Benefits of Black Pepper

Black Pepper

Black pepper is one of the most widely used spices in the world. Many countries in the world uses Black Pepper with salt in their food and In the United States alone, black pepper is being used with salt on most dinner tables. While it is one of the few spices nearly everyone uses at the regular basis and how this popular spice comes to pass around our tables today.

This particular spice has been one of the most widely traded in the world, dating all the way back to ancient times. Earlier in ancient time, it was the most valuable item in terms of commanding prices in world trade market.

The black pepper that is so common and familiar to us actually begins its life in the form of green berries produced by a flowering vine called Piper nigrum. While there are some other regions producing black pepper, this spice originates specifically from the Western Ghats of Kerala State in India. Incredibly, black pepper first became known and honored over 4,000 years ago to become the second most common household spice in our kitchens today.

Black Pepper Profile

There is a special and unquestionable earthiness to the flavor of black pepper, one that is woody, piney, and sharp all at the same time. Black pepper also has a unique bitter taste all its own and is both biting and hot to average and refined palettes alike.

Contrary to popular belief, pepper is not intended to be used like salt. Salt is an additive that enhances the flavor of a food. Nearly every dish (including baked foods like cookies and pies) has at least a pinch of salt. Black pepper, however, is not a flavor enhancer but a spice. It is an important one to be aware of whether you are a casual cook or a budding chef.

Black Pepper Benefits

There are vast health benefits endorsed to black pepper. For hundreds of years, it has been a key element in a variety of natural remedies from mixtures used to detoxify and clear the skin to massage oils that are popular in Ayurvedic treatments. From herbal smudge to beauty treatments, black pepper certainly has more uses than most people would even dream of. There are almost countless health benefits black pepper is believed to have, some of which include the ability to relieve:

• Respiratory disorders
• Coughs
• Common cold
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Anemia
• Impotency
• Muscular strains
• Dental disease
• Pyorrhea
• Diarrhea
• Heart disease

There is scientific reason behind the variety of ailments black pepper is believed to help. It is known to act as a very good natural anti-inflammatory agent as well as having relatively strong antibacterial properties. In fact, it was once often used as a preservative to increase the shelf-life of certain foods because of its antibacterial properties.

Black Pepper is a rich source of manganese, iron, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber. It can stimulate neural pathways in the brain, boosting neurological health and reducing cognitive malfunction and memory impairment.

Black Pepper is a good source of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-C and vitamin-A. They are also rich in flavonoid polyphenols anti-oxidants like carotene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and lycopene. These compounds help the body remove harmful free radicals and help protect from cancers and diseases.

One of the most beneficial effects of black pepper is that it enhances bioavailability. In other words, it helps your body to more efficiently transport and absorb other healthy foods that you consume, making those nutrients more accessible and available to your system.

Common Uses of Black Pepper

You can add an evident experience to a culinary creation by grinding fresh black pepper over the dish as you near the end of its cook time. One should know how to use black pepper to your advantage that can give you a simple way to change the flavor of a variety of dishes. When you grind fresh black pepper over your dish toward the end of cooking, the bite that you create doesn’t give your food a “peppery” taste; instead, you’re giving it a nice kick that is understated, yet flavorful and earthy with a hint of spiciness.

Some dishes take full advantage of the incredible flavor profile of black pepper. For example, there are amazing steak rubs that can be created using black pepper as the primary ingredient. The resulting steaks you fire up on the grill will embody every nuance black pepper has to offer, from the earthy taste that mixes so well with smoky flavors of a charcoal grill to the pungent spiciness that leaves that invigorating, peppery feel on your tongue.

Mutton steaks are particularly delicious when black pepper is used during cooking, as the somewhat sweet flavor of this meat is perfectly complemented by the pungent and woody tones of the pepper.

There are many ways to mix simple yet surprisingly refreshing salad dressings using this spice. Lemon and black pepper play against each other especially well in a light, oil-based salad dressing, creating tanginess as the flavors of pungency and spice combine.

The King of Spices

The next time when you eat a meal, take a moment to appreciate this incredible spice. If you typically add a bit of black pepper to every meal, pay close attention to the complexity of the flavors it actually has. While you’re sure to reap at least a few health benefits from this “King of Spices”, you just might find yourself eager to begin creating exciting new recipes so you can showcase your new-found knowledge and appreciation of black pepper.