15 VALUABLE BENEFITS OF BLACK PEPPER FOR HEALTH - NUTRITION

Among the benefits of black pepper are: prevention of breast cancer, relief of depression, treatment for vitiligo, regulation of intestinal transit, cholesterol reduction, among many others that I present below. Now when you hear "add a little pepper to life" you will know why.

Black pepper and its extracts have been used as a folk medicine in a variety of cultures. Its active ingredient, piperine, has aroused great interest in the scientific community in the last decade.

15 health benefits of black pepper

1- Fight tumor growth

Researchers from the Pakistan University of Agriculture, in a 2013 publication, describe the usefulness of black pepper in chemoprevention and control of tumor growth progression.

2- Prevents breast cancer

Research conducted by the University of Michigan found that black pepper can prevent the development of breast cancer cells. This is because piperine, which has a role in cancer prevention. This study also mentions that it is more effective when combined with turmeric.

"If we can limit the number of stem cells, we can limit the number of cells with the potential to form tumors," said lead study author Professor Madhuri Kakarala, MD, Ph.D.

Furthermore, black pepper also contains antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin A, flavonoids, carotenoids, and others, thus protecting the body against cancer.

3- Relieves cough and cold

In the book Medicinal herbs with their formulations by the authors MP Singh and Himadri Panda, they describe the use of black pepper in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as coughs and colds, being basically possible thanks to its antibacterial properties.

4- It works for depression

In one of its posts, the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology explained that the brain's cognitive functions can be improved with piperine, which helps to alleviate depression.

In another study from the Ningbo University of Health Sciences in China, concluded that a combination of piperine (contained in black pepper) and ferulic acid may be an alternative therapy in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression, with a high low efficacy and side effects.

Also another study from the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Panjab in India determined that curcumin, in combination with piperine, can attenuate stress-induced depression.

5- Useful in the fight against obesity

A new study provides a new explanation for the beneficial effects of black pepper in fighting body fat. Research published in ACS 'Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, indicates that piperine can block the formation of new fat cells, further reducing their levels in the bloodstream.

The group of researchers suggests that the finding could lead to a wider use of piperine in the fight against obesity and related diseases.

6- Helps in the treatment of vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin disease that causes loss of pigmentation in certain areas. When the skin loses its natural pigmentation, it turns white.

In a study conducted by Kings College London, and published in the British Journal of Dermatology, researchers found that piperine can stimulate pigmentation in the skin.

Researcher Antony Young said: "We have shown that topical treatment with piperine stimulates pigmentation in the skin… and combined with UV radiation significantly increases pigmentation with results that are cosmetically better than conventional vitiligo therapies."

7- Reduces wrinkles

The high amount of antioxidants present in black pepper helps your skin protect itself against premature aging symptoms, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.

According to Victoria Zak, author of The Magic Teaspoon, adding black pepper to your daily diet can have a miraculous effect on your skin.

8- Skin care

In the book Be Your Own Beautician, its author Parvesh Handa explains that black pepper can remove dead skin cells and exfoliate it, by crushing a little black pepper and applying it. This helps remove toxins from the skin, leaving it smooth and radiant. In addition, it helps promote blood circulation and give more oxygen and nutrients to the skin.

9- Regulates intestinal transit

According to Rich E. Dreben's book, black pepper helps in treating conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion.

In addition, according to a publication from the Food Center of the Mysore Institute of Technology Research in India, black pepper improves digestive capacity and significantly reduces the gastrointestinal transit time of food.

10- Relieves neck pain

According to a study by the Department of Cosmetology at Hungkuang University in Taiwan, applying an essential oil cream made from marjoram, black pepper, lavender, and peppermint can help improve neck pain.

11- Reduce the symptoms of cigarette withdrawal

In a study by the Durham Nicotine Research Laboratory in the United States, the subjective effects of a cigarette substitute were investigated: an essential oil vapor based on black pepper.

Forty-eight cigarette smokers participated in a 3-hour session, after having gone all night without smoking. The results support the idea that inhaling the vapor from black pepper reduces cigarette withdrawal symptoms.

12- Relax the muscles (antispasmodic)

Antispasmodics are used to relieve, prevent, or reduce the incidence of muscle spasms, especially those that occur in the wall of the intestine.

The Department of Physiology of the Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Ahwaz Medical Sciences Faculty of Medicine in Iran conducted a study in which they concluded that black pepper has antispasmodic properties.

13- It fights inflammation and is analgesic

A study by the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan, determined that black pepper possesses potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity.

