Lesser Known Benefits of Black Pepper | Black Pepper Uses

Black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices across the world in different cuisines. But it has uses beyond the conventional cooking related applications as well.

But before we get to that let’s get to know it better.

What is Black Pepper?

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae native to modern day South India. It is cultivated for its fruit known as a peppercorn. It is usually dried and used as a spice for seasoning.

When fresh and fully mature, the fruit is dark red, and contains a single seed. Peppercorns aka ground pepper aka a pepper, but most precisely known as black pepper is cooked and dried unripe fruit. Whereas, green pepper is dried unripe fruit and  white pepper is ripe fruit seed.

Black pepper is extensively cultivated in the tropical regions. Vietnam is the largest exporter of pepper.

Black pepper is the world’s most traded spice. It is a popular traditional medicine and one of the most common spices in almost all cuisines around the world. Piperine is the compound which gives black pepper its signature spiciness.

Black pepper is very common  for seasoning in modern cuisine.  You can find it at restaurants paired with salt. Now that we have known enough background. Let’s get to the main point and discuss some of the lesser known uses of black pepper.

6 Black Pepper Uses That You Didn’t Know

1. Helps Quit Smoking: We all know some friends who are chain smokers, who want to quit but find it very hard to do so. You can recommend them puffing on a vapour device using black pepper oil. This helps reduce the craving for cigarettes in people.
2. Improves Swallowing in Children: Applying black pepper oil to the nasal cavity/nostrils for one minute before meals improves swallowing in children with brain disorders who have been fed through a feeding tube. However, the black pepper oil does not eliminate the need for the feeding tube.
3. Improves Skin: Crushed pepper with a bit of honey, curd, or fresh cream is one of the best exfoliators. Rub it gently on skin. It provides the skin with more oxygen while enabling blood circulation. Black pepper in food helps remove unwarranted skin wrinkles. Black pepper is known to help in the cure of vitiligo. Vitiligo is a condition where the skin loses pigmentation, and creates white patches.
4. Helps Fight Cancer: The compound responsible for spiciness, piperine can also be credited with the prevention of cancer.  It becomes twice as potent when combined with turmeric. The Indian spice also contains Vit C, Vit A, flavonoids, carotenoids and other antioxidants that help remove harmful free radicals and protect the body from cancers.
5. Improves Metabolism and Promotes Weight Loss: The outermost layer of black pepper contains phytonutrients, which helps in breaking down fat cells. When consumed in combination with green tea twice or thrice a day, black pepper helps increases metabolism and aids in weight loss.
6. Detoxification: Adding a pinch of black pepper to your food can help you get rid of excess water and toxins. One of the best black pepper uses comes in the form of a healthy recipe like salads, grilled vegetables, light snacks, etc.

Other than these six uses there are many other benefits of black pepper. It has demonstrated potential benefits against serious medical conditions related to the brain like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It also helps regulate blood sugar and control blood cholesterol as well.

Now that you know the benefits of black pepper. You should also know that it is important to use the wholesome food and spices which are both organic and natural. We at 24 Mantra have been dedicated to this cause of providing wholesome, organic and natural food to Indian buyers. 

Try 24 Mantra Organic’s black pepper and savour the taste of organic goodness.