What is red peppercorn

Red pepper—also called bell pepper, red bell pepper, capsicum, or sweet pepper—has a mildly sweet yet earthy taste. These peppers are fully mature versions of the more bitter green bell peppers.

The red pepper is a variety of Capsicum annuum, a family that also includes cultivars like jalapeño, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, and a few other hot peppers. While you'll see other types of peppers that are red in color, only the red bell pepper is colloquially known as "red pepper."

Capsicum annuum is native to Central and South America, and it likely began its domestication in central Mexico about 7,500 years ago. Over time, several varieties took shape and continue today as cultivars. Bell peppers were one of those varieties and were actively cultivated before Spanish exploration in the 1400s.

Red Pepper: Health Benefits

Technically a fruit, red peppers are more common as a staple in the vegetable produce section. They're also an excellent source of vitamins A and C. Each half cup of raw red pepper provides you with 47 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin A and 159 percent of your vitamin C.

Some of the other health benefits of red peppers include:

Immune System Support

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights cell damage, boosts immune system response to microbes, and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Red peppers are rich in vitamin c, though roasting them reduces their vitamin C content by up to 25 percent.

Improve Eye and Skin Health

The vitamin A and beta-carotene in red peppers offers good support for your overall vision and eye health. Vitamin A is also helpful in supporting skin cells, healing wounds, and boosting white blood cell growth.

Red peppers are a rich source of several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds.