Saturday, March 9, 2013

Antioxidants and Red Bell Pepper Soup

Vitamins A, C, & E are antioxidants
to get antioxidants you have got to eat your fruits and vegetables!!

Vitamin C – berries, kiwi fruit (higher concentration than oranges), citrus fruit, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, green leafy vegetables and bell peppers
Vitamin E – nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cereals, oats, grains, eggs and olive oil
Vitamin A – carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, parsley, spinach, kale and sweet potatoes

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Antioxidants help your body handle free radicals. Free radicals are wandering molecules looking for trouble.

They are molecules that are one atom short to being "complete" or whole. So they go around the body looking for the atom they need and stealing it from other molecules. When they steal an atom from another healthy molecule, they leave it damaged.

What an antioxidant does is "donate" atoms to these free radicals. This means that the free radical is now a rehabilitated citizen of the body. And the antioxidant is none that worse for wear.

A free radical left unchecked causes cellular damage that can lead to anything from pre-mature skin aging to cancer.
Congratulations, you are now a scientist!! :)
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Bell Peppers are loaded in Vitamin C! So here is a recipe for some delicious Vitamin C soup!
Creamy Red Bell Pepper Soup



  • 4 red bell peppers, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 fluid ounces chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Place the red bell pepper, onion and garlic in the saucepan and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender.

2. Pour in the chicken broth, stirring well, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree
til smooth,
3. Run the soup through a strainer and return the liquid to the saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in the heavy cream and the ground black pepper and allow to heat through, about 5 to 10 minutes.


ENJOY.