What is Black Pepper?

Black pepper is actually a fruit of black pepper plant from the Piperaceae family and is scientifically called as Piper nigrum. It is used as a spice and medicine. Just a sprinkle of black pepper added to any recipe acts as a flavor enhancer and gives a spicy taste. Black pepper is a familiar spice among the people and is commonly used worldwide. It also has good anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. They are also known for many health benefits apart from its flavor and preservative property. So let us have a look at some of the amazing health benefits of Black pepper.

  1. Improves Digestion

Black pepper helps to stimulate the digestive juices and enzymes that in turn promotes digestion. So you can consume black pepper in your meal so that it will help your food digest easily. It helps in relieving stomach gas, colicky abdominal pain, and flatulence. The intake of pepper increases the hydrochloric acid secretion in your stomach and helps to avoid intestinal issues like diarrhea, intestinal gas, and constipation. Proper and good digestion helps in your weight loss and makes your body function better.

  1. Prevents Cancer

A study on black pepper shows that it helps in preventing various forms of cancer. It also increases the absorption of different nutrients like vitamins, curcumin, selenium, beta-carotene that plays a vital role in cancer prevention. The piperine found in black pepper shows anticancer properties for some types of cancer like colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.

  1. Soothes Cold and Cough

Black pepper is used for medicinal purposes from ancient times. It is used to provide relief from nasal congestion and sinusitis. It has an excellent property the breaks the mucus and phlegm depositions in the respiratory tract. It also eases asthmatic symptoms and relieves respiratory ailments like whooping cough.

  1. Weight Loss

The outer layer of black pepper assists in breaking fat cells in your body and therefore foods prepared with peppers are good to have as it will help you to shed your weight naturally. The fat cells are broken down into smaller components that are easily processed by your body. This prevents the fat cells to get settle in your body and stops you from getting overweight.

  1. Provides Relief from Vitiligo

Pepper may give alleviation from vitiligo, which is a skin disorder that makes a few areas of skin lose its ordinary pigmentation and turn white. As indicated by scientists in Oregon Health and Science University, the piperine present in pepper can stimulate the skin to create melanocytes color. Topical treatment of piperine with ultraviolet light treatment is vastly improved than other harsher, chemical-based treatments for vitiligo.

  1. Improves Cognitive Function

Piperine present in black pepper helps to reduce memory impairment and psychological glitch. The chemical pathways in the brain get stimulated by this natural compound, so some of the research shows the possibility of pepper to benefit Alzheimer’s patients and those enduring other age-related or free radical-related breakdowns in cognition.

  1. Has Antioxidant Benefits

Black pepper has great antioxidant impacts, which add to your wellbeing from numerous points of view. The presence of antioxidant property helps to fight the disease-causing free radicals and boosts immunity. It is found that black pepper has a high amount of antioxidant and phenolic content that enables various health benefits like cancer and malignancy. The piperine in black pepper expands the bioavailability of nutrients in various foods and supplements. It can change a powerful remedial substance into a highly effective one by enhancing its intracellular residency time.

  1. Exfoliates your Skin

Black pepper can be used as a scrub to exfoliate your skin and expel dead skin cells. This makes your skin soft and smoother. You can make this scrub by using some crushed black pepper and 1 teaspoon of yogurt. Apply the combination to your face and wash it after 15 minutes. This will help you to remove toxins from your skin, leaving it delicate and shiny. It also promotes blood circulation and provides your skin with more oxygen and vital nutrients. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory property helps to prevent acne and pimples.

  1. Reduces Inflammation

The anti-inflammatory property of pepper helps to combat headache, migraine, arthritis and other pains on the body. This makes pepper a natural pain killer spice.

  1. Good for blood circulation

Skin disfigurement, similar to wrinkles, is kept under control if you add black pepper to your diet routine. Black pepper is useful to keep the premature greying and dark spots in control and also improves the blood circulation that makes your skin to appear fresh and radiant. Skin problems like acne, rashes, etc. are also kept in control with regular intake of black pepper in your diet and snacks. 

Black pepper Nutrition

Black pepper contains minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorous and other essential vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin E and K, folate, etc. They also contain a good amount of dietary fiber, carbohydrate, and proteins.  

Note: Reactions and Allergies of Black Pepper

Black pepper is found to cause stomach burns when taken in enormous amounts. Black pepper is known to create burning sensation inside the stomach in specific individuals, and they should check the amount of black pepper being taken before discarding it completely. Crushed pepper can also create a burning sensation in the eyes if it enters your eyes accidentally. You should wash the hands after utilizing black pepper to prevent it from getting into an open part of your skin. It may also cause some irritation to some pregnant ladies bolstering moms.

You can find another new article about Black Pepper and its health benefits at E2H

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