Month: November 2023

What is best served with chicken?

Best Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Breast (That Go Way Beyond Salad)

• Tangy Potato Salad with Bacon. Kitchen Tested.
• 5-Ingredient Crescent Cheesy Bread.
• Slow-cooker toasted Herb Rice.
• Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad.
• Easy Homemade Mashed Potatoes.
• Cumin-Citrus Roasted Carrots.
• Cheesy Baked Asparagus.
• Creamy Cucumber Salad.

What do Americans eat with Southern fried chicken?

12 Classic Southern Side Dishes to Pair With Your Fried Chicken

• Biscuits. It wouldn’t be a Southern meal without biscuits.
• Greens. A Southern dinner without collard greens is just
• Cornbread. Biscuits and cornbread, yes indeed.
• Black-Eyed Peas.
• Fried Green Tomatoes.
• Grits.
• Hush Puppies.
• Mac and Cheese.

Do you eat the bread with fried chicken?

It’s customarily served atop slices of squishy-soft white bread to absorb the chicken fat and scarlet-red seasoning, with sweet cucumber pickles on the side.

I have tried a chicken variety, you may never try in your life I think, see this: Panda express crispy almond chicken 

What is typically served with fried chicken Maryland?

In its home base, the food dish consists of fried chicken served with cream gravy. It is traditionally garnished with bananas, which were historically one of Baltimore’s leading imports.

What sides go well with chicken?

Best Chicken Side Dishes

• Honey Roasted Carrots.
• The Best and Creamiest Mashed Potatoes.
• Sauted Garlic Mushrooms.
• Easy Roasted Cauliflower.
• Creamy Potatoes au Gratin.
• Air Fryer Broccoli.
• Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
• Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower.

What is the best vegetable to eat with chicken?

The most common combos with chicken

• Broccoli. One of chicken’s best friends, broccoli goes perfectly in stir-fries, gratins or pasta.
• Spinach. Spinach is versatile.
• Asparagus. Asparagus is a popular side dish for chicken.
• Carrots.
• Sweet potato.
• Tomatoes.
• Corn.
• Roasted chicken.

What goes well with chicken thighs?

31 Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Thighs

• Brussels Sprouts Skillet with Crispy Pancetta Breadcrumbs.
• Slow-cooker garlic-herb Mashed Cauliflower.
• Roasted Squash with Pomegranate and Goat Cheese.
• Zoodle Stir-Fry.
• Tabbouleh.
• Sweet Potato Fries.
• Quinoa Brussels Sprout Gratin with Smoked Cheddar.
• Cold Lemon Zoodles.

What is the most popular side dish?

Not surprisingly, mashed potatoes were the top choice, coming in as the favorite for 10 different states.

What do you serve southern fried chicken with?

Here are 12 tasty side dishes that will transform your fried chicken into a Southern Feast!

• Biscuits.
• Mac and Cheese.
• Baked Beans.
• Cornbread.
• Mashed Potatoes.
• Hush Puppies.
• Coleslaw.
• Corn on the Cob.

What sides go with Nashville hot chicken?

In its home base, the food dish consists of fried chicken served with a cream gravy. It is traditionally garnished with bananas, which were historically one of Baltimore’s leading imports.

What is the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?

A Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is a perfect meal on its own, but you can serve it with a side of potato chips, tater tots or French fries. Other classic accompanying dishes could be a side of coleslaw, potato salad, cornbread or mac and cheese.

What do you eat with fried chicken?

The Best Sides for Fried Chicken:

• Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.
• Mac and Cheese. This mac and cheese is super rich and cheesy.
• Coleslaw. This creamy Creole Coleslaw is a great variation on that classic potluck side dish.
• Biscuits.
• Green Bean Almondine.
• Succotash.
• Corn on the Cob.
• Potato Salad.

Are you supposed to eat the bread with Nashville hot chicken?

Just be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes when you go! The sides we’re fine as well but the one thing I will recommend is do not eat the bread! Bad move on my part. So if you are looking for a nice authentic Nashville hot chicken experience give these guys a try for sure!

Do you have to bread fried chicken?

You try to omit the breading. But the fact is this: the breading is really the key to fried chicken’s success. Not only does it form the crispy crust that makes the fried chicken so crave-worthy, but it also helps seal in the moisture so that your finished chicken will be juicy.

What do Americans have with fried chicken?

