Ground black pepper: benefits and harms

On Wikipedia, the plant is characterized as climbing from a family of peppers. It is valued and bred for the sake of the fetus. Spices are obtained from it, one of which is black ground pepper.

Undoubtedly, today in any kitchen you can see this spice. And in the distant historical past, this spice was even a means of payment for goods, because it was valued on a par with precious metals. In the Middle Ages, the daughters of the rich received black pepper as a dowry. The ancestral home of this seasoning is India. Navigation helped its distribution in Asia, and then in Europe. The popularity of spices over time has reached all continents.

Currently, this culture is grown in countries where the tropical climate, in particular in Indonesia, Brazil, some island states in the Pacific and Indian oceans. The implementation of black pepper is the main area of ​​market trade in these countries.

On a note! The most spicy and burning is considered Indian black pepper.

The popularity of black pepper can be explained by its property of causing the release of a large amount of endorphins in the body. By the way, this is the reaction of the brain to a burning sensation in the mouth. Sometimes people experience a dependence on eating dishes with lots of pepper because of a feeling of euphoria after taking them.

How to make ground black pepper

The black pepper plant looks like a shrub curly vine. Many flowers turn into peas over time. For high-quality spices, they are harvested immature and dried. Then they are ground into powder and closed so that it is protected from moisture and retains aroma.

Spice Analogs

There are albeit incomplete, but analogues of black pepper.

1. The first one is white pepper. It is made from the ripened fruits of a bush of black pepper. To cook white pepper, the fruit is first kept in water, peeled and dried. After processing, this spice is characterized by a special aroma and a peculiar light pungency. White hot sauces, meat and fish dishes will have a special taste with this spice.
2. To obtain the second analogue - green pepper - the collected unripe fruits are poured into the brine to soften them and reduce their severity. The fruits of pepper dried out under the influence of high temperature remain green. But their aroma becomes stronger, and the taste becomes piquant. Green pepper is essential for marinades and savory foods. They are decorated with ready-made dishes.
3. The third analogue of black pepper is red pepper. It is made from ripened peas of a bush, also soaked in brine, like green pepper, to preserve color. The peel remains on the fruit. This pepper is not ground, but is used whole in savory foods and marinades. Red peas are used to decorate ready-made meals.

Composition and calorie content

Seasonings and spices can make the taste of dishes better. But they can be used as medicines. This is known to many. The explanation is that the composition of the fruits of black pepper, like all spices, includes many components in the form of essential oils, minerals, vitamins.

Fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, minerals, vitamins, resins, essential oils, alkaloids - the most valuable wealth contained in this spice. Phytonutrients such as piperine and piperidine give the pepper fruit a pungency. Piperine accounts for one tenth of the chemical composition of seasoning. But not only the alkaloids represented by piperine and piperidine increase the product's hotness. Chevisin also contributes to this quality of pepper.

The content of all components was surpassed by starch, the content of which is about 60%, which is much in comparison with other substances.The complex of vitamins and minerals includes vitamins A, C, B, phosphorus, iron, calcium. Surprising as it may be, but ascorbic acid in 100 g of black pepper is 3 times more than in an orange.

Calorie spice is 263 kcal. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the percentage ratio are 9, 29 and 62 percent, respectively.

What is useful black ground pepper

General benefit

Numerous observations of the effect after applying black ground pepper say:

• about antiseptic;
• antibacterial;
• antimicrobial;
• analgesic;
• antispasmodic;
• antioxidant;
• tonic;
• warming;
• carminative;
• diuretics;
• choleretic properties of the product.

Seasoning is really considered very useful:

1. Thanks to piperine, which gives pungency to the pepper, the use of seasoning stimulates the blood flow and the secretion of digestive enzymes. Spice prevents the formation of blood clots.
2. Patients with respiratory problems, suffering from excess mucus, will receive relief from the use of ground spices with honey.
3. Toxins, toxins, parasites will be “attacked” by pepper and excreted at an accelerated rate. The liver and nervous system will also feel the beneficial effects of spice.
4. People suffering from asthma, infectious diseases of the bladder, who have cholera, will feel relief if they use black ground pepper in the doses recommended by specialists.

For women

Any black woman can feel the benefit of black pepper if she wants to cleanse her body. The main thing is not to forget about the daily dose of not more than 4 g. Thanks to the seasoning, muscle pain and fatigue will go away.

For men

Black pepper as an aphrodisiac is useful for men to improve potency. About this, in ancient times, women of India knew who, to increase male sexual activity, would certainly add black ground pepper to the dish. In addition, he has the ability to thin the blood, so that a man will be protected from problems with congestion in the pelvis.

Many representatives of the stronger sex know an effective remedy for potency from sugar, pepper and milk. Selenium and zinc, found in black pepper, increase testosterone and normalize the functioning of the prostate.

During pregnancy

Women during pregnancy may experience digestive problems. Ground black pepper in small doses helps to normalize the processes associated with the digestion of food.

When breastfeeding

Modern medicine has proven that consuming black ground pepper by a woman during breastfeeding is beneficial. This seasoning helps in the restoration of the female body in the postpartum period, is able to activate the functioning of various organs.

For kids

Given the beneficial effects of ground black pepper on whole organ systems, it can be used as a seasoning in children's dishes from one year old. It is especially useful for children who have poor appetite.

When losing weight

Black pepper is a fat-burning spice. Therefore, it can be used in diets without exceeding the daily norm for an adult - 10 g. It has a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach and digestive tract. Thanks to pepper, food is digested better and faster, there is an increase in the production of enzymes by the pancreas. Regular use of ground black pepper leads to an increase in body temperature. From this there is an acceleration of metabolism and intensive burning of excess calories. Being a natural energetic, this seasoning is able to influence the release of energy.

To lose unnecessary kilograms, nutritionists recommend a weekly intake of a remedy consisting of a glass of kefir with a pinch of black ground pepper. It should be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach.

Black pepper in medicine

The beneficial properties of black pepper make it popular in the treatment of various ailments.

1. With a cold and cough, a pinch of ground pepper will help, which is washed down with plenty of water.
2. Milk with ground black pepper will bring relief if there are problems with the stomach.After taking such a mixture, digestive upset will stop.
3. In addition to the main treatment, with a respiratory disease it will not be superfluous to take a decoction of milk with black pepper. Turmeric supplementation will improve the healing effect of the mixture.
4. Olive oil with black pepper has a good analgesic effect to relieve joint pain and radiculitis. The resulting preparation is rubbed into sore areas.
5. Fresh ground black pepper in ghee is an effective tool in the fight against skin inflammations, eczema. Warts will also disappear after regular use of this remedy.
6. Acne will cease to exist on the face if the affected face is wiped with yogurt with ground black pepper.
7. To relieve gum inflammation, an agent containing this spice will be effective.
8. Masks and face creams, prepared at home with the addition of ground black pepper, will have a rejuvenating effect. Cellulite can also disappear after the use of products, one of the components of which is this spice.
9. Ground black pepper can be a real cure when they treat wounds and scratches. Seasoning powder sprinkled on top will clean the wounded surface from germs and stop bleeding.
10. People and animals with lichen on the skin will help soy flour, olive oil and ground black pepper. The mixed first two components, taken in equal doses with a small amount of spice, will help in getting rid of the disease.
11. Men who have problems with baldness will find a real doctor in ground black pepper. Salt, black pepper, onion juice - these components, mixed and applied to the head for half an hour, will help with solving the problem.

Cooking Application

It is impossible to imagine any kitchen without black pepper. It is preferable for all dishes, of course, pepper, powdered immediately before use. It has excellent taste and aroma.

The methods of seasoning additives in dishes are different:

1. Hot soups and broths will give the desired aroma of ground pepper added at the end of cooking.
2. When frying fish and vegetables, ground black pepper is added to batter or flour to roll products.
3. To prepare a delicious baked meat, the powder of this spice must be included in the marinade. The carcass in the marinade can withstand quite a long time.
4. The taste of minced meat and fish will only benefit from the fact that ground black pepper will enter into it along with salt.
5. The preparation of canned snacks is rarely complete without the addition of this very popular spice on all continents.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the many useful properties and the vastness of the use of black pepper, sometimes its use can be harmful.

