What Are the Health Benefits of Orange Peppers?

Bell peppers are high in nutrients and are a good addition to a well-balanced diet. They are available year-round at supermarkets and farmers markets, but are in season in the warmer months. Brightly colored bell peppers, including orange ones, offer similar health benefits due to the nutrients they contain. Try orange peppers in your next batch of fajitas or chop and add to quiche or salad.

A diet that moderates fat and calorie intake is one that helps you control your weight. Getting too many calories and too much fat will cause you to gain weight, which increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Choosing foods that contain intense flavors without a large amount of fat or calories is beneficial to your health. Orange peppers are one such food and one of them contains only 30 calories and 0 grams of fat.

One orange pepper contains 190 percent of the daily recommended intake for vitamin C, which is 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for men. Vitamin C is a nutrient that supports healthy immunity and protects you from diseases. It also works to produce collagen, keeping your skin healthy and helps wounds heal. Eating vitamin C-rich foods makes it easier for your body to absorb the iron in your meals. For this reason, pairing orange bell peppers with fish or chicken is a good way to increase your iron stores, especially important for women who lose iron each month during menstruation.

Orange bell peppers contain 2 grams of fiber each, making them a good way to reach the daily guidelines, which is 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. Fiber is calorie-free and digests slowly, which makes it a good way to control your appetite. Getting enough fiber each day also works to improve your cholesterol levels, reducing your risk of heart disease at the same time. Fiber regulates digestion and bowel function and can be used to relieve constipation.

Brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain a high amount of antioxidants. Orange peppers are no exception, with carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids fight the cell damage that could result in the development of cancer and heart disease and occurs when you are exposed to toxins in the environment, including pollution and cigarette smoke. Lutein and zaexanthin protect your eyes from age related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Orange peppers are a good way to increase your vitamin B-6 intake, which should be 1.3 to 1.7 milligrams. Vitamin B-6 helps your body metabolize protein and red blood cells. It also helps your body's immune and nervous systems function. Getting inadequate supplies of B-6 could result in anemia because it is responsible for moving hemoglobin through your blood stream. A stable blood sugar level relies on getting the right amount of vitamin B-6.