15 Southern Side Dishes For Fried Chicken

• Biscuits. Biscuits are a true Southern staple.
• Mac and Cheese. Fried chicken is all protein, so you’ll want something starchy to round out your meal.
• Baked Beans.
• Cornbread.
• Mashed Potatoes.
• Hush Puppies.
• Coleslaw.
• Corn on the Cob.

What is a good side dish with fried chicken?

The Best Sides for Fried Chicken:

• Mac and Cheese. This mac and cheese is super rich and cheesy.
• Coleslaw. This creamy Creole Coleslaw is a great variation on that classic potluck side dish.
• Biscuits.
• Green Bean Almondine.
• Succotash.
• Corn on the Cob.
• Squash Casserole.
• Cucumber Avocado Tomato Salad with Pesto.

Which is a classical accompaniment of Poulet Maryland?

This golden-crumbed chicken dish is an American favorite; traditional accompaniments are corn fritters, bananas, and grilled tomatoes. Colorful extra accompaniments are corn on the cob, bacon curls, and pineapple rings, together with a green salad.

What is the Maryland part of chicken?

What is chicken, Maryland? Chicken Maryland is a delectable cut of the chicken that consists of the whole leg (both the drumstick and skin-on thigh). It is a dependable piece of meat that offers the home cook many options for cooking.

What does Maryland mean chicken?

A chicken in Maryland is a cut of chicken that contains both the drumstick and thigh. It is a great budget-friendly cut to use for a quick roast chicken or in a one-pot wonder meal.

What veggies go good with chicken?

The most common combos with chicken

• Broccoli. One of the chicken’s best friends, broccoli goes perfectly in stir-fries, gratins or pasta.
• Spinach. Spinach is versatile.
• Asparagus. Asparagus is a popular side dish for chicken.
• Carrots.
• Sweet potato.
• Tomatoes.
• Corn.
• Roasted chicken.

What are common side dishes?

Not surprisingly, mashed potatoes were the top choice, coming in as the favorite for 10 different states.

What is the good side of chicken?

Best Chicken Side Dishes

• Honey Roasted Carrots.
• The Best and Creamiest Mashed Potatoes.
• Sauted Garlic Mushrooms.
• Easy Roasted Cauliflower.
• Creamy Potatoes au Gratin.
• Air Fryer Broccoli.
• Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
• Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower.

Can we eat vegetables with chicken?

Many types of vegetables pair perfectly with chicken because it naturally has a mild flavor. Spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli and jicama are particularly beneficial for your diet. These veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber but offer a minimal number of calories.

Is it OK to eat chicken and vegetables every day?

Chicken, fruits, and vegetables are healthy, as long as they’re not fried or drenched in a creamy or sugary sauce. If you stick to these foods and control your portions, you may lose weight.

What vegetables are good with meat?

12 Easy Side Dishes to Go with a Piece of Meat

• Salt and Vinegar Cucumbers.
• How To Make Buttery Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot.
• Tangy Cabbage and Jalapexf1o Slaw.
• 3-Ingredient Garlicky Red Potatoes.
• How To Roast Any Vegetable.
• Easy Lemon-Ginger Spinach.
• Garlicky Parmesan Sweet Potatoes.
• 10-Minute Miso Broccolini.

Read More Posts

• How can I sell my chicken fast?
• Can you marinate chicken for 3 days?
• Is Domino’s chicken carbonara any good?
• How long can fried chicken sit out before it goes bad?
• How do you keep fried chicken warm for hours?

Colorful, juicy, tasty and power-packed, raspberries are one of the most popular fruits around the world. Rich in antioxidants, raspberries come in two colors, black and red and are have nutritional benefits that helps the body fight various diseases and also to keep it young.

Love raspberries but can’t get hold of a fresh batch every time you crave for it? Stock the dried variants. Dried raspberries pack as much nutrients as the fresh ones. Raspberries can be dehydrated and stored for that quick sprinkling over morning cereals or over a decadent pastry! Or soak them in water so they taste like fresh ones. They are excellent with fresh yogurt, too. Can you think of a better mid meal snack than these dried raspberries?

A cup of dried raspberries (123 g) has just 63 calories and is rich in vitamin C (54% of the RDI), manganese (41% of the RDI), vitamin K (12% of the RDI) and other essential minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and copper. A cup of raspberries has about 8 g of fiber and 14.7 g of carbs.

