If your victory garden is like most others this time of year, your peppers are ripening and ready to put in all kinds of recipes. But what do you know about their nutritional advantages? Take our quiz on the healthful aspects of peppers, hot and mild:

1. According to nutritiondata.com, how much vitamin A would a 5 gram (1 tablespoon) serving of red or cayenne pepper supply?

A. 14 percent

B. 24 percent

C. 34 percent

D. 44 percent

2. True or false. The more capsaicin that a capsicum (botanical name for pepper) contains, the hotter it is, according to health.net.

3. Some hot peppers are thought to have medicinal value when applied to which condition(s):

A. joint pain

B. upset stomach

C. stuffy nose

D. all of the above

4. The heat of a pepper is found mostly in the . . .

a. seeds

b. membrane (placenta)

c. skin

d. color (red is hot; green is cold)

e. a and b

5. The best antidote for hot-pepper mouth is . . .

a. milk

b. water swished around in the mouth

c. beer

d. sport drink with vodka chaser

Answers: 1. d. 44 percent. Peppers also are high in vitamin C. 2. True. 3. d. The capsaicin in peppers is thought to interrupt pain sensors, help clear sinuses and settle your stomach if peppers didn't upset it in the first place. 4. a and b, though the skin can be hot as well, so wear gloves when touching peppers. 5. a. Since the heat is carried in an oily compound, water just distributes it to other parts of the mouth. That's why milk gets the nod from the Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University at chilepepperinstitute.org

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