I love adding Paprika to my egg salad or chicken salad, but I wondered what health benefits does this colorful spice have. So, of course I had to do some research and here is what I found.
What is Paprika?
Interestingly Paprika comes from a variety of peppers, the sweet bell pepper along with chili peppers and cayenne. These peppers are ground up to make this awesome spice. It is important to note that it is considered to be in the nightshade family.
Nutrition
Seeing as how it is made from a variety of peppers the nutritional value will vary from product to product. However, Paprika is known to contain a huge amount of vitamin A. This vitamin alone packs a punch of benefits for our health.
- Fat-soluble
- Antioxidant
- Healthy, clear skin
- Maintains eye health
- Supports immune system
- Anti-inflammatory
- May aid in cancer prevention
- Aids with bone health
- Cholesterol reduction
- Urinary stone prevention
- Aids with reproduction and development
- Aids with tissue repair
All of this in just 1 tablespoon and you can use it to make a face mask too.
Health Benefits
- Rich in antioxidants
- Aids with autoimmune issues
- May prevent and treat cancer
- May aid with diabetes
- Improves eye sight
- Aids with heart health
Skin Health
Paprika is loaded with antioxidants which aids with removing free radicals from the skin. Free radicals stem from various pollutants we are exposed to on a daily basis. They also contribute to our skin prematurely aging through wrinkles and collagen loss. Removing the free radicals allows for greater circulation leading to healthier skin.
Due to the high content of vitamin A it can aid with preventing some age and sun spots. Paprika also helps even out the skin tone and aid with increased elasticity. It can also protect the skin against photoaging due to being over exposed to the sun.
So, what do you think will you add more paprika to the dishes you prepare?