Raspberries are rich in antioxidants, thanks to the flavonoid compounds in it. Antioxidants are essential compounds in fighting various diseases and slowing down cell degeneration. They also protect enzymes, fats and vitamins in the body. The antioxidants that raspberries have include ellagic acid, vitamin C, catechins, etc. Let’s look at what these berries can do to your health.

Also Check: Are raspberries full of sugar?

1. Boosts Brain Power

A daily diet of raspberries is good for the overall health of the body, especially in children and the elderly due to its neuroprotective effects. In studies done on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, neuroinflammatory processes in the brain are found to play a crucial role in the development of these diseases. This is the case with certain kinds of stroke, too. Raspberries are rich in flavonoids which haves the potential to protect neurons against injury induced by neurotoxins, suppress neuroinflammation, and to promote memory, learning and cognitive function. Flavonoids are also found to be capable of promoting beneficial effects on memory and learning which make raspberries an excellent source of nutrients for young children in their early stages of brain development.

2. Fights Cancer And Chronic Diseases

Berries in general are a good source of antioxidants that is capable of fighting various types of cancer. Raspberries are rich in antioxidant vitamin C which is a perfect armor against esophagal cancer, the tenth most common malignancy and the eighth leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. Berries are also rich in a phytochemical called ellagic acid which can fight various types of cancers like cancers of breast, lung and skin. What more? Raspberries are also a good source of fiber which helps prevent colorectal cancer.

3. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Berries for breakfast seems to be the right approach to controlling the blood sugar levels. Berries are low in calories and high in polyphenols which is the right prescription to regulate blood sugar after meals or post prandial hyperglycemia. Berries are also rich in dietary fiber which, the studies show, is beneficial in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes.

4. Works As An Anti Aging Agent

Who wouldn’t want to stay young and healthy longer? Exposure to sun can damage your skin faster. Studies show antioxidants can prevent signs of photo-induced ageing like pigmentation. Raspberries are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and ellagic acid that slow down the ageing process by reducing the oxidative stress in the body. The compound anthocyanins responsible for the red color of certain raspberries also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. All these properties make raspberries a go-to anti aging agent.

5. Improves Eye Sight

Enough can’t be said about the health benefits of antioxidants in raspberries. Here’s one more to add to the list. They keep your eyes healthy. Raspberries have an antioxidant called zeaxanthin that’s primarily responsible for it because it can prevent the damage to the eyes caused by UV radiation. They help in warding off macular damage caused through UV exposure.

6. Good For The Gut

One way to help your body stay healthy is to keep your gut in optimum condition. What better way to do that than by including fiber-rich food in your diet? Soluble fiber in raspberries slows down digestion process giving the body enough time to absorb all the nutrition and keeping you satiated. Food rich in dietary fiber is a good shield against cancer in the colon and rectum. Dietary fiber adds bulk to your stool, making the big job in the morning smooth and regular. This helps prevent constipation and any discomfort related to it. Most importantly, fiber is essential for healthy gut microbiota which in turn aids digestion process.

In conclusion, raspberries are an excellent fruit to add to your diet for a host of reasons. And they are tasty and abundantly available, too. Store them at home easily by dehydrating them so you can include raspberries in your diet everyday.

The pistachio or pista is a healthy nut and is a member of the cashew family. Pistachios are rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and others which benefit your health. “A handful of pistachio nuts a day could protect your heart.” However, having too many pistachios can have adverse effects on your health.

1. Pistachio Allergy

If an individual is allergic to pistachio it will be evident during the early stages of their lives and will persist throughout their lifetime. Rashes and itchy skin are the most common symptoms of pistachio allergy. Other symptoms include itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing. Some may develop hives or asthma symptoms. Severe allergic reactions include the life-threatening anaphylaxis, which must be treated immediately.

Also Check: Do pistachios improve skin?

2. Weight Gain

The high protein and fiber content in pistachio nuts make them a convenient and popular snack for people to munch on. Thus, eating a handful of these nuts can lead to weight gain. Consuming a cup full of pistachio nuts would mean that you have consumed close to 700 calories! Too much of anything is not good; therefore, don’t eat them in excess.

3. Aflatoxin Contamination

Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals produced by certain molds. They are usually found in improperly stored foods, including cassava, chili peppers, corn, cottonseed, millet, peanuts, rice, sesame seeds, sorghum, sunflower seeds, tree nuts, wheat, and others. A study has reported that pistachio nuts are critically contaminated with aflatoxin from the maturity stage. Pistachio nuts split naturally and those that are poorly protected can be easily invaded by insects and molds, making way for aflatoxins to contaminate them.

