Paprika

Paprika comes loaded with carotenoids -- the pigments that give it its deep red color. Its lutein and zeaxanthin content benefits your eyesight by preventing harmful light rays from damaging your eye tissues, while its vitamin a content aids in night vision and plays a role in healthy cell development. A tablespoon of paprika contains 3,349 international units of vitamin a -- more than 100 percent of the daily intake requirement for men and women, set by the institute of medicine.

While, as of september 2013, the institute of medicine has not set a recommended daily intake, consuming 12 milligrams daily improves eyesight, reports the american optometric association. Each serving of paprika has 1.3 milligrams of lutein and zeaxanthin, or 11 percent of this goal. This mild paprika spice is loaded with antioxidants as well as essential vitamins and minerals that can keep your body healthy. Its rich color can be attributed to the presence of carotenoids.

Vitamin a in paprika promotes healthy cell development. Certain healthy fats are required in your diet to protect nerve cells while insulating and protecting organs. Lipoproteins are molecules made from fat and proteins that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream. Vitamin e in paprika protects the fat component of lipoproteins. It should be kept in mind that these fats are less likely to cause inflammation that contributes to heart disease.

Paprika is rich in vitamins a, e, and k which help in maintaining healthy veins and capillaries. Paprika helps to regulate blood pressure, may help improve blood circulation, may help assist digestion by normalizing acid in the stomach, and may act as an antibiotic.

Paprika contains capsaicin, whose anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may lower the risk of cancer (also found in cayenne and red chili peppers). There's no specific recommended dose, but moderation is probably the best way to go.

Vitamin e is an antioxidant that is essential to your health and your skin.

1 teaspoon of paprika has 5% of the daily intake of vitamin e recommended for your body.

Paprika also boosts your daily intake of vitamin e.

Each tablespoon provides 2 milligrams of vitamin e, or 13 percent of the recommended daily intake determined by the institute of medicine.

Vitamin e helps control blood clot formation and promotes healthy blood vessel function, and also serves as an antioxidant, preventing cellular lipids from destruction.

Getting enough vitamin e in your diet also promotes healthy cell communication.

Adding paprika to your diet also helps you get more iron.

The iron from your diet supports your cellular metabolism -- it allows your cells to carry out a series of chemical reactions, called the electron transport chain, that result in *the energy production.

Iron also supports the function of hemoglobin and myoglobin -- two proteins tasked with transporting and storing oxygen that your tissues need to function.

A tablespoon of paprika contains 1.4 milligrams of iron, providing 8 and 18 percent of the daily recommended intakes for women and men, respectively, determined by the institute of medicine.

1 tablespoon of paprika has 9% of your recommended daily intake of iron (based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet)

Iron helps carry oxygen through your body and helps with energy levels.

Paprika has multiple chemical compounds in it that convert to vitamin a.

1 teaspoon of paprika has 37% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin a (based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet)

Vitamin a supports cell growth, is an antioxidant, and plays many important roles throughout our bodies.

1 teaspoon of paprika has 4% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin b-6

Vitamin b-6 is part of a group of coenzymes that are responsible for creating glucose, producing hemoglobin, and reducing your chance of developing cardiovascular issues.

Paprika is unusually highly loaded with vitamin c, an important nutrient for keeping our immune systems strong.

It contains 6-9 times as much vitamin c as tomatoes, and it can be an important way to get vitamin c in your daily diet.

Paprika is high in antioxidants because it is rich in vitamins a and e (see below).

Antioxidants counteract or neutralize free radicals and their destructive effects on the body.

Capsaicin is an effective pain reliever when it is applied externally.

There are many ointments and creams made with capsaicin to help with things like headaches, arthritis, and psoriasis.

Paprikaas capsaicin properties are a stimulant in many different ways.

It stimulates the production of saliva and stomach acids, which thus improves digestion.

It also stimulates the cardiovascular system and thus improves blood circulation and blood pressure.

The anti-inflammatory properties of capsaicin can help ease arthritis and joint pain.

This is one of paprikaas strongest properties.

Paprika possesses great anti-inflammatory properties and is particularly beneficial for people suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

It is helpful in relieving swelling caused by arthritis as well as other aches and pains in the body.

This quality can be attributed to the presence of capsaicin in paprika, though it is lower in comparison to other peppers.

Capsaicin aids in lowering blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels.

Paprika not only enhances the health of your body but also improves the appearance of your skin.

The rich array of health benefiting vitamins and antioxidants make it beneficial for your skin in the following ways:

Paprika is packed with vitamins, iron, and beta-carotene, which prevent the occurrence of freckles and age spots.

They improve your complexion by restricting the production of melanin, which is responsible for making your skin darker.

As already mentioned, paprika is rich in beta-carotene, which gets converted to vitamin a in the body.

Vitamin a plays a crucial role in the maintenance of healthy skin.

It prevents the occurrence of wrinkles and promotes a bright complexion.

You can prepare a facial mask by combining a tablespoon of paprika with two tablespoons of honey.

Apply it all over your face in an even layer and leave for 20 minutes.

This will even out your skin tone as well as reduce fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin, and dullness.

It can also treat blemishes and blackheads, making your skin soft and glowing.

However, it is advisable to do a patch test before using it topically to ensure that you do not develop allergic reactions.

The amazing antibacterial properties of paprika make it effective for the treatment of skin problems caused by bacteria.

Acne is one such problem.

Including paprika in your diet may help in preventing the occurrence of acne.

Paprika is an important source of vitamin b6, which is a coenzyme.

In other words, it is vital to enable 100 other enzymes to perform their function perfectly.

They initiate biochemical reactions in the body that create energy, providing glucose while producing neurotransmitters and haemoglobin.

This spice also contains iron, which carries oxygen throughout the body and is a component of many proteins.

These proteins are responsible for energy creation.

Paprika is an awesome stimulant and energizer, which can be used to treat conditions like tiredness, lethargy, and depression.

Vitamin c in paprika provides protection against cardiovascular disease, particularly heart attack and stroke.

Vitamin e is an antioxidant that prevents damage by free radicals, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Being loaded with minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, it helps to purify your blood and improve heart health.

The color of paprika comes from its high content of carotenoids.

Your body can convert some of these compounds, such as beta-carotene, to vitamin a.

Carotenoids also act as antioxidants, thus boosting the vitamin e benefits of paprika.

In addition to these supporting roles, the carotenoids in paprika can delay the gradual deterioration of your eyesight as you age.

To fully reap the benefits of carotenoids, you should always combine paprika with a source of fats.

For example, you can boost your carotenoid intake by tossing chopped vegetables in paprika, herbs and olive oil before roasting.

For a uniquely zesty, savory and carotenoid-rich snack, you can also try topping lightly buttered popcorn with smoked paprika.

Paprika is a good source of vitamin e, which helps in producing red blood cells.

It also helps in forming clots in case of cuts and wounds, facilitating quick wound healing.

Paprika is packed with carotenoids, which is what gives it a red color.

Compounds such as lutein and zeaxanthin help filter harmful sun rays from your eyes, preventing eye damage and diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts.

Vitamin a plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy eyesight and basically refers to a group of compounds called carotenoids.

Paprika contains four carotenoids namelyabeta cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, lutein, and zea-xanthin.

This vitamin is used by the eyes to turn light into vision.

Lutein and zea-xanthin reduce the risk of developing age related macular degeneration and cataracts.

It is advisable to combine paprika with a source of fats such as olive oil to fully reap the benefits of carotenoids.

Paprika aids in digestion by normalizing acid in the stomach.

It is a great stimulant, which facilitates digestion by boosting saliva and stomach acids.

It can be used to treat indigestion.

However, high doses of paprika may interact with other medications, so it is advisable to consult your physician before using paprika for this purpose.

Vitamin b6 in paprika has powerful neurological and psychological effects.

It contributes to the production of the asleep hormonea melatonin, helping you maintain a normal sleep cycle.

Besides, it boosts your bodyas serotonin and norepinephrine levels, both of which enable you to stay happy and stress free.

Paprika has antibacterial properties in it that help naturally control bacteria such as salmonella and e.coli.

It does not necessarily stop these bacteria, but it does slow down their growth.

An antibacterial protein found in paprika has been found to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria such assalmonella and e.

Coli that are often transferred through ingestion.

Inclusion of paprika in your diet can inhibit the growth of these harmful bacteria, if not completely stop it.

Scurvy is a rare disease characterized by swollen and bleeding gums, weak teeth, swollen bones, rapid breathing, jaundice, diarrhoea, depression etc.

The major cause of scurvy is deficiency of vitamin c.

Paprika is a powerhouse of vitamin c.

This vitamin is considered a miracle worker and should be ingested daily to prevent the onset of many diseases, including scurvy.

Include paprika in your diet to boost your vitamin c intake.

As stated earlier, paprika contains iron, which is involved in the formation of red blood cells.

Besides, the abundant amount of vitamin c in this spice enables the body to absorb iron.

In this way, inclusion of paprika in your diet can help prevent anemia.

Paprika has been found to be useful in the prevention and treatment of spider veins because it possesses certain properties that strengthen the veins and blood within the body.

If you have spider veins in your legs, you can use this spice regularly in your diet to diminish these veins and prevent the formation of new ones.

Paprika contains more hair health benefiting nutrients than most vitamin pills! the rich slew of vitamins and minerals in this spice provide the following benefits to your hair:

Paprika is a rich source of vitamin b6, which helps in preventing hair loss.

Paprika also contains substantial amount of iron, which facilitates the transfer of oxygen to the hair follicles.

It stimulates hair growth by improving circulation to the scalp.

Vitamin b6 in paprika is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that imparts color to your hair.

In fact, sweet paprika powder can be added to henna to impart a reddish tint to hair while coloring it.

However, before using it on your scalp, it is advisable to do a patch test on the inside of your wrist to avoid an allergic reaction.