Despite being considered the king of spices, pepper is actually a fruit. Many studies have proved the effects of pepper on health such as cancer prevention, good for digestion…
Pepper is the fruit of the pepper plant. Its scientific name is Piper nigrum L. Pepper plants are grown mainly for fruits and seeds, which are often used as a dried or fresh spice.
Pepper is suitable for many dishes and it also brings many health benefits that we may not know.
1. Cancer prevention
Dr. Phung Tuan Giang, President of the Vietnam Institute for Traditional Medicine Development, said that turmeric has become popular due to its excellent healing properties, but researchers point out that it is most effective if combined with black pepper.
“Because the piperine in black pepper helps the body absorb the amazing benefits of turmeric,” Dr. Giang said.
Using pepper is a great way to enhance the flavor of the dish.
Recent studies share information on the positive effects of various spices, such as black pepper and turmeric, as well as how they may help reduce the risk of cancer.
Black pepper contains a bioactive compound similar to capsaicin called piperine. This compound helps create apoptosis, which can prevent tumors. Along with the anti-cancer effects of turmeric, it makes a great combination.
Similarly, researchers at Dalhousie University (Canada) have found that piperine can inhibit the growth of cancer cells although the mechanism of action is not yet well understood. Piperine both inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells and creates apoptosis in some cells.
The study provides the first evidence that piperine may be useful in the treatment of