4. Gastrointestinal Problems

People intolerant to fructans should avoid pistachio nuts. Fructans are naturally occurring carbohydrates found in a variety of food. Foods that are high in fructans may include onions, shallots, garlic, barley, cabbage, broccoli, pistachio, artichoke, chicory root, and asparagus. Fructans are not dangerous, but those who have a low tolerance to fructans can face gastric issues when consuming pistachio. It can cause bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.

5. High Blood Pressure

Natural pistachio nuts are low in sodium level. However, roasted pistachio nuts, often salted, have higher levels of sodium than usual. Consuming roasted pistachio nuts in large amounts can increase your sodium intake, thereby increasing your blood pressure.

6. Kidney Stone Risk

Pistachios contain a moderate amount of oxalates and methionine. By consuming large quantities of pistachios, you may put yourself at a risk of developing calcium oxalate and cystine kidney stones.

Pistachios are also a rich source of potassium which, in large amounts, can cause adverse effects to the body. In addition, if you are already suffering from a kidney disease, you should not overeat pistachios as it may lead to an excess of potassium in the body that the kidneys may fail to eliminate. Excess potassium may give rise to other problems including nausea, weakness, slow pulse, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, dehydration, Addison’s disease, and internal bleeding.

7. Pesticides And Insecticides Exposure

Pistachios are exposed to insecticides and pesticides to protect them from being infested by insects or pests. While these chemicals may protect the nuts from insects, they are bad for our health. Consuming pistachios that are overexposed to these chemicals can cause reactions in our body like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and other allergic reactions.

8. Salmonella Bacterium Contamination

Another health risk of eating too many pistachios is the exposure to salmonella bacterium. This bacterium contaminates pistachios and consuming the contaminated nuts may cause diarrhea. This bacterium can be avoided by roasting the nuts correctly. This may be fatal for infants, older individuals, and those who have a weak immune system.

9. Acrylamide Risk

Roasting pistachios is an effective way to reduce the contamination due to salmonella bacterium and aflatoxin. However, this may give rise to acrylamides. Acrylamide is a probable carcinogen that may increase the risk of cancer in humans. However, there is no solid evidence to support the association between roasted pistachios and cancer.

Now that you are aware of the side effects of eating too many pistachios, try to limit the number to 5–7 pistachios every day.

Bell peppers are members of the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. They are some of the most versatile vegetables in your kitchen. Green and purple peppers have a slightly bitter flavor, while the red, orange and yellows bell peppers have a sweet flavor, and lack the fiery capsaicin of their spicier family members, the jalapeno and habanero.

Available in a range of colors today, all varieties of bell peppers can help you reach your daily recommended vegetable intake of 2.5 cups for women or 3 cups for men, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The specific nutrient content of bell peppers differs depending on their color, but any bell pepper makes for a healthy addition to your diet as it’s packed with essential nutrients and vitamins.

Also Check: Can I eat bell peppers on keto?

History

Bell peppers have been cultivated for more than 9000 years, with records of the earliest cultivation in South and Central America. The name ‘pepper’ was given by European colonizers of North America who first came across it in the 1500-1600’s and then transported it back to Europe. However, the original name in Spanish was ‘pimiento’.

Do Bell Peppers Really Help In Weight Loss?

[pullquote]Red bell peppers do not contain capsaicin, which is what makes peppers hot and causes us to sweat, but they do have a mild thermogenic action that increases our metabolism without increasing our heart rate and blood pressure like the hot peppers do.[/pullquote]Capsaicin found in hot peppers (including chilis and cayenne powder), has been shown to boost metabolism as well as suppress appetite, at least slightly. Over time, this effect might give you an extra edge when it comes to weight loss. But it won’t melt the pounds away. However, recent research has shown that sweet red peppers can activate thermogenesis and increase metabolic rate.

Red bell peppers do not contain capsaicin, which is what makes peppers hot and causes us to sweat, but they do have a mild thermogenic action that increases our metabolism without increasing our heart rate and blood pressure like the hot peppers do.

Research shows that people who don’t typically eat spicy foods are most likely to benefit from turning the heat up a notch. Capsaicin seems to affect metabolism by raising body temperature, which uses up more energy.

Dihydrocapsiate (DCT), a cousin of capsaicin, DCT is found in a strain of mild, sweet chili peppers, sometimes called CH-19 peppers. Researchers found that DCT in capsule form acts similarly to capsaicin, minus the fiery sensation. In a small study, people who took it while following a high-protein, very low-calorie diet for a month burned about an extra 100 calories per day. However, they didn’t lose more weight than people taking a placebo pill, perhaps because their diet was already very low in calories.

Piperine is found in dried black pepper and may prevent new fat cells from forming. But scientists have only studied it mouse cells, so there’s no proof that it will work in people. It’s calorie-free and won’t raise your blood pressure but just don’t count on them to melt your weight off.

Health Benefits

Bell pepper contains an impressive list of plant nutrients that are found to have disease preventing and health promoting properties.

1. Low calories

Unlike other fellow chili peppers, it has very less calories and fats. One cup of chopped pepper contains between 30 and 40 calories. Peppers offer a sweet flavor and satisfying crunch, which makes them a good substitute for high-calorie chips in dips such as hummus or salsa. Sauteed peppers also make a healthy accompaniment to chicken fajitas and steak. Add peppers to salads or casseroles to boost serving sizes without adding notable calories.

2. Anti-bacterial and Anti-carcinogenic

Sweet (bell) pepper contains small levels of alkaloid compound, capsaicin. Early laboratory studies on experimental mammals suggest that capsaicin has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties. When used judiciously, it also found to reduce triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels in obese individuals.

3. Chock-block of minerals

Bell pepper has adequate levels of essential minerals. Some of the main minerals in it are iron, copper, zinc, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and selenium. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Selenium is an anti-oxidant micro-mineral that acts as a co-factor for enzyme, superoxide dismutase.

4. Good source of vitamin B

Bell peppers are a good source of B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are essential because the body requires them from external sources to replenish. Moreover, B-complex vitamins facilitate cellular metabolism through various enzymatic functions.

5. Anti-cancer benefits

Bell peppers are valuable sources of health-supportive sulfur compounds. Several recent studies have taken a close look at the presence of enzymes in bell peppers called cysteine S-conjugate beta-lyases and their role in a sulfur-containing metabolic pathway called the thiomethyl shunt.

These enzymes and this pathway may be involved in some of the anti-cancer benefits that bell pepper has shown in some animal and lab studies. They may serve as the basis for some of the anti-cancer benefits shown by green, yellow, red and orange vegetable intake in recent studies.

6. Rich source of phyto-nutrients

The actual nutrient and phytonutrient content of bell peppers are impressive and also somewhat surprising given the very low-fat nature of this vegetable (some nutrients and phyto-nutrients are fat-soluble, hence for them to be present in the food, it would need to contain some fat).
There is far less than 1 gram of total fat in one cup of sliced bell pepper. However, this very small amount of fat is enough to provide a reliable storage spot for bell pepper’s fat-soluble nutrients, including its fat-soluble carotenoids and vitamin E.

7. Good source of vitamin E

Bell pepper is a very good source of vitamin E at about 1.45 milligrams per cup, and it contains more than 30 different carotenoids, including excellent amounts of beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. Both of these carotenoids provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits.

8. Rich in anti-oxidants

While research studies have tended to focus on carotenoids as the hallmark antioxidants in bell pepper, this vegetable actually provides us with a very broad range of antioxidants. Bell pepper is also a good source of the antioxidant mineral manganese and flavonoids, carotenoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids

Bell pepper contains concentrated amounts of beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. (One cup of freshly sliced red bell pepper contains about 1,500 micrograms of beta-carotene, or the same as one third of a small carrot.)

9. Good source vitamin C

Bell peppers provide a source of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. 100 g red pepper provides about 127.7 µg or about 213% of RDA of vitamin C. Choose either pepper to provide your entire days’ worth of vitamin C, i.e. 75 milligrams for women or 90 milligrams for men, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Regular consumption of foods rich in this vitamin helps the human body protect from scurvy; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

10. Good source of vitamin A

Bell pepper boosts your intake of beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A. Beta-carotene helps provide red bell peppers with their vibrant color, but is also found in green bell pepper. Green bell pepper contains 551 international units of vitamin A per cup which is 24 percent of the recommended intake for women and 18 percent for men, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Red bell pepper contains more vitamin A, almost 4,665 IU, or your entire vitamin A intake requirement.

11. Good source of vitamin K

USDA studies showed that the vitamin K (phylloquinone) content in peppers, including hot varieties, may affect blood coagulation, and may also play a role in protecting against osteoporosis, since patients with reduced bone density show lower levels of this nutrient. Interestingly enough, sautéed peppers contain higher amounts of vitamin K than raw peppers.

12. Good source of fiber

Like many vegetables, bell peppers contain fiber. A cup of chopped green pepper contains 2.5 grams of fiber, while red pepper boasts 3.1 grams. Eat either type of bell pepper to reach your target fiber intake of 14 grams per 1,000 calories, recommended by Colorado State University.

13. Excellent source of carotenoids

Red, yellow, and orange peppers their colour, as well as some of their noteworthy health effects, from plant pigments called carotenoids. These pigments act like sunscreen, protecting the ripening peppers from sun damage. As it turns out, those pigments have a similar safeguarding effect on us. Like other antioxidants, carotenoids also help boost immunity and fight cancer and heart disease. They’re valuable for vision as well.

Bell pepper is not only an excellent source of carotenoids, but also a source of over 30 different members of the carotenoid nutrient family. A recent study from Spain took a close look vitamin C, vitamin E, and six of these carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin) in all commonly eaten foods and found that only two vegetables contained at least two-thirds of all the listed nutrients. One of these foods was tomato, and the other was sweet bell pepper. Bell pepper alone provided 12% of the total zeaxanthin found in the participants’ diets. (Bell pepper also provided 7% of the participants’ total vitamin C intake.)

How Hot are Bell Peppers?

In comparison with some other pepper varieties, bell peppers don’t scale up much in the ‘hotness’ category. When it’s red, it may be sweeter, as are some yellow and orange varieties. The heat of peppers is measured in ‘Scoville heat units’. By that scale, a green pepper scores a zero on the scale, jalapeño peppers earn around 2,500-4,000, and Mexican habaneros a whopping 200,000 to 500,000 units.

How to Choose Bell Peppers

. Bell peppers are available all year-round, but they’re most abundant and least expensive in early summer, when vegetables are more likely to come from a farm closer to home

. Look for firm peppers with taut skins; avoid ones with wrinkles or cracks.

.To get peppers with thick, juicy walls, choose those that feel heavy for their size.

.If you want to maximize the availability of vitamin C and carotenoids from bell pepper, allow it to ripen. Recent studies have shown that the vitamin C content and the carotenoid content of bell pepper both increase with ripening.

.When the vitamin C and carotenoid content of bell peppers increases, so does their total antioxidant capacity, which can be a source of great health benefits. Growers can allow bell peppers to ripen on the plant prior to harvest (which means that you will be able to purchase them in the grocery store in a ripened state).

.If harvested early in the ripening stage, bell peppers can still be allowed to ripen post-harvest and after you’ve purchased them and brought them home from the market. In one recent study, the vitamin C in not-fully-ripe bell peppers continued to increase during home storage over a period of about 10 days.

.A good rule of thumb is to judge less by their basic color and more by their color quality as well as overall texture and feel. Whether green, red, yellow, or orange, optimally ripe bell peppers will have deep, vivid colors, feel heavy for their size, and be firm enough to yield only slightly to pressure.

Does Grilling Affect the Quality of Bell Peppers?

Yes, higher heat cooking can damage some of the delicate phytonutrients in bell peppers. In one recent study from Turkey, the effects of grilling on sweet green bell peppers were studied with respect to one particular phytonutrient, the flavonoid called luteolin.

Prior to grilling, the bell peppers were found to contain about 46 milligrams/kilogram of this important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid. After grilling for 7-8 minutes at a temperature of 150°C (302°F), about 40 percent of the luteolin was found to be destroyed.

Side Effects and Precautions

.Capsaicin in chilies, especially cayenne peppers, initially elicit inflammation when it comes in contact with the mucus membranes of oral cavity, throat and stomach, and soon produces severe burning sensation that is perceived as ‘hot’ through free nerve endings in the mucosa. Eating cold yogurt helps reduce this burning pain by diluting capsaicin concentration, and preventing its contact with stomach walls.

.Avoid touching eyes with pepper contaminated fingers. If done so, rinse eyes thoroughly in cold water to reduce irritation.

.They may aggravate underlying gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) condition.