1. Excessive use of it by a woman may affect her reproductive system. Moreover, even after determining the causes of infertility and changing the diet, the process of recovery of the body can be lengthy.
2. The mucous membrane of the stomach can suffer from the indefatigable use of spices due to its burning.
3. The quality and quantity of hormones produced can also deteriorate and lead to a decrease in sex drive. Therefore, men should not abuse this hot seasoning.
4. If a person has problems with insomnia, you should pay attention to the diet, in which black pepper is present in large quantities, and moderate its use.
5. So that children under 12 do not experience discomfort in the stomach, do not include this spice in large quantities in dishes.
6. Gastritis, a stomach ulcer are obvious reasons for excluding black pepper dishes from the diet or at least minimizing its use with food.

How useful black ground pepper would not be for the body, it is important to know about the lurking danger from its unreasonable use.

How to choose and store

The quality and terms of use depend on the conditions of selection and storage of spices. Buyers in retail outlets can choose black pepper, both coarse and fine grinding. The color of the spice plays a big role. The dried fruits of black pepper should be with a black-brown shell. Inside it is a bright nucleolus. Although pepper is called black, after grinding, its color should be light brown with a dull greenish tint. All other colors (and especially black) indicate the presence of impurities in the powder.

Do not trust the talk of lower quality ground pepper compared to whole. Their quality is the same. The strength of the aroma depends on the freshness of the original product, that is, peas, from which ground pepper is obtained. Naturally, freshly ground pepper outperforms the packaged flavor.

The shelf life of black ground pepper and peas is different. If it is ground pepper, then its properties will remain for no more than three months. If you want to always have a spice with a fresh aroma, you can grind pepper peas as needed. Its shelf life is not a year, as usual, but up to three years.

The main conditions for storing black pepper, in whatever form it is: dry, better dark place and airtight container.

Ground black pepper absorbs odors, so there should not be any products with pronounced aromas near it.

Interesting facts about pepper

1. Initially, pepper did not possess the sharpness that it has now. This property was added to its fruits by evolution. The sharp taste of peas is not to the liking of animals, but birds, without fear, consume these peas, which do not change their round shape, even when passing through the feathered organism.
2. The first to appreciate the positive properties of black pepper were the ancient Indians - the Aztecs and Mayans. Pepper replaced them with salt. In the sweet fruits of pepper they saw small vegetables. The pepper among the Indians was endowed with its own deity - Chantika, who was considered the wife of the god of fire.
3. According to some traditions, thanks to pepper, the Indians defeated the Spanish colonialists in one of the battles. For this, the native inhabitants of America poured pepper into the smoldering bonfire of the Spaniards. Europeans were blinded by pepper smoke and were killed by natives.
4. Everyone knows the variety of hot red chili peppers. However, few people know that the word "chili" in the Aztecs has the meaning of "red".
5. Vitamins of groups A, C, B, magnesium, potassium, iron - all these substances are in red pepper. Green pepper is an unripe fruit of the same shrub. He cannot boast of the content of useful substances.
6. In well-known mixtures of curry and hops, black pepper is a must.
7. In nature, there are special varieties of pepper, the severity of which leads to burn unprotected skin on the hands. In order not to get a chemical burn, you should have rubber gloves on your hands when interacting with the product.
8. Burning hot peppers is best neutralized with milk, yogurt or a slice of lemon. Water in this situation is a poor helper.
9. To reduce the sharpness of the pepper in the pods, you can select the seeds and partitions in it, because in them - all the burning.
10. Lovers of songbirds, namely canaries, include cayenne pepper in the diet. This variety of pepper gives bird feathers a brighter red color.
11. Hot pepper varieties are used to make tinctures recommended for people with poor appetite and digestive disorders.
12. To treat rheumatism, osteochondrosis, joints, ointments and adhesive plasters are often used, which include ground pepper.
13. Numerous studies have proven: pepper helps in the fight against cancer.
14. Many housewives have red pepper on their windowsills: care for it is minimal and consists of timely watering and fertilizing with a flower mixture.
15. One of the varieties of the plant is allspice. This is an evergreen tropical tree whose berries are used in perfumery. Oil extracted from allspice fruits is added to perfumes, liquors, and soap.
16. Pepper with the name Habanero is famous for its special pungency.
17. Only the 16th century opened black pepper to the Russians.

Black pepper in any form, whole or powdered, is a useful and necessary product if used in permissible doses.

Photo of black ground pepper