Paprika Make Sperm More Aggressive

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - OTHER THAN as a vegetable or cooking spices, pepper was rich in vitamin C, even higher than oranges abortion. Paparika also contain many nutrients and can prevent cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, diabetes mellitus, and can improve sperm quality.

Paprika (Capsicum annuum) is a type of pepper that taste sweet and slightly spicy. Compared to other chili, peppers including special because it contains a very high nutrition, especially vitamin C. The content of vitamin C in peppers is much higher than the orange that has been known as a source of vitamin C.

Every 100 grams of red pepper contains 190 mg of vitamin C, the highest among other types of peppers. In contrast, 100 grams of oranges contains only 30-50 mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C is known as a compound the body needs in a variety of important processes, ranging from the manufacture of collagen (fibrous protein that forms connective tissue in the bone), fat transport, transport electrons from a variety of enzymatic reactions, hyper healthy gums, regulating cholesterol levels, as well as immunity boosters .

In addition, our bodies need vitamin C for wound healing and improve brain function in order to work optimally. Body's need for vitamin C is 75 mg per day for adult women and 90 mg per day for adult men. The maximum limit consumption of vitamin C is 1,000 mg per day.

Paprika is also rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene. In red pepper contains 3131 IU of vitamin A, the highest dibandingakan other types of peppers. Vitamin A is necessary the body to prevent eye disease, cell growth, immune system, reproduction, and maintaining healthy skin.

Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that may play an important role in reducing the concentration of peroxyl radicals. Ability to work as an antioxidant beta-carotene comes from its ability to stabilize the carbon-core radicals. Because beta-carotene is effective at low concentrations of oxygen, beta-carotene can complement the antioxidant properties of vitamin E is effective at high concentrations of oxygen.

Beta-carotene is also known as an element of cancer prevention, especially skin cancer and lung cancer. Beta carotene can reach more parts of the body in a relatively longer time compared to vitamin A, so as to provide more optimal protection against the emergence of cancer.

The George Mateljan Foundation (2006) states that the amount of vitamin B6 on peppers include excellent category. That is because the peppers contain vitamin B6 with a high density level.

Vitamin B6 is important for the brain to function normally, helping to form proteins, hormones, and red blood cells. Most of the content of beta-carotene in paprika concentrated near the skin. Just like other vegetables, the older the color of paprika, beta-carotene in it more and more.

Anticancer
The content of vitamin B6 and folic acid in the peppers are excellent for preventing atherosclerosis and diabetes. Both of these bodies need vitamins to reduce homocysteine ​​levels. Homocysteine ​​is produced from the methylation cycle in the body.

Homocysteine ​​is very harmful for the body because it can interfere with blood circulation and lead to deadly diseases such as heart disease and stroke. Paprika is also rich in fiber (dietary fiber), which will help reduce the number of cholesterol in the body and prevent colon cancer.

In red peppers, there is a fairly high lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment that carries the color red. These pigments belong to the class of phytochemical compounds are easily found in fruits such as red peppers. Lycopene is known by a variety of benefits such as anticancer.

A study conducted at Yale University on 473 men found that men who are free of prostate cancer have more lycopene in their blood than those who were sick. The same study was also conducted by Harvard University in 2002, proving that men who consume large amounts of lycopene have a lower risk of cancer, particularly prostate cancer.

In addition to prostate cancer, lycopene may also reduce the consumption of various types of cancer. A study in Iran as reported by Cook et al (1979) showed that consumption of lycopene may reduce esofagal 39 percent of cancers in men.

De Vet HC et al (1991) reported that women who ate tomatoes at least three pieces in a week have a risk of neck bone cancer 40 percent lower than those who do not eat them. Helzlsouer et al (1996) reported that consumption of lycopene may reduce the 7.4 percent risk of uterine cancer.

Lycopene is also reported to be able to cope with stomach cancer caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. The presence of lycopene is very useful for menghmbat oxidation caused by the bacteria. According Atanasova (1997), lycopene also can inhibit the formation of N-nitrosamins which can cause stomach cancer.

Paprika is also a good antioxidant. Giovannucci (1999) reported the structure is potentially as an antioxidant lycopene. The absence of ring structures betaione cause lycopene has an excellent antioxidant activity.

Stereochemical structure of lycopene is different from other types of carotenoids. The structure of lycopene can not be converted into vitamin A and are known to be efficient in capturing free radicals than other carotenoids.

Lycopene is also known to have antioxidant activity two times stronger than beta-carotene and ten times more potent than vitamin E. Thus, reaction of lycopene as an antioxidant in the body better than vitamins A, C, E, and other minerals.

Increase Sperm
Consumption of lycopene in red pepper is believed to improve sexual quality. Lycopene is believed to increase sperm count, improve sperm structure, and increased aggressiveness.

A study conducted in India on 30 infertile couples prove that consumption of lycopene by 20 mg for 3 months continuously can increase sperm count by 67 percent, improve the structure of sperm as much as 63 percent, and increase the speed of sperm as much as 73 percent.

According to All India Institute of Science New Delhi (2002), lycopene is one of 650 types of carotenoids that are normally present in high concentrations in the testis. If low concentrations of lycopene, men will easily experience infertility.

Lycopene is the red peppers can maintain mental and physical functions of the elderly. After entry into the bloodstream, lycopene would capture free radicals on cells and repair old cells that have been damaged.

How to Processing, Selecting, and Saving the Good
Paprika processing should be done properly so as not to reduce the nutritional value. In order for vitamin C levels did not evaporate quickly, preferably peppers inserted into the dish at the end of the cooking process or mixed with salads.

Storage peppers should be done correctly. The content of vitamin C can be reduced, even lost, if the peppers that have split the old left exposed to air. According to Irna (2005), tips for choosing and storing peppers is good is as follows:

* Choose paprika whose skin is still smooth, shiny, and not dull.
* Choose peppers hard to ensure that the quality is still nice and new.
* If purchased in a state of plastic-wrapped, open the package immediately to avoid moisture.
* Store the peppers in a plastic bag that has been perforated before being put into the refrigerator, so that the resistance for a long time.
* Peppers should not be left in a state split if it will not be eaten because the vitamin C contained in it can be reduced / lost. @

Prof Dr. Made ir Astawan
Expert Food Technology, Bogor Agricultural Universitykompas.com