What nutritional change occurs as a green bell pepper ripens to red?
Answer
There is a significant increase in nutritional value, particularly in carotenoid production.
A green bell pepper represents the unripe stage of the vegetable. As it matures and ripens into yellow, orange, or red, its nutritional composition undergoes notable transformation. A primary shift involves the cessation of chlorophyll production and the subsequent increase in other pigments, most notably the carotenoids. This ripening process results in higher overall antioxidant levels and generally a greater concentration of vitamins, which is why the fully ripened red variety is nutritionally superior to its green precursor.
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