Valuable Facts about Black Pepper

History

Black Pepper, Piper nigrum, is known as the “King of Spices”. It is the most pungent and flavorful of all type of peppers. It was called “black gold” by traders because it was one of the very first items of trade between India and Europe. In middle ages, it was so valuable that it became one of the measures by which men judged other men’s wealth by his stockpile of pepper.

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Botanical Description

Black Pepper is the fruit of the plant from Piperaceae family, a smooth woody vine that grows in tropical climates. It is native to Kerala, the southern state of India. The plant can grow up to 33 feet and begin to bear small white clustered flowers after 3-4 years of plantation and develop into berries known as peppercorns.

For black peppercorns, the berries are picked before full maturity and turn dark when dried. The difference in color of pepper is a reflection of varying stages of development and processing methods.

Piperine is the health-benefiting essential oil that causes the strong pungent flavor in black pepper and the spiciness. In case of milled-peppers -- crushed, grinded or pressed peppers -- these volatile oils may disappear because of evaporation.

Health Benefits

Contains Piperines

Black pepper contains other essential oils like monoterpenes sabinene, pinene, terpenene, limonene, and mercene. These oils are used in aromatherapy to help ease muscle aches and combat arthritis. But the most important component of black pepper is the essential oil piperine.

It was shown to treat the pigmentary skin disorder called vitiligo – a skin disease that causes some areas of skin to lose its normal pigmentation and turn white. Piperine can reduce cigarette cravings also, so it can help in quitting smoking. It increases the body’s ability to absorb betacarotenes, selenium and B-vitamins (pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin).

Numerous studies shown that piperine can reduce memory impairment and cognitive malfunction by stimulating the chemical pathways in the brain. And because of this, researchers demonstrate the possibility for black pepper to assist patients with Alzheimer’s, with dementia and other cognitive impairment.

Stomach friendly

Black pepper stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thereby improving digestion. Hydrochloric acid is essential for the digestion of food components to avoid diarrhea, constipation and colic.

Black pepper is carminative meaning it helps prevent formation of intestinal gas.

Impressive antioxidant

When black pepper is added to the diet, it promotes sweating and urination. Sweating (diaphoresis) and urination (diuresis) remove toxins from the body. It alleviates the risk of atherosclerosis by scraping the excess cholesterol from the arterial wall.

It contains minerals that help support and protect our body from many conditions; and neutralizes harmful compounds:

• Zinc - promotes cell growth and repairs the damage caused by the harmful free radicals and helps protect from cancers and diseases

• Potassium – controls heart rate, blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases

• Calcium – strengthen bones and teeth

• Iron – carries oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body thus enhance cellular respiration and blood cell production

• Magnesium – helps keep the blood vessels pliable, builds bones and it is an anti-inflammatory

• Potassium - helps improve stomach’s digestive ability to promote intestinal health

Facilitates weight loss

The outer layer of the peppercorn stimulates the breakdown of fat cells, so adding it in foods is a good way to help loss weight naturally.

Antibacterial property

Black pepper has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that fight E. coli, staph infections some respiratory conditions like asthma and insect bites. It is also effective against teeth and gum bacterial infection. Mix it with salt and rub on the gum and teeth twice a day. The mixture will remove the tartar accumulated on the teeth.

Warnings

• Avoid excessive use of black pepper after abdominal surgery. May cause sneezing.

• High doses of black pepper may cause uneasiness, vomiting, loose motions and sleeplessness.

Today, black pepper can be found in every kitchen and is available throughout the year, because it is not a seasonal plant -- whole, crushed, or ground into powder to add flavor on food. Pepper retains its optimum freshness for about three months.

Black pepper, aside from nutritional facts, is so cherished because of its culinary purposes. It adds spice to many recipes and efficient in preserving foods.

The Health Benefits of Mudding

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