Regardless of how you feel about peppers in general and bell peppers specifically, there are plenty of reasons to introduce them to your weight loss regimen.
These peppers are more than colorful, colorful and tasty; they are also packed with nutrients that provide you with many health benefits. Keep reading to find out what it is about bell pepper nutrition facts that has the whole world falling in love.
About Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are vegetables with a shiny, waxy outer skin that come in a wide variety of colors. Although the most common bell pepper is the green bell pepper, bell peppers can be found in orange, red, yellow, purple, brown and even black.
These bright colors are part of why bell pepper nutrition facts are so compelling for dieters.
When looking at bell pepper nutrition facts one thing stands out clearly—they are packed with vitamins A and C, with significant amounts of folate and vitamin B6. These vitamins provide tremendous health benefits for both fat burning and overall good health.
Bell peppers are quite low in calories, with as few as 24 calories per medium green bell pepper and as many as 50 in a large yellow bell pepper. Unless you plan to eat bell peppers like candy, calorie count should not be an issue. What is also good about bell pepper nutrition facts is that there’s virtually no fat, no sodium or cholesterol.
Bell peppers are considered a fat burning food because with 10% fiber, your body will have to work harder to digest it. Although bell peppers do not contain a significant quantity of protein, that shouldn’t persuade you against taking advantage of the health benefits of bell peppers.
Health Benefits of Bell Peppers
The health benefits of bell peppers start with vitamins A & C, which are responsible for the antioxidant fighting beta-carotene that gives peppers their awesome hues. By fighting these antioxidants, bell peppers can reduce swelling in the arteries that lead to heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol build up.
The folate and vitamin B6 contained in bell peppers also help fight against heart disease, while the fiber in bell peppers help reduce high cholesterol and stave off strokes and heart attacks. This is important especially for those of us looking for fat burning foods, as excess fat contributes to these diseases.
Get the most of bell pepper health benefits by purchasing organic peppers and eating them as fresh as possible. Pesticides can mask the flavor in bell peppers, which may affect how you view the taste.
Bell peppers also contain 110 grams of water, another essential for fat burning success!
Now, let’s explore some anutritious way to add bell peppers to your diet to improve fat burning.
Italian Stuffed Peppers
Serves 6
6 large sweet red peppers
1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
1 1/2 cups shredded low-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cups chopped onions
3/4 cups frozen peas
3/4 cups shredded nonfat mozzarella cheese
1/3 cups and 1/4 tablespoons low-fat ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons frozen defatted chicken stock, thawed
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Prep Day: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Slice the tops off the peppers and set aside. Remove the seeds and membranes. Place the peppers, cut side up, in a 8″ x 8″ baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Cheddar, onions, peas, mozzarella, ricotta, stock, garlic, and basil. Mix well. Spoon into the peppers. Top with the Parmesan. Cover with the pepper tops and bake for 20 minutes, or until the peppers are soft. Remove the pepper tops and discard. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.
To Freeze: Pack the cooled cooked peppers in a single layer in a freezer-quality plastic container.
Serve Day: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Microwave on high power for 7 to 8 minutes, or until hot.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS PER SERVING
CALORIES 194.9 CAL
FAT 4.3 G
SATURATED FAT 2.2 G
SODIUM 448.6 MG
CARBOHYDRATES 22.8 G
TOTAL SUGARS 10.1 G
DIETARY FIBER 5.1 G
PROTEIN 17.5 G
Remember to be creative in your recipes to reap the most health benefits from bell peppers.
References:
*eatingwell.com
*Bell Pepper Nutrition Facts – Unusual Health Benefits of Bell Peppers article BY ROB POULOS
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