Ground black pepper - benefits and harm to the body

Among the spices known throughout the world, black pepper is the undisputed leader. This seasoning, which today is in every kitchen, in the old days was valued at its weight in gold. History has preserved documentary evidence even to the fact that merchants once settled with black pepper. By the way, in the Middle Ages, the rich in a dowry to their daughters gave this valuable spice.

The secret to black pepper success

From the same ancient sources it was possible to establish that for the first time this culture appeared in India. With the development of seafaring, this spice first spread to Asia, and only then came to Europe. The popularity of black peas with a specific spicy smell grew at an incredible rate and soon black pepper was already known on all continents.

Today, this crop is cultivated mainly in regions with a tropical climate. This business is well placed in countries such as Indonesia, Brazil. Also, suppliers of black pepper to many countries of the world are small island states in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. The economy of these countries is based precisely on the pepper trade.

What is a plant?

As already noted, the favorable habitat for black pepper is the tropics. Shrubs, outwardly similar to a climbing vine, after lush flowering give many small pea fruits. To obtain high-quality spices, unripe fruits are taken: they are dried, then they are crushed and packaged in special equipment in such containers that can reliably protect the precious powder from moisture and preserve the aroma. This is an important condition, otherwise the product that has lost its main qualities does not represent any value.

But dry peas, unlike ground pepper, are not so demanding and can be stored for many years. When ground, the spice loses its amazing aroma within three months.

Depending on the harvesting technology used, the color of the fruits of the pepper bush can be:

• white - for this variety a delicate aroma is characteristic and it is less burning in taste;
• red - this is the sharpest variety, which is obtained from well-ripened fruits;
• green - these are fresh fruits, also often used in culinary practice.

An important point! The pungency of black pepper and its taste characteristics largely depend not so much on the variety as on the country that supplied the goods. Indian pepper is considered especially hot.

Black pepper composition

• alkaloids (piperine);
• essential oil;
• mineral elements;
• a complex of vitamins, including C and E;
• cellulose;
• carbohydrates.

In minimal doses, proteins and fats are present in the seasoning. This kit, useful for human health, can provide a number of properties that help cope with diseases.

Pepper - Useful and Effective

The ability of black pepper to have a therapeutic effect makes it the most useful of all seasonings. Seasoning differs in the following qualities:

• improves appetite;
• stimulates the production of digestive enzymes;
• has a pronounced antibacterial property;
• is a natural antioxidant;
• improves blood circulation, which positively affects cardiac and brain activity;
• prevents the development of malignant tumors;
• possesses analgesic property;
• It is an excellent expectorant;
• due to the ability to thin the blood, prevents the formation of blood clots;
• lowers cholesterol;
• stimulates sexual activity.

It activates the production of endorphin (the hormone of "happiness") and serotonin - a hormone responsible for many functions in the body, including immunity and good sleep.

What diseases can pepper be used for?

All the qualities listed here make it possible to consider black pepper as an effective means of treating such pathologies and conditions:

• digestive disorders;
• constipation
• thrombosis and thrombophlebitis;
• bronchitis;
• rhinitis;
• hyperthermia;
• pneumonia;
• liver, kidney dysfunction.

Ground pepper is suitable for solving preventive tasks. For example, with its help you can effectively resist such insidious diseases as a stroke or heart attack. It favorably affects immunity, and its specific aroma prevents a viral infection from entering the body.

Ways to use

In culinary business, black pepper in any form is widely used: as a part of mixed seasonings, in the form of peas, ground. Its bright smell lasts long enough. Pepper is especially good when it is added to meat and fish dishes. Improving the taste of food, it imperceptibly renders great benefits to the body. Given the low energy load, which is 250 kcal per 100 grams of pure product, ground pepper can be considered a truly unique spice. Indeed, in order to “eat” as much as 100 grams of pepper, it will take years.

For medical purposes, pepper is used mainly in the form of a component additive to plant or other formulations.

Outdoor application

1. The only situation when the use of ground pepper in its pure form is allowed is the treatment of wounds and scratches. The wound is simply sprinkled with powder on top. This cleanses the damaged surface from germs and stops bleeding.
2. With the help of pepper, lichen can be cured if you mix a little seasoning with soy flour and olive oil. All ingredients are taken in equal parts, mixed, and problem areas are subsequently processed with the ointment obtained.
3. This spice copes with catastrophic hair loss. Alopecia, namely the so-called pathology from which many men suffer, can be cured if you prepare such a composition: salt, black pepper, onion juice. All components must be mixed, then applied to the scalp and left for 30 minutes. After that, the healing mask is washed off.

Slimming with pepper

According to diet experts and experimenters in this area, losing weight is easy if you drink a glass of kefir with a pinch of pepper dissolved in a drink every morning on an empty stomach. They say that in such a simple way it is possible to lose up to 2 kg per week. But only those who have no stomach problems can use this recipe.

Home therapy

1. To strengthen male strength, as well as prevent the appearance of prostate adenoma, it is recommended to prepare a mixture of sugar and pepper. The ingredients are taken in equal proportions and simply mixed, and then added to the dishes.
2. Alcohol tincture on black whole pepper, that is, peas, helps get rid of pain with radiculitis and arthrosis. And if you regularly add spice in any form to food, this will contribute to the disappearance of white spots with vitiligo.

All of these properties make ground pepper indispensable if consumed in moderation.

When pepper is contraindicated

Of course, a product with special qualities like pepper has a number of limitations. It is better to refuse it to people who:

• stomach ulcer;
• anemia;
• acute cystitis and other inflammatory processes in the kidneys;
• injuries
• abdominal surgery (due to the threat of bleeding).

Although the use of pepper is not strictly limited to pregnant women and nursing mothers, the presence of this burning spice on their menu should be minimized, and it is better to completely refuse for a while.

Video: the benefits and harms of black pepper