14- It has anticonvulsant effects

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research at Punjabi University in India conducted a study in mice in which they concluded that piperine has anticonvulsant effects.

15- Reduce cholesterol

The Pharmacological Research Unit of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Naresuan University in Thailand, concluded in an investigation that black pepper and piperine reduce the absorption of cholesterol.

Side effects

Irritable Bowel - Patients who have undergone abdominal surgery should be careful as black pepper can irritate the bowel.
Burning sensation: because pepper is hot it can cause a burning sensation if it is abused.
Stomach: In some cases, overuse of black pepper can cause severe stomach burns. But the burning sensation is temporary.

During pregnancy, the body will be sensitive to spices. Also, the spicy taste of pepper can be transferred to breastfeeding.

It increases body heat, so it is not advisable to add too much pepper to meals during the summer, as it can increase body heat.

Contraindications

Patients taking cyclosporin A, digoxin, cholinergics, and cytochrome P450 should avoid consuming black pepper. Although black pepper has many benefits, it also has side effects if taken incorrectly.

Nutritional information

A serving of (100 grams) of Pepper contains:

255 kilocalories of energy (13 percent DV)

64.81 grams carbohydrate (49 percent DV)

10.95 grams of protein (19.5 percent DV)

3.26 grams of total fat (11 percent DV)

26.5 grams of dietary fiber (69 percent DV)

1,142 milligrams niacin (7 percent DV)

0.340 milligrams pyridoxine (26 percent DV)

0.240 milligrams riboflavin (18 percent DV)

299 IU vitamin A (10 percent DV)

21 milligrams vitamin C (35 percent DV)

44 milligrams sodium (3 percent DV)

1259 milligrams potassium (27 percent DV)

437 milligrams calcium (44 percent DV)

1,127 milligrams copper (122 percent DV)

28.86 milligrams iron (360 percent DV)

194 milligrams magnesium (48.5 percent DV)

5,625 milligrams manganese (244.5 percent DV)

173 milligrams phosphorus (25 percent DV)

1.42 milligrams zinc (13 percent DV)

Interesting data

Many refer to pepper as the queen of spices due to its age.
Like many other spices it has its place of origin in India.
Pepper is the best-selling spice in America.
The best way to preserve it is in hermetic containers so that it does not lose its smell.
The United States is the largest consumer of pepper in the world, it is estimated that they invest an approximate amount of 671 million dollars in it.
Its color changes as it dries.
Black pepper has a high level of caffeine.
Pepper has been found in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs.
In the Middle Ages the value of pepper was higher than that of silver.
There are several types, the black one that is the cooked fruit, the green one that is the unripe dried fruit and the white one that is the ripe fruit.
In ancient Greece it was used as a currency.
In ancient times it was used to treat vision problems, earaches and gangrene.
This plant only grows in soils that are balanced, that is, neither very humid nor very dry, otherwise it does not flower.
Black pepper kernels are green when harvested, they turn black when dried.
The most expensive variety is red pepper, which is left on the vine for longer than necessary.
When the Visigoths sacked Rome, they also took 1.3 tons of black pepper (in addition to the gold and silver) as a ransom.
Pepper was used to honor the gods and pay taxes and ransoms.
In the Middle Ages, a man's wealth was measured by the amount of pepper he possessed.

Recipes

Pasta with pepper and sausages

A perfect dish for a family lunch, very colorful and delicious, that can be prepared in just 30 minutes. Makes 6 or 8 people.

Ingredients:

½ kilo of short pasta (the one you want of your preference)

2 tablespoons of olive oil

½ red onion, sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ red bell pepper cut into strips

½ green bell pepper cut into strips

1 package of sausages (can be those of your preference)

1 ½ cups tomatoes

1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped

Salt and black pepper, to taste

preparation:

Place boiling water in a large pot, and add salt to taste. This to cook the pasta until al dente.

During the pasta cooking time, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the onion, garlic, paprika, sausage and a pinch of red pepper. Cook for at least 5 minutes, stirring frequently to mix the ingredients and prevent them from sticking to the sides of the pan.

Once the pasta is ready, drain it and place it in a deep plate. Add the sliced tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and basil. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve hot and enjoy.

Celery gratin with black pepper

It is an ideal dish for snacks or when we have a meeting and we want to make original and fresh dips. Ready in just 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1kg celery, peeled

300 grams of cream

100 grams of Parmesan cheese

1 garlic clove, peeled, finely chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper