Bell Pepper

The bell pepper is the sweet, mild member of the pepper family, and for a vegetable so cheerful and crunchy it carries a surprising gift: ounce for ounce a red bell pepper holds more vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → C than an orange. That vitamin is one of the body's great helpers in defending against everyday colds and in weaving the collagen that keeps skin firm and supple.

Its brilliant reds, yellows and oranges come from a rainbow of antioxidantA helpful substance in colorful fruits and vegetables that protects your cells from everyday wear and tear. More → pigments, including the lutein and zeaxanthin that gather in the eye to shield it from the wear of years. Cooked or raw, a pepper is mostly water and fiberThe part of plant foods your body can't fully break down — it keeps digestion moving. More →, making it light, hydrating and kind to the waistline.

Peppers are very safe as food. They belong to the nightshade family, which a small number of sensitive people prefer to limit, and very raw they can nip a tender stomach — both easily handled by gentle cooking and modest portions.