Bell Pepper vs Zucchini – Which is Healthier?

Our Verdict

When comparing bell pepper to zucchini, we picked the bell pepper.

Why?

In terms of macros, bell peppers have nearly 2x the fiber for slightly more carbs and comparable (negligible) protein, winning this category.

In the category of vitamins, amounts of vitamins A and C do vary by bell pepper color (more on that in the “learn more” section below), but even using the most conservative numbers for each, bell peppers have more of vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, C, E, and K, while zucchini has more of vitamins B2, B5, and B9, giving bell peppers a 7:3 win here.

Looking at minerals, bell peppers have more copper, while zucchini have more calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc, giving zucchini a compelling win in this round.

In other considerations, bell peppers have more polyphenols (especially quercetin and luteolin), as well as some good carotenoids not otherwise covered, such as lutein, so this round’s another win for bell peppers.

Adding up the sections makes for a clear overall win for bell peppers, but by all means enjoy either or both, as diversity is good (and those minerals are great)!

Want to learn more?

You might like:

• Brain Food? The Eyes Have It! ← this is mostly about lutein
• Which Bell Peppers To Pick? A Spectrum Of Specialties ← for the differences between the different colors

Enjoy!