I have recently started adding tumeric, black pepper and cinnamon to my rooibos tea and really enjoy my tea drinking much more, yuck some of you might say and i agree its really takes some getting used too.
Today i would like to share with you one of those ingredients namely black pepper.
What is Black Pepper?
Black pepper comes from the fruit of the black pepper plant of the Piperaceae family and has been used as spice and medicine for thousands of years. Piperine which is present in black pepper corns is what gives it its distinct flavor plus this is where most of the medicinal properties are found. Mostly found in a town called Kerala in India. Black pepper has always been one of the most traded spices in the world. It is considered a seasonal plant and therefore available throughout the year. Dried pepper corn is dried naturally in the sun and ground up or packaged as is to receive the full benefit from pepper its best to grind it fresh and consume only what has been grounded up as grounded up pepper corns tends to loose its strength after some time. Highly antibacterial and anti-inflammatory it can be used for all internal infections pepper can also used to preserve food.
Black Pepper Nutrition
Black Pepper is a rich in minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, potassium, and vitamins like, riboflavin, vitamin C, K and B6 plus its high dietary fiber, with a small amount of protein and carbohydrate too.
Health Benefits of Black Pepper
Black pepper, adds a great flavor to food, is extremely good for your health. Black pepper is known as an aid in weight loss, and can also prevent ear ache,sinus, asthma and nasal congestion. It is extremely beneficial in reducing the risk of cancer, heart and liver ailments.
Improves Digestion
Consumption of pepper increases the hydrochloric acid secretion levels in the stomach, thereby helping the body in its digestion of food. Proper digestion is vital to avoid diarrhea, constipation and colic. Pepper also helps to prevent intestinal gas, and when added to a person’s diet, it can help with promotion of sweat and urination, which removes toxins from the body quicker increase of sweating also cleans out our pores of any foreign bodies that may have lodged there and it can also remove excess water. A good digestion helps in weight loss, makes your overall body function better overall.
Peppercorn skins assists in the breakdown of fat cells in our bodies which results you shedding weight naturally.
Skin care
Pepper helps to cure vitiligo, is a skin disease that cause abnormal skin pigmentation resulting in whitish dis-coloured skin. Researchers in London have found that piperine stimulate the skin to produce melanocytes pigment. Topical treatment of piperine combined with ultraviolet light therapy is much better than other forms of treatment for vitiligo.
Respiratory Relief
In Ayurvedic medicine, pepper is added to tonics for treating cold and cough. Pepper also great for sinusitis and nasal congestion relief. It has expectorant properties that help to loosen the mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tract
Antibacterial Quality
The black pepper helps to fight against infections and insect bites. Pepper added to the diet can also help to keep your veins and arteries clean by scraping excess cholesterol from the walls, thereby helping to reduce atherosclerosis, which is responsible for heart attacks and strokes.
Antioxidant Potential
As an antioxidant pepper can prevent and repair the damage caused by the free radicals which will help to prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and liver problems. Free radicals result in the attack of healthy healthy cells and cause their DNA to mutate into cancerous cells. Black pepper neutralizes these harmful compounds and protects your system from many conditions, such as premature aging like wrinkles, age spots, macular degeneration, and memory loss.
Piperine has been shown in numerous studies to reduce memory impairment and cognitive malfunction so early research demonstrates the possibility for pepper to benefit Alzheimer’s patients and those that are suffering from dementia and other age-related or cognitionative diseases.
Treats Peptic Ulcers
Studies have have also shown that black pepper may have beneficial effects on gastric mucosal damage and peptic ulcers, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Pepper also Prevents Asthma & Whooping Cough and is good for respiratory conditions due to its properties as an expectorant
I often use pepper to prevent and treat ear-aches with great results.
Until we chat again hope you enjoy reading my article.
