Pepper, one of the oldest known spices, is native to tropical Asia. India is one of the largest producers of pepper in the world.
Pepper, rich in essential oil, is an aromatic herb, that helps prevent intestinal flatulence, promotes sweating and urination. Pepper signals the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid which is required to digest food. This prevents food from staying for too long in the stomach, and prevents stomach irritation and flatulence.
Black Pepper also has great anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties. It stimulates absorption of several micronutrients in the body such as coenzyme Q-10, beta-carotene and EGCG (a powerful anti-oxidant).
In Ayurveda, pepper seeds are used in the form of medication for relief from sinusitis and nasal congestion. Sucking a few pepper corns provides instants relief from dry cough and throat irritation.
The health benefits of black pepper include relief from respiratory disorders, cough, common cold, constipation, digestion, anemia, impotency, muscular strains, dental care, pyorrhea, diarrhea, and heart disease. Black pepper is the fruit of the black pepper plant from the Piperaceae family and is used as a spice and also as a medicine. The chemical piperine, present in black pepper, causes the spiciness. It is native to the southern state of India, Kerala. From ancient times, black pepper is one of the most widely traded spices in the world. It is not seasonal and is, therefore available throughout the year.
Because of its antibacterial properties, pepper is also used to preserve food. It is a source of manganese, iron, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K and dietary fiber. Black pepper is a very good, anti-inflammatory agent.
The health benefits of black pepper include the following:
• Good for stomach: Pepper increases the hydrochloric acid secretion in stomach and thus, helps digestion. Proper digestion is essential to avoid diarrhea, constipation and colic. Pepper also helps to prevent formation of intestinal gas. Pepper-added diet promotes sweating and urination.
• Helps to lose weight: The outer layer of peppercorn assists in the breakdown of fat cells. Hence, peppery foods are a good way to help you shed weight.
• Good for skin: Pepper helps to cure Vitiligo, which is a skin disease that causes some areas of skin to lose its normal pigment and turn white. According to researchers in London, piperine contained in pepper can stimulate the skin to produce pigment. Topical treatment of piperine combined with ultra violet light therapy is much better than the other treatments for vitiligo. It also reduces the chances of skin cancer due to excess ultraviolet radiation.
• Relief for cough and cold: In Ayurveda pepper is added in tonics for cold and cough. Pepper gives relief from sinusitis and nasal congestion.
• The antibacterial property of black pepper helps to fight against infections, insect bites etc. Pepper added diet helps to keeping your arteries clean.
• Good antioxidant: An antioxidant, like pepper, can prevent or repair the damage caused by the free radicals and thus helps to prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases and liver problems.
• Enhances bioavailability: Black pepper helps in transporting the benefits of other herbs to different parts of body.
• According to Ayurveda, black pepper also helps avoid ear-ache and gangrene. It is also good for conditions of hernia, hoarseness and insect bites. It relieves joint pain.
• It is a good treatment for respiratory conditions like asthma, whooping cough etc.
• It is used to treat conditions of tooth decay and toothache. In ancient times, pepper was also used to treat eye problems.
Preparing grounded pepper powder at home is better than buying ready-made pepper powder. But even home-made powder retains its freshness for only up to 3 months. Whole peppercorns can keep their freshness indefinitely.
Thus, adding a pinch of black pepper to every meal helps improve taste and digestion. It also improves your overall health and well being.
Summary
Black Pepper, the dried fruit from the pepper plant, is scientifically known as Piper Nigrum. It is a popular spice that is extensively used in culinary all over the world. The spice tastes hot and gives a pleasant appetizing aroma.
Black Pepper has been known and used by people all the world since the last 4,000 years. In earlier times, black pepper was highly treasured and was used as currency just like gold is used nowadays. Today, we buy and use it just as a spice for our eggs and salads. Black Pepper brings amazing health benefits for its users. Here are a few of these:
1.Improved digestion of food.
Black pepper stimulates the complete digestive system resulting in better and speedy digestion of food consumed. It stimulates the salivary glands, stomach, liver, pancreas, to secrete high quantities of saliva, acids, and digestive juices like pancreatic juice and bile juice. The secretion of these substances facilitates the complete process of digestion. Black Pepper is a safe spice for people suffering from ulcers and acidity who cannot eat chilies.
2.Treats digestive disorders.
Black Pepper helps to the formation of gas in the stomach and intestines, by hampering the bacteria responsible for gas formation. It also helps to remove any gas that is formed inside.
3.Helps in the detoxification of body.
Black pepper is diaphoretic & diuretic in nature. It promotes both sweating and urination in the body. Both these processes play a vital role in the removal of excessive water and toxins from the body. Thus regular use of black pepper as a spice helps to prevent the occurrence of many diseases.
to reduce excessive weight.
Black pepper also helps to remove extra fat form the body. This along with the removal of extra body water helps to treat the problem of obesity.
5.Acts as an antioxidant.
Black Pepper acts as an antioxidant and protects the body from the negative effects of free radicals. Removal of free radicals form the body delays the adverse effects of aging like loss of vision, wrinkling of skin, macular degeneration, etc.
6.Beneficial for joint problems.
Regular intake of black pepper benefits the people suffering from problems like rheumatism and arthritis. It is warming and stimulating in nature and thus helps to improves circulation. Thus it is helpful in providing relief to patients suffering with rheumatism and arthritis. The removal of excessive uric acid from the body also provides relief form pain in chronic rheumatism and arthritis.
Black pepper contains minerals like calcium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, iron and potassium, which are essential for the proper functioning of the body. It is also rich in Vitamin-K, and beta carotene. If a single spice is capable of providing so many benefits to your body, it is essential to incorporate it in your diet. The price you pay for it, is worth the benefits it will provide to your body.
Precaution: Pepper may cause sneezing. Patients who’ve undergone abdominal surgery should not take pepper added diet because pepper has an irritating effect on the intestines. It is also not good for people with ulcers. Black pepper should not be taken in high concentration.
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