THIS Is The Colour Bell Pepper To Eat If You Want Maximum Immune Support |
We’re currently right in the middle of peak flu season, which means immune support is top of mind for pretty much everyone.
Staying on top of your vaccines is key to protecting your health. So are the hygiene basics we’ve been taught since school, like covering your mouth when you sneeze and washing your hands frequently.
Diet plays a role in immune support, too, and maybe you’ve been downing orange juice like it’s your job in an effort to avoid getting sick. While oranges are a good source of vitamin C, bell peppers have even more, making them a worthwhile veggie to incorporate into your meals.
While all bell peppers offer nutritional benefits, what they offer varies slightly depending on colour.
We talked to registered dietitians about how bell peppers’ benefits vary by colour. Curious as to which one you should go for to support your health goals, including immune support? Here’s everything you need to know.
How the nutritional benefits of bell peppers vary based on their colour
When comparing the nutritional benefits of the different colours of bell peppers, it’s helpful to know why their colours vary to begin with.
Ginger Hultin, a registered dietitian nutritionist who has a doctorate in clinical nutrition and is the author of Anti-Inflammatory Plant-Based Eating 101, told HuffPost that a bell pepper’s hue has to do with how ripe it is.
“Bell peppers change colour as they ripen on the vine, with green peppers being the least ripe and red peppers being the most mature,” Hultin said.
She explained that green bell peppers are high in chlorophyll, a pigment that gives them their green colour. “As the peppers mature on the vine, the chlorophyll breaks down, and more carotenoids [a type of antioxidant] are produced, accounting for the change in colour and nutrient profile,” she said.
Hultin added that, unlike bananas, bell peppers are non-climacteric fruits and don’t ripen after they’ve been........