In this article we will describe the red bell pepper properties and its health benefits, as well as some side effects of consumption.
What is red bell pepper?
The red bell pepper, Capsicum annuum, is the fruit of an herbaceous plant; it is also commonly known as bell bell pepper, sweet bell pepper, chili bell pepper, aji bell pepper, sweet bell pepper, locote or in some countries paprika.
Before discussing the red bell pepper’s properties, let’s comment on some of the characteristics of the fruit.
This fruit belongs to the Solanaceae family and is considered a thick, fleshy and large variety.
Its physical characteristics stand out for its red, shiny, smooth and unblemished skin. The flesh of the fruit is firm and has a mild flavor, while its stem is green and with great rigidity.
One aspect of the red bell pepper that stands out is its state of ripeness, since it can be harvested green or ripe with its characteristic red color. It should be noted that sometimes we can find it yellow, purplish, and even black.
How is it consumed?
Red peppers can be consumed raw or roasted, and even added to stews and casseroles.
Its presentation in the market is fresh, dried and canned.
Red bell pepper properties
The properties of red bell pepper contribute to the variety of health benefits. Highlighting the red bell pepper properties we can say that the active compound of this food is capsaicin, which presents an antibiotic, analgesic and stimulant activity of the gastric mucosa and gallbladder.
Another aspect to mention about red bell pepper properties is one of its main components, lycopene with anticarcinogenic action.
6 Health benefits
Next, we are going to mention 6 health benefits derived from red bell pepper properties. The benefits to mention are:
- Medicinal properties.
- High concentrations of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and flavonoids, and capsaicin (3,4)
- Analgesic and antimicrobial activity of capsaicin (2)
- Antitumor effects (1,2).
- Diuretic action
- Stimulates gastric secretion
Capsaicin
[article ids=”86201″] The most prominent benefit comes from the red bell pepper properties of capsaicin, a characteristic component in peppers hot variety with a dual action: natural antimicrobial and analgesic effect. The analgesic effect they produce is the relief of joint pain or ailments, as well as headaches, different types of cancer, rheumatism, bronchitis and colds, arthritis, cardiac arrhythmias and as stomach relief (6).
In addition, hot red bell pepper is used in postoperative treatments after performing an imputation, has preventive and therapeutic properties for many ailments such as different types of cancer, rheumatism, stiff joints, bronchitis and chest colds with cough and headache, arthritis, cardiac arrhythmias and is used as a stomachic. is used in postoperative treatments after performing an imputation (5,6).
In this same aspect it is worth mentioning that capsicum extract can also be found in balms or creams for sensitive skin, with diseases such as psoriasis and herpes (6).
Antioxidant activity and vitamin C
Another characteristic of red bell pepper properties is its antioxidant activity, derived from the high content of vitamin C, E, provitamin A and polyphenols, which help block free radical damage.
Peppers are a good source of antioxidant substances, such as vitamin C, E, provitamin A and other carotenoids such as capsanthin, which are very beneficial to health by blocking the damaging effect of free radicals. This reduces the risk of suffering from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (2,3).
Red peppers are very rich in vitamin C. Specifically, they contain more than twice the vitamin C found in fruits such as oranges, strawberries and kiwi. Therefore, about 60 grams of peppers contain the recommended daily amount of vitamin C.
Antimicrobial activity
Another aspect to declare the red bell pepper properties is its protective effect against microbes.
In this regard, in 2015, Abdul Salam conducted a study to test the antimicrobial activity of pepper, in which he found that that extracted with ethanol was more effective than that extracted with water. However, both were less effective than the standard capsaicin active compound (7).
However, Omolo et al. found different results with crude pepper extract. It was stated that capsaicin exerted less inhibitory power than other pepper compounds (8).
Due to the contrariety of the different scientific studies that have been conducted, it is suggested that further comprehensive research on the antimicrobial effect of red bell pepper is needed.
Diuretic action
Another characteristic of red bell pepper properties is its diuretic effect, since it provides 89.4 grams of water, low amounts of fat and a high potassium and low sodium content (5).
For this reason, it is used in weight control diets to eliminate fluid retention in the body, as well as other dissolved waste substances such as urea or uric acid (5).
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Nutritional composition
Below is a table of the nutritional composition of red bell pepper. This table is very important in relation to the red bell pepper properties.
|
Nutritional composition |
Per large unit (65 g) |
|---|---|
| Energy (kcal) | 40 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 7 |
| Lipids (g) | 0,4 |
| Proteins (g) | 1,1 |
| Fiber (g) | 2,1 |
| Water (g) | 89,4 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 81 |
| Vitamin A (µg) | 630 |
| Potassium (mg) | 180 |
We can observe that the red bell pepper is used in slimming or weight control diets because of its low calorie content, since it provides only 40 kcal per unit, and a low fat content, but above all, most of its weight is water.
In addition, it has an important beneficial effect against constipation, due to its high fiber content.
On the other hand, its vitamin C and A content stands out, as well as its antioxidant activity, and its richness in minerals such as potassium, among others.
Gels and creams: red bell pepper properties
Red bell pepper extract (capsaicin) is used to treat ailments through gels, creams, pharmaceutically prepared plasters and essential oils, with the aim of alleviating symptoms related to skin diseases (6).
