The "King of Spices', the black pepper, is a truly amazing spice from India's Malabar Coast. Travellers from the world, like Vasco De Gama, discovered its properties and made it a globally celebrated spice.
So, one of the oldest known spices does not only spice up the food but also has amazing medical values. So, add it to your daily routine and discover the 11 science-backed benefits of Black Pepper here. Let's have a look!
1. A Good Dose of Antioxidants
Piper nigrum is the botanical name of the black pepper, which is high in antioxidants. Scientists have studied its core properties and found that Piperine, an element of black pepper, has good antioxidant values.
So, the researchers found out that Piperine regulates the free radicals in the body. In a common language, every organism produces unstable free radicals. Excess growth of free radicals due to diet, pollutants etc., can cause inflammation that causes Heart risk and cancers. So, Piperine checks and controls these free radicals making humans less prone to deadly diseases.
2. It Boost Bioavailability
Some of the best quality whole spices, like black pepper, increase Bioavailability. Bioavailability means the speed at which a drug is absorbed in a body in more common terms. For example, you may be taking some nutrients and drugs, but they are useless if the body doesn't absorb them. It speeds up the absorption of drugs in the whole gastrointestinal tract and reduces its oxidation time.
3. Its Nutrition Value is Great
You will be amazed to know that this amazing spice is a power pack of main nutrients. It has oleoresin and alkaloids, flavonoids and essential oil. All of these boost digestive health. Also, there's vitamin C,K,E,A,B1,B2, B6 and B5.
It has Manganese, Copper, Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc, and Chromium. Everything is great for wound healing, bone health and metabolism too. So, to give you a clear perspective, a teaspoon of black pepper powder contains:
- Calories: 6
- Protein: 0 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 1 gram
- Fibre: 1 gram
- Sugar: 0 gram
- Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
- Sodium: 0 milligrams
4. Anti Inflammatory Properties
One of the most famous properties of back pepper is significant as it reduces chronic inflammation and Ischemia-reperfusion. The rodents injected with pepper witnessed reduced inflammation of a cardiac injury. Therefore, it is good for people suffering from inflammation and pain caused due to it. Also, a pinch of black pepper in your tea or food can do wonders.
5. It Boosts Cognitive Functions
Scientists have got enough evidence on the benefits of black pepper on the brain. It improves brain function and helps to control Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
So rodents were subjected to black pepper, and the researchers noticed a reduction of amyloid plaques. It's the protein that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Also, it overall improves brain functions and prolongs a healthy brain.
6. Amazing for Heart Problems
Increasing cholesterol is one of the most common problems resulting in heart diseases. The black pepper-rich diet significantly decreases the LDL (bad) cholesterol during an experiment on rats. Also, a rich black pepper diet was given to certain pigs, and there was a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol). Also, it regulates high blood pressure by calcium channel blockade and treats hypertension.
7. It Helps to Control Diabetes
The bioactive elements present in the black powder control diabetes. With a black pepper rich regular diet, the hormone insulin was better able to regulate glucose uptake. Hence, it helps to regulate the insulin hormone. Also, it aids in weight loss which is great to avoid lifestyle diseases like diabetes.
8. Cancer-Fighting Properties
Piperine is a wonder compound found in black pepper, and including regularly small quantities in diet can do marvels. For example, it's proved and tested that Piperine reduces breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells and induces cancer cell death in the lab. In addition, it can somehow deal with cancerous cells.
9. Best for gut Health
There's a hydrochloric acid lining in your gut that helps digest the food. Unfortunately, this dilute hydrochloric acid turns concentrated over time due to poor lifestyle, which causes acidity.
So, black pepper helps regulate hydrochloric acid so that you can absorb the food more efficiently. Also, it reduces gastritis in the whole of your gastrointestinal tract. So mixing black paper with herbal tea, mixing it with food or adding it as dressing can be great for your gut health.
10. Impressive Antibacterial Properties
Piperidine has good antibacterial properties, and a study found it competent to fight against gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. It's good for external applications and has great benefits. Also, it increases immunity, and the antibacterial property can be utilised both by intake and exterior use.
11. Use it for Healthy Hair and skin
Well, it has some great benefits for hair, scalp and skin. You can mix black pepper powder with a carrier oil on the scalp. It soothes the scalp, removes dandruff and stops premature greying of hair.
It has great vitamin c and antibacterial properties to make your scalp and hair healthy. The coarse black pepper is a great exfoliator, and you can create a DIY scrub with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It reduces skin infections and acne significantly.
How to Incorporate Black Pepper into your diet
Some of the smart ways to include your daily diet are:
- Sprinkle black pepper powder over salads, poached, scrambled, or other egg recipes.
- Add it to your herbal tea in the morning.
- It goes well with soups, ramen and noodles.
- Use it as an ingredient while cooking meat, fish, pasta and vegetables.
There are even more proven and tested benefits of black pepper. Apart from being spicy and having lovely flavours, it is good for your overall health. Like spices, use the right amount and make your mind and body strong.
Black pepper is not only a spice but a blessing in human life. So, explore all its properties and use it for yourself, and you will gradually notice the benefits.
