Top Black pepper benefits and its nutritional value

The health benefits of black pepper could be credited to its bioactive components, the most important of which is piperine. Piperine is a natural alkaloid that contributes to the strong flavour of black pepper. It is also the primary component responsible for black pepper's other health-promoting properties.

Introduction

Black pepper, derived from the Sanskrit word pippali, was once referred to as king of spices. There are loads of black pepper benefits that you can reap by including it in your diet on a regular basis. It also has one of the richest histories as a highly sought-after spice. 

In this article, in addition to its nutrition, we will walk you through some of many health benefits of black pepper.

Black Pepper Nutrition

Before learning about black pepper uses and benefits, it’s important that you’re aware of the nutritional value of black pepper. Hence, we have listed the black pepper nutrients (per 100g, IFCT 2017) below in an easy to understand manner:

Piper nigrum has been used in ancient traditional remedies all across the world for thousands of years due to its high concentration of beneficial plant chemicals. In the traditional Ayurvedic remedies, pepper is helpful in curing periodic fevers, promoting bile secretion, and assists in issues like dyspepsia, flatulence, constipation, and haemorrhoids. All these facts clearly answer the question, “Why is black pepper good for your health?”

And the health benefits of black pepper do not end here. Peppercorns include an impressive array of plant-derived chemical compounds that are known to have disease-preventing and health-promoting properties. Other than piperine, it also contains several monoterpene hydrocarbons such as sabinene, pinene, terpinene, limonene, mercene, and others, which provide aromatic properties to the pepper. Furthermore, peppers are high in flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants such as lycopene, cryptoxanthin carotenes and zea-xanthin. These black pepper nutrients assist the body to remove free radicals and defend against a variety of ailments.

Health benefits of black pepper:

1)    Antioxidative

While there are many benefits to eating black pepper, its antioxidative properties are unparalleled. Piperine, which is present in black pepper, is an effective natural antioxidant. A diet high in antioxidants may help avoid the negative effects of free radicals, which have been linked to heart disease, premature ageing, and a variety of other illnesses. Piperine has been shown to reduce oxidative stress produced by a high-fat diet.

2)    Anti inflammatory

Another one of the primary advantages of black pepper is its anti inflammatory traits. Chronic inflammation may play a role in numerous diseases, including arthritis, heart disease and diabetes. Several laboratory studies suggest that piperine, the main active component contributing highly to the nutritional value of black pepper, may effectively fight inflammation. Piperine treatment in rats resulted in decreased joint swelling and fewer blood indicators associated with arthritic inflammation. Piperine can also reduce airway inflammation caused by asthma and recurrent allergies.

3)    Immunity Booster

 On the human body, black pepper has an immunity boosting impact. It is capable of increasing and maintaining the quantity and efficacy of white cells. Moreover, it assists in building a strong resistance against invading microorganisms and sarcoma cells within the body.

4)    Cholesterol lowering Properties

Obesity and high blood cholesterol are universal risk factors associated with an increased risk of heart disease, which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Piperine, found in black pepper, has been shown to inhibit cholesterol accumulation by assimilating cholesterol transporter proteins in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity. 

Uses of Black Pepper:

Black pepper can be used as a medicinal tonic, as a food ingredient, and also in perfumery. The following are some common uses of black pepper:

1. Medicinal use: Piper nigrum peppercorns or their active components are used in a variety of cuisines and medicines worldwide. Black pepper has traditionally been used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine.
2. Cosmetic use: The skin ailment vitiligo causes discoloured patches to emerge on different body areas. When pigment cells in the skin die, it occurs (melanocytes). Melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its colour, is produced by these cells. Black pepper retains the skin's natural colour and prevents vitiligo. Black pepper may also aid in clearing acne by removing the intoxicants that are present in it.
3. Hair Care use: Dandruff on the scalp can be removed thanks to the selenium and zinc in black pepper. One of the medicinal applications of black pepper is as an astringent. This encourages healthy hair growth. In a mixing bowl, combine yoghurt and black pepper powder. Apply the mixture to your hair, concentrating on the roots and scalp. Allow the hair mask to work for at least 30 to 45 minutes before washing it out with warm water.

Conclusion:

Did that answer the question “Why is black pepper good for health?” We sure hope so. Black pepper is a popular spice loved by billions all around the world. Aside from its traditional use, many animal studies and several human trials have revealed a slew of black pepper benefits. Among them are its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, digestive, cholesterol-lowering, digestive, antidiarrheal, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antidiabetic, and bioavailability increasing properties.

Several researchers are currently employing innovative formulations with pepper as the primary ingredient for selective delivery to organs. In addition, piperine, a key component of black pepper, has demonstrated potential biological benefits in several in vitro and in vivo experiments, as well as clinical trials.