FOOD OF THE DAY: BELL PEPPER

They come in many different shades: Green, Red, Yellow, Orange, Purple, and White. They can be sweet or savory in taste but all are extremely nutritious. No matter the color bell peppers are a great source of vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin A.
If you have to pick only one of these babies to love then the red bell pepper seems to rise to the top out of the varietals. On average one cup of red raw bell pepper has 200% of you daily vitamin C and 100% of vitamin A. It is also a good source of B6, dietary fiber, molybdenum, thiamin, niacin, vitamin K, magnesium, folate, potassium, B1, Vitamin E, tryptophan, and copper.

Are you worried about atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, these peppers contain vitamin B6 and folic acid. These two B vitamins are very important for reducing high levels of homocysteine. High homocysteine levels have been shown to cause damage to blood vessels and are associated with a greatly increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition to providing the vitamins that convert homocysteine into other beneficial molecules, bell peppers also provide fiber that can help lower high cholesterol levels, another risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Are you or a loved one a smoker or frequently subjected to second hand smoke? Research shows foods high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Bs, and Vitamin E are excellent choices to repair lung and other diseases caused by free radical damage. I have a family member that is currently struggling with Renal damage and Bell Peppers are also #1 of the list of foods that support kidney health.

Bell peppers are one of the easiest things to throw into a salad or sauce to add flavor without a lot of calories. Looking for something sweet that won’t spike your blood sugar then definitely consider the Red, Orange, and Yellow variety. Or try my super simple red bell pepper hummus.

?Red Hummus

1 Cup cooked chickpeas
2 tablespoon tahini (ground sesame seeds)
2-3 tablespoon lemon juice
2-3 cloves garlic
1 ½ red bell pepper *
1-2 teaspoon cumin (optional)
1-2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt to taste

This recipes couldn’t be faster or easier: Place all contents into a food processor and blend! Viola!

• Bell Pepper can be raw (most nutritious) or roasted

Bon Appetit and Happy Valentine’s Day!