While bell peppers may not be spicy, it doesn't make them any less pleasing than hot chilies. In fact, many of you may already be eating bell peppers in their dried, ground form, or as paprika. Yes, that deep red spice in your cupboard called paprika is in fact made from red bell peppers. Use fresh bell peppers or paprika just like you would spicy chilies. A fantastic thing to do with bell peppers is to combine them with hot chilies, which will both tone down the heat and add a new layer of flavor. The possibilities are truly endless.
The heat of peppers is measured using the Scoville Heat Scale, which ranks the heat of a given pepper in units known as Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Bell peppers of all colors register zero SHU, meaning they're not hot at all. Jalapeños are medium, measuring 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, while extremely hot chiles like habaneros or Scotch bonnets come in at 100,000 to 350,000 SHU.
Bell peppers have been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. They may also help improve eye health and reduce inflammation.
Hot Paprika


In addition to these two main types, there are also smoked paprika varieties, such as Spanish pimentón de la Vera, which are made from peppers that have been smoked over oak fires. This process gives the paprika a distinct smoky flavor that adds depth to dishes like barbecue, chili, and marinades.
Having said this, something as beneficial as capsaicin does not come without any trade-offs. Producing capsaicin takes a lot of energy, which is why some peppers are not spicy. In some cases it makes more sense to make a lot of fruit with less or no capsaicin, thus producing more seed, and getting offspring by overwhelming predators and plagues by sheer volume.