Red pepper is one of the appetizers that are consumed by many people worldwide and when taken in appropriate amounts, red pepper is very good and nutritious to the body.
Red pepper stimulates the operation of some parts of the mouth and stomach and aids in digestion and even kills some of the unwanted microbes in the stomach.
Apart from the bitter and stinging red pepper that is common here in Rwanda, there is also sweet red pepper that is used as salads, and more so, red pepper is used as a component to make medicine for plants and even animals.
Red pepper causes warmth in a person’s body and appetite to people who consume it. Too much red pepper is not recommended because it weakens some of the parts of the stomach especially liver and can even cause stomach ulcers to some people.
Consuming too red pepper also destroys some nerves and mineral waters on the tongue that are used for tasting are weakened. 100 grams of red pepper is consists of 74gs of water, 395kilojoules of energy, 94calcium, 4.1grams of proteins, 2.3gs oils, 18grams of carbohydrates, 6grams of fiber, and many others.
It has iron, magnesium, phosphor, Beta, Carotene, Thiamin, riboflavin and ascorbic acid as its contents. It is good to take natural red pepper with no added oils as it is the case of many restaurants in Rwanda with its natural nutrients and no additives.
Rwanda Horticulture Development Authority (Rhoda) which is now in NAEB (National Agriculture Export Board) ascertains that red pepper is very nutritious and it should be given attention in farming. Red pepper has many types though the common ones on the international market includes California wonder, Yolo wonder, Emerald giant and Bird’s eye.
China is the leading country in growing and selling red pepper internationally.