Though
salt is the most widely used spice, peppercorn is the most widely traded spice
in the world. And while it’s known as the king of spices, it’s actually a
fruit. Yes, a fruit. From the Piperaceae family, the black pepper
vine produces peppercorns, which are the fruit of the pepper plant
that have been dried for use.
There are
three types of peppercorns:
·
Green peppercorns are the unripe
version of the dried fruit.
·
White peppercorns are derived from
nearly ripe peppercorn fruits with the skin removed.
·
Black peppercorns, which have been
cooked and then dried, are the most common.
What makes
peppercorns so popular? Well, certainly the spice pairs well with an array of
food options, and it also exhibits an array of health benefits you may not have
known about. For instance, did you know that peppercorns may benefit those with
diabetes and even exhibits anticancer activity, much like black pepper
essential oil? It’s true, but that’s not all.
Benefits of Peppercorns
1.May Help
Prevent Cancer
Turmeric has
become very popular due to it’s amazing healing properties, but researchers
indicate that it’s most effective if it’s combined with black pepper. Why?
Because the piperine in black pepper helps the body absorb the amazing benefits
of turmeric.
Recent
studies share information regarding the positive effects of various spices,
such as black pepper and turmeric, and how they may help reduce the risk of cancer.
Black pepper contains a bioactive compound similar to capsaicin called
piperine. This compound helps induce apoptosis, which can keep tumors away.
That combined with the anticancerous affects of turmeric make this a great
combination.
Further
exhibiting peppercorns’ standing as cancer-fighting foods is
research conducted at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
It found that piperine “inhibits the growth of cancer cells, although the
mechanism of action is not well understood.” Piperine both inhibited the growth
of colon cancer cells and even induced apoptosis in some cells, providing “the
first evidence that piperine may be useful in the treatment of colon cancer.”
2. Aid in
Digestion
Black
pepper sends a message to the stomach to release hydrochloric acid. It’s
this acid that helps improve digestion. Through this process, it can help
eliminate heartburn, indigestion and even gas.
Gastric
acid is the hydrochloric acid component of the gastric juices that form in the
stomach to prepare food for digestion and absorption by the intestine. Acid
bathes the food bolus, or mass of food stored in the stomach, to help break it
down so it can be easily digested. It’s believed that the piperine found in
peppercorns can help produce the much-needed gastric acid so we have a positive
and healthy digestion experience.
3.Can Help
Diabetics
Black
pepper, including in the form of black pepper essential oil or black
peppercorns, has demonstrated itself to have impressive antioxidant and
antibacterial effects — yet another way in which this wonderful seasoning
promotes the health of the digestive tract. These beneficial antioxidants may
help stabilize blood sugar. Regulation of hyperglycemia is one activity
offered by peppercorns and their extracts, ultimately helping reduce
free radical damage.
Recent
research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences of the United States of America studied piperine’s effect on
obesity and diabetes. What the researchers found was that piperine helps the
up-regulation of the metabolic rate of resting muscle, which in turn can
mitigate obesity and diabetes, making it effective in combating obesity and
making it excellent for any diabetic diet plan.
4.Help
Reduce Weight
Many
researchers believe that peppercorns are able to help burn fat due to the
piperine they contains. For example, a study published in the Indian
Journal of Pharmacology was conducted on rats, feeding them high-fat
diets to develop dyslipidemia induced by obesity. The rats were given piperine
and sibutramine for three weeks. What the researchers found was that
“supplementing piperine with HFD significantly reduced not only body weight,
triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and fat mass, but also increased
the HDL levels, with no change in food intake.” This led them to conclude
piperine can help reduce fat and lipids, which can help you lose weight.
However,
more studies are needed to back this claim. That doesn’t eliminate the ability
for pepper to help you reduce weight, though. Why? Well, pepper is a seasoning
that can replace high-calorie sauces when cooking. Simply put, pepper has
very few calories compared to heavy sauces and creams, so going for the pepper
grinder may be a great way to help you drop a few pounds.
5.Reduce
High Blood Pressure
Since
black pepper is nearly free of salt, using it instead of salt may help you
reduce your overall salt intake, ultimately reducing high blood pressure.
Less salt can help reduce fluid retention and uncomfortable bloating. Adding
spices, such as black pepper and even ginger, coriander garlic and bay leaf, to
your food instead of salt can help keep blood pressure in check without feeling
like you are missing something.
A study conducted
at Comenus University in Slovakia on rats found that oral administration
of piperine, present in peppercorns, was able to prevent blood pressure from
rising at least partially, while another study published in the Journal
of Cardiovascular Pharmacology confirmed the blood pressure-lowering
effects on rats.
6.Fight
Bacteria
The
piperine present in black pepper is a phytochemical, or phytonutrient,
containing numerous anti-inflammatory effects, and it’s shown therapeutic
benefits on bacterial development in mice. Researchers have investigated
the effects of piperine on pyroptosis in rodent phagocytic blood cells and
learned that piperine may suppress the development of disease-causing bacteria.
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