Side effects
Not only are the properties of red bell pepper noteworthy, but there are some adverse effects derived from long-term excessive use of red pepper, or from adverse skin reactions.
The oral side effects that have been described in the long term are (9):
- stomach irritation
- sweating
- nasal discharge
In case of application on the skin, gels and body creams containing capsicum extract have been considered safe for the majority of the adult population, especially, approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to be sold freely as a drug on the market. However, irritation and itching may occur on the skin, like other products that are applied dermally (9).
Capsicum is considered irritating to the eyes, nose and throat.
Red bell pepper properties and cancer
Some of the studies to be mentioned describe red bell pepper properties as a possible cause of carcinogenic effect, especially on the skin.
[article ids=”81951″] In fact, Hwang et al. indicated that capsaicin could have a direct relationship with skin cancer (10). In addition, other studies conducted in Bolivia, Peru and Chile demonstrated the existence of very high incidence rates of gallbladder cancer due to red chili consumption (11,12).
On the other hand, Szllasi, A. & Blumberg, PM. (1999). reported through animal experiments that a high consumption of pepper could have a carcinogenic or cocarcinogenic effect.
Who should take red bell pepper?
Red bell pepper is recommended to be consumed in case of the following population groups or diseases:
- Pregnant women
- Children
- Slimming diets or weight control diets
- Hyposodic diets
- Constipation
- Low fat diets
- People with hypertension problems.
- Hyperuricemia
- Gout
- Kidney stones
- Fluid retention and oliguria.
- People with cholesterol problems
- Diabetes
- Rheumatic diseases, arthritis and bone tuberculosis.
Curiosities of red bell pepper properties
In addition to addressing the health benefits, we will mention some curiosities of red bell pepper properties, which can be very useful for most of the population (14).
- Green peppers are used to prepare jams, widely used in catering and as an accompaniment to cheeses.
- In Venezuela they are known as ají.
- In Italy the variety “peperonccinos” is used, very hot to make sauces.
- People allergic to latex, or tropical fruits such as kiwi or banana, may have adverse reactions to red bell pepper.
- On an empty stomach, its broth helps to empty the gall bladder.
- It is used to cure pharyngitis by gargling.
Conclusions
In the section on red bell pepper properties we have known what are the main health benefits, among which are the antioxidant and antimicrobial power of capsaicin, its medicinal properties, antitumor effects, its diuretic action and stimulation of gastric secretion.
However, what stands out most about red bell pepper properties is its nutritional composition, as it contains a significant amount of minerals, vitamins and amino acids essential for human health and growth. Above all, they stand out for their richness in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, most of the B vitamins and in particular vitamin B5. Minerals include potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorus.
However, we must take into account some considerations derived from an excessive use of red bell pepper or its extract, especially in the long term. This means that we could have certain complications related to skin diseases or skin irritation, even in the eyes, many of them derived from gels and creams containing capsaicin extract to be applied on the skin.
Bibliographic References
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Bonaccio, M. et al. (2019). Chili pepper consumption and mortality in Italian adults. Journal of American College ofCardiology 74: 3139-3149.
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Palma, J. M. (2021). Analysis of vitamin C content of fruits from five pepper varieties showing different pungency levels and antimicrobial potentiality of capsaicin. High School Students for Agricultural Science Research 10: 51-61.
- Figueroa- Cares, I.E. (2015). Antioxidant capacity in morron bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) varieties.
Interscience, 40: 696-703. - Garcia-C. et al. (2016). DETERMINATION OF VITAMIN C IN CAPSICUM ANNUUM BELL PEPPER BY LINEAR SCANNING VOLTAMMETRY. Talent Research Journal, 3(2): 1-9.
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Saleh, B.K., Omer, A. & Teweldemedhin, B. (2018) Medicinal uses and health benefits of chili pepper(Capsicum spp.): A review. MOJ Food Processing and Technology 6: 325-328.
- Pawar- SS, Bharude- NV & Sonone- SS, et al. (2011) Chillies as food, spice and medicine: a perspective. International journal of pharmacy and biological sciences,1(3): 311-318.
- Abdul-S. (2015). SGS. Biochemical Studies on Peppers as Specific Foodstuffs. Egypt: CU thesis.
- Omolo, MA; Wong Z. & Mergen, AK. (2014). Antimicrobial Properties of Chili Peppers. Journal Infectious Diseases and Therapy; 2:145.
- Chili Peppers(n/d). Medlineplus.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/druginfo/natural/945.html.
- Hwang, MK. et al. (2010) Cocarcinogenic Effect of Capsaicin Involves Activation of EGFR Signaling but Not TRPV1. Cancer Research; 70(17):6859-6869.
- Asai, T. et al. (2012). Aflatoxin contamination of red chili pepper from Bolivia and Peru, countries with high gallbladder cancer incidence rates. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 13(10):5167-5170.
- Tsuchiya, Y. et al. (2011). Mutagenicity and Mutagens in the red chili pepper as gallbladder cancer risk factor in chilean women. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev;12(2):471-476.
- Szllasi, A. & Blumberg, PM. (1999). Vanilloid (Capsaicin) Receptors and Mechanisms. Pharmacological Reviews,51(2):159-212.
- Benefits and curiosities of peppers(n/d). Nutrition and wellness – Puleva. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://www.lechepuleva.es/nutricion-y-bienestar/beneficios-y-curiosidades-del-pimiento.
