Benefits of Pepper
The pepper plant is a member of the nightshade family
which also includes potato, tomato, eggplant, tobacco,
petunia, and the poisonous members of the family,
henbane, nightshade and jimson weed.
When we talk about pepper, we can refer to two separate
parts of the pepper plant, the fruit, which is an edible
herb, and the ground seed which is used as a spice. The
fruit of the sweet pepper, which is large and hollow, is
popular for adding color and flavor to salads and stir
fry dishes. They are also popular for stuffing with a
rice mixture and baked as ‘stuffed pepper.’ Then, there
are hot peppers that may be eaten whole and used in many
‘hot’ dishes. Peppers ripen only on the vine.
When we refer to pepper as the spice, we are talking
about the familiar ground seeds that make the black
pepper and white pepper that we have in our kitchens.
White pepper is milder than black pepper. Each provides
their own distinct character.
We are also familiar with red pepper, which is the
dried, ground fruit pod. It is also called cayenne
pepper and it provides the dominant flavor of chili con
carne.
The nutritional value of peppers depends on how they are
prepared. A cup of fresh sweet peppers will provide 40
calories, 1 gram of protein, 10 grams of carbohydrate
and 3 grams of fiber. They are also rich in vitamins A
and C.
It is a good idea to keep cayenne pepper in your first
aid kit. It is a marvelous aid for stopping internal
bleeding that may result from an accident and it can
help to abort a heart attack in progress. A
tablespoonful should be taken in a glass of water as
soon as possible. It will be very hot to the taste, but
if it saves a life; that is a small price to pay for a
brief period of discomfort.
(R.D.)
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