Peppers

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Peppers, also known as sweet peppers, belong to the Capsicum family. The peppers, both sweet varieties and hot peppers originate from Central and South America. It is believed that the peppers were brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus, who gave the Spanish Queen Isabella seeds from them.

Initially, only green peppers were used, then red, and finally yellow and orange. Only twenty years later, peppers were known throughout the old world, and people began to use them for food and spice. Commercially, peppers began to be produced in the South American states in 1925.

Types of peppers

The peppers can be divided into two main categories - sweet peppers and spicy peppers or also called chili. The difference between these two species stems from the presence of the substance capsaicin in hot peppers, which is not contained in sweet pepper.

Pepper is known as sweet pepper or green / red peppers. Depending on the degree of maturity and their variety, the colors of peppers vary to orange, yellow, red, purple, brown, black, ivory, green. Their sweetness also varies. The green type of peppers remain green throughout the ripening process, while the other types change color. Yellow and orange peppers are similar in juiciness and taste. The largest exporters of peppers in Europe are France, Cyprus, Italy and Spain.

Composition of peppers

All kinds peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C. Sweet green peppers contain twice as much vitamin C as oranges, while red and yellow peppers contain three or four times the required daily dose of vitamin C. Peppers also contain vitamin B6, phytochemicals such as lycopene and beta-carotene (precursor). of vitamin A), folate, potassium and plenty of fiber.

100 g of peppers contain 13.2 g of magnesium, 10 mg of calcium, 24 mg of phosphorus, iron, niacin, tryptophan and sugars. Peppers are characterized by a very high content of zinc, which is twice as high as in cucumbers, lettuce, pumpkin and tomatoes.

Chili peppers also contain an additional substance called capsaicin. This substance does peppers to be spicy in taste, as it creates a burning sensation in the mouth.

Selection and storage of peppers

The peppers can be found all year round. When choosing them, it is necessary to select well-shaped, solid and glossy pepperswho feel heavy for their size. Those that are soft, wrinkled or have cracks and spots should be avoided. Only hot peppers have characteristic features on them.

Storing the peppers requires wrapping them in paper bags or towels and storing them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for up to 5 days for sweet peppers and up to 3 weeks for hot peppers. Before cooking, the peppers should be washed to remove the wax that smears their surfaces.

Culinary application of peppers

The peppers they can be eaten raw as snacks or salads, as well as barbecued, baked, stewed or fried. This vegetable is very easy to handle, you only need to clean the stalks and seeds before use. Peppers are extremely tasty both raw and cooked. Their sweet taste is emphasized when baked or marinated. Very often used in soups, vegetable and meat dishes stuffed with minced meat and rice, on an omelet or pizza.

Dried peppers are used to make red pepper - both sweet and hot. It is an indispensable spice because it preserves the aroma and valuable properties of peppers even in the cold months. It is also known around the world by the names chili and paprika.

Benefits of peppers

Capsaicin is most concentrated in the white membrane of peppers. It has many health benefits, namely:

- used to effectively treat physical pain and inflammation such as arthritis, psoriasis, diabetic neuropathy;

- reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, as it helps reduce cholesterol levels and prevents the formation of blood clots;

- cleanses the nasal passages and prevents overloading of the lungs;

- prevents prostate cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells;

- prevents stomach ulcers by killing bacteria in the stomach;

- helps to lose weight, as it speeds up the body's metabolism, suppresses appetite;

- helps reduce the risk of diabetes by controlling blood sugar.

Peppers are recommended for low-calorie diets, obesity, hypertension, diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and bile ducts. They are useful in chronic constipation, but when there are no inflammatory processes. It is recommended to eat peppers without seeds.

Harm from peppers

Sometimes peppers are not tolerated by people who have digestive problems. Consumption of peppers is not recommended for inflamed hemorrhoids, acute gastritis and enterocolitis.