Nutrition of Orange Bell Peppers
These days, more and more health professionals are encouraging you to "eat the rainbow." In fact, including foods in your diet of every color -- orange, green, yellow, purple, blue and red -- can help your body function at optimal levels and fight off certain chronic conditions.
These days, more and more health professionals are encouraging you to "eat the rainbow." In fact, including foods in your diet of every color -- orange, green, yellow, purple, blue and red -- can help your body function at optimal levels and fight off certain chronic conditions. With their brightly colored skin, orange bell peppers can provide a number of benefits as part of a balanced diet.
Macronutrients
There are approximately 90 calories in one serving of orange bell peppers -- or around 249 grams of the food. Each serving of orange bell peppers provides 1 gram of fat -- 2 percent of the daily value recommended for individuals following a diet of 2,000 calories per day. Orange bell peppers also offer 18 grams of carbohydrates in a single serving, or 6 percent of the daily value for this nutrient, 3 grams of which come from dietary fiber. One cup also offers 2 grams of protein.
Vitamin Content
Orange bell peppers provide high amounts of a number of important micronutrients, including vitamins A and C. In fact, one serving of orange bell peppers provide 70 percent and 750 percent of vitamins A and C, respectively. Pro-vitamin A -- or beta carotene, as it is sometimes called -- is the specific type of vitamin A found in orange fruits and vegetables, such as orange bell peppers. Vitamin A helps to maintain healthy teeth, skin, bones and eye health; promotes reproduction; and aids in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, promotes growth and repair of body tissues and may reverse the development of chronic health conditions like cancer, heart disease and arthritis.
Mineral Content
Orange bell peppers are a sodium-free food. As with other varieties of bell peppers, orange bell peppers may provide small amounts of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. You should not depend on orange bell peppers to meet the recommended daily allowances for these important minerals.
Choosing Orange Bell Peppers
When shopping for orange bell peppers, choose a product that is brightly colored, firm to the touch and fairly heavy for its size. Likewise, avoid orange bell peppers that are shriveled, appear dry or are pitted, as these may be past their prime. Most orange bell peppers can be safely stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to five days after purchase. Add orange bell peppers to salads, casseroles and pasta dishes, or simply eat them plain for a tasty, nutritionally dense snack.