Now, if you're on the hunt for bell pepper powder, make sure you choose a product made from yellow or orange bell peppers. Yes, red bell peppers resemble paprika in terms of color, but they're the sweetest variety because they're the ripest.

Polyphenols, such as curcumin, have gained popularity because epidemiological studies have repeatedly shown that diets rich in them can provide inflammatory relief. At the molecular level, polyphenols help stabilize oxidation in cellular components. Oxidation can lead to damage to organelles within cells, including mitochondria, the cell powerhouses where much of the cell's energy is produced by the oxygen we breathe. Eating foods with antioxidant properties, such as berries, nuts, healthy fats, and turmeric, is thought to help maintain levels of oxidative damage.

Regular paprika is not necessarily the product of one specific chile but rather, can be a combination of several different peppers that meet the correct heat and color requirements. It usually comes from New Mexico, California, Hungary, or South America.  

In addition to sweet and hot paprika, there is also smoked paprika, which is made from peppers that have been smoked over oak fires. This process gives the paprika a distinct smoky flavor, adding depth and complexity to dishes.

Overall, chili peppers can be a flavorful addition to a healthy diet, and their potential health benefits make them a valuable ingredient in many cuisines around the world.

When Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492, he was the first European to have an encounter with any sort of chile pepper plant. He brought the ancestor of all paprika back with him to Europe and specifically to his patrons, the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. The king and queen did not care for their fiery heat and sent them to a monastery to be studied. These monks sent them further along across Spain and Portugal. From there, chile peppers made their way across Europe. Some peppers stayed spicy, like those in Calabria, but other European cultures experimented with their breeding and created the sweet and flavorful varieties of peppers that give us paprika today.