Summer Skin Nutrition: Red Bell Peppers

The color of the red bell pepper comes from the antioxidant carotenoid lycopene, just one of the nutrients that distinguishes them from green bell peppers. It also has twice the vitamin C and about nine time the carotene as thier green counterpart. Its rich vitamin A content helps stop the damage to skin from ultraviolet light, which can appear in the form of wrinkles and age spots. The folate, needed for cell growth and skin renewal, keeps skin looking young. The red bell pepper's fat-soluble carotenoid needs oil to carry it into the body, so eating it with olive oil will double its health benefit and optimize its absorption.

(source: LNE & Spa June 2011)