sweet, pepper is a common vegetable that has become an integral part of any menu. Whether it is vegetable stew, salad or regular slices, it is difficult to do without it. A barbecue in nature with pepper - it's just a mercy. Everything else is added the beneficial properties of this bright vegetable. A low calorie sweet pepper allows you to eat it for those who are on a diet.
A bit of history
Have you ever wondered why sweet peppers are called Bulgarian? “He must be from Bulgaria,” the majority will answer. But this is not so. Sweet pepper got its distribution from South America. It is called “Bulgarian” only in Russia, in the rest of the world this vegetable is called “paprika”. But it has an indirect relation to Bulgaria. Because it was the breeders of this country who were able to produce sweet peppers with large fruits. And even in the days of the Soviet Union, the flow of supplies of this product came from Bulgaria, which is why in our country the vegetable is called "Bulgarian".
Now plunge into the story. Paprika was brought to Europe by none other than Christopher Columbus himself. He first tried this vegetable in Haiti as early as the 15th century and brought only a few fruits to Europe. But they turned out to be so juicy and tasty that all Europeans liked it. Paprika replaced spices, which at that time were an expensive pleasure. Then she gained worldwide fame. Pepper was brought to Russia in the 17th century.
Multicolored sweet peppers
There are a lot of varieties and types of bell pepper , but we will not analyze them all. Usually paprika is divided by color. And despite the fact that they are all identical in chemical composition, still color plays a role.
Red bell pepper owes such a bright color to the substance lycopene. This is a powerful antioxidant that is able to protect cells from toxins. A lot of red pepper and fiber, which removes all the harmful substances in the body. The content of beta-carotene in red pepper is several times higher than in green and yellow. Calorie sweet red pepper is 27 kcal.
In yellow pepper, lycopene is absent, so the color of the vegetable is just that. But ascorbic acid is much more than in red pepper. In yellow, there is simply a huge concentration of B vitamins that protect blood vessels from premature aging. Calorie sweet yellow pepper is also equal to 27 kcal.
Green pepper is rich in phytosterol. This substance is able to simply accelerate the metabolism, contributing to weight loss. By the way, green bell pepper, the calorie content per 100 grams of which is only 20 kcal, is the most popular among losing weight.
Composition
All the benefits of sweet pepper, of course, lies in its composition. And he's just magical. First of all, sweet pepper, the caloric content of 100 of which is 27 kcal, is considered the record holder for vitamin C. Surprised? And we all are lemons and blackcurrants. But no. This is where the storehouse of ascorbine is. In addition to vitamin C, pepper also contains other very useful and important vitamins, micro and macro elements. Here we offer a look at the list.
Vitamins:
- Beta Carotene (Vitamin A).
- Absolutely all B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic and folic acid).
- Vitamin E.
- Vitamin K.
- Biotin.
- Flavonoids.
Micro and macro elements:
- Iron.
- Manganese.
- Copper.
- Iodine.
- Zinc.
- Fluorine.
- Potassium.
- Calcium.
- Magnesium.
- Sodium.
- Phosphorus.
- Chlorine.
And with all this rich composition, the calorie content of sweet pepper cannot but rejoice. For those who want to lose weight, this vegetable is just a godsend. The calorie content of sweet fresh pepper is approximately 27 kcal per 100 grams.
Beneficial features
All its useful properties sweet pepper owes its rich composition. Just looking at him, you can understand that in paprika is almost half the table of Mendeleev, and this cannot but rejoice. First of all, due to its rich vitamin and mineral composition, sweet pepper is able to protect the body from colds and increase immunity. Regular use of paprika also normalizes the functioning of the nervous system, you will notice that it has become easier to deal with nervous strain and stress, and insomnia will no longer bother you. It is believed that sweet pepper is a vegetable for beauty, because by using it, you will improve the condition of your hair, nails and skin.
Another important thing is that sweet pepper has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. For example, vitamin P, which is part of paprika, strengthens the walls of capillaries and makes them more elastic. And potassium and magnesium eliminate inflammation, reduce the risk of heart attack and stabilize blood cholesterol. If you suffer from iron deficiency anemia, then you simply need to use this product, as it contains a large amount of iron. By the way, sweet peppers, which are low in calories, can replace chocolate with sweet tooth. Since it is also capable of provoking the release of the “hormone of happiness” - endorphin. Why eat high-calorie chocolate when you can crunch sweet pepper?
Sweet pepper in cooking
Bell pepper is very widely used in cooking of different cuisines of the world. They pickle it, fry it, boil it, salt it, preserve it, and stuff it, which they don’t do with it. But still it is preferable to use it fresh, for example in a salad. There are a lot of recipes for dishes, sauces with paprika. A low calorie sweet pepper made it the basis in the menu of proper nutrition.
How to pick and store bell peppers?
Unfortunately, today there are a lot of goods and products simply stuffed with pesticides. And in order not to run into such a fruit and get the maximum of useful properties from bell pepper, you need to know how to choose it. The rules for choosing this vegetable are not very different from choosing other vegetables. That is, first of all, the fetus must be clean, high-quality and resilient.
The surface of the pepper should be smooth and not have any damage. In addition, the color of the fruit should be uniform. If there are green spots on the surface, this indicates that the pepper is not ripe. Of course, you can buy it, such a fruit will quickly ripen at home, but nothing will remain of its “juiciness”. Also, the color should be bright. The dull shade of the vegetable indicates that it was either stored incorrectly or the cultivation conditions were not respected. In general, the surface of the paprika should be perfect and dry, without dots and without plaque.
As for the tail, choose a fruit with green. Dry says that the vegetable has long been stored on the counter. Also, you should be alerted by the complete absence of the stalk. Apparently, an unscrupulous seller wants to hide the fact that the vegetable has already been stored for a very long time. And you should be alerted by the very beautiful, large and juicy fruit of pepper. Apparently, he was stuffed with chemicals. In general, feel free to carefully inspect each pepper.
Keep sweet pepper in the refrigerator in the open for about a month. Sweet pepper can also be frozen for a long time, a thawed product does not lose its beneficial properties.
Hidden harm and contraindications
Despite such excellent properties of paprika, scientists still found flaws in it. Sweet pepper is one of the few products that can accumulate pesticides, nitrates and pesticides. That is, that vegetable, which was grown in greenhouse conditions and which suffered from a lack of sunlight and oxygen, simply cannot be useful. Therefore, try to buy pepper in checked places in winter. A chemical poisoned vegetable can be harmful.
As for contraindications, then here they are. Since sweet pepper can thin the blood, it is not recommended for people with high blood pressure. Gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis and ulcers, are also contraindications to the use of sweet pepper.
For those who are losing weight there is also a little unpleasant news: low calorie sweet pepper is not a reason to absorb it in unlimited quantities. Remember that paprika is more appetizing.
Sweet pepper in cosmetology
In cosmetology, sweet pepper takes the last place, as many believe. In fact, paprika is also used for cosmetic purposes. Moreover, we can talk about the versatility of this product. Bell pepper is suitable for absolutely any type of skin, and also copes with imperfections.
If, for example, you wipe your skin daily with a mixture of juices of pepper and carrots, you will notice how your face is transformed, the skin will be saturated with vitamins, which will give it a healthy look. A variety of face masks are prepared on the basis of bell pepper.
Conclusion
Bulgarian, or sweet, pepper today is one of the most common vegetables in the world. Probably, there is no longer a person who would not try this product. He immediately liked someone, but someone did not appreciate the sweet taste of paprika. Nevertheless, no one will argue about the benefits of the product. Bell pepper is especially useful for pregnant women, since no one so needs healthy substances like them.