Health Benefits of Black Pepper

Health Benefits of Black Pepper

A pinch of black pepper is added to almost every type of recipe imaginable. Once used as currency and presented to the gods as a sacred offering, it is fortunate that this most popular of spices is available throughout the year.
Black pepper comes from the pepper plant, a smooth woody vine that can grow up to 33 feet in hot and humid tropical climates. They begin to bear small white clustered flowers after 3 to 4 years and develop into berries known as peppercorns. Ground peppercorns produce the spice we call pepper. 

1. Anti-biotic properties

Black pepper has natural antibiotic characteristics owing to its Vitamin C content.  They curb harmful free radical reactions. This is one of the prime uses of black pepper.

2.Increases Nutrient Absorption

The piperine in black pepper enhances the bioavailability of various nutrients such as vitamins A and C, selenium, beta-carotene, and others, thereby improving your overall health. Bioavailability refers to the amount of a nutrient or supplement that is absorbed by the body.
For example, researchers have found that it can increase the bioavailability of the compound curcumin (found in turmeric) twentyfold. Curcumin helps fight cancer, infection, and inflammation.
Moreover, piperine stimulates amino acid transporters in the intestinal lining and inhibits enzymes that help metabolize nutritional compounds. It also prevents the removal of substances from cells and reduces intestinal activity, so more substances enter the body in active form and remain available for use.

3.Cough and cold

Surprisingly, the spice is also acts as a remedy for cough and cold. The antibacterial properties of black pepper are used for treating respiratory disorders.

4.Stimulates Appetite

Besides adding flavor to your food and promoting digestion, black pepper works as an appetite stimulant. Research has shown that black pepper helps improve the appetite through olfactory stimulation. This makes it an excellent, simple remedy for those with a poor appetite.
An Ayurvedic remedy specifically for this purpose calls for consuming a mixture of one-half teaspoon of black pepper and one tablespoon of jaggery powder (gur). Take this remedy on a regular basis till you see improvement.

5.Dental health

Black pepper is helpful in improving dental health. It helps fight tooth decay and provides quick relief from tooth ache .

(read more: How to get white teeth naturally- Home remedies)

6.Can give you clear skin

Apart from a great way to help you sweat and release all the toxins from your skin, it acts a great exfoliant. Pepper when crushed and added to a face scrub, helps slough off dead skin, stimulates circulation and helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the skin. The antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties help keep the skin safe from infections like acne.

(read more: How to get clear smooth skin naturally )

7.Beats dandruff

 Ditch those anti dandruff shampoos, try using pepper instead. Because of its antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties, pepper is great to get rid of dandruff. Mix a teaspoonful of crushed black pepper in a cup of curd. Mix well and apply on the scalp. Leave in for about half an hour. Rinse out your hair well. Do not use shampoo at this stage. Wash your hair with shampoo the next day. Make sure you do not use too much pepper, it may cause your scalp to burn.

8.Helps you lose weight

Black pepper is great in aiding the proper assimilation (extraction of all the nutrients) of food. Moreover, its outer layer which contains potent phyto nutrients stimulates the breakdown of fat cells. This is the reason, why this spice ranks high among the best weight loss aids.

Tip: For effective weight loss, just sprinkle pepper over your food. Do not eat too much of the spice, it can cause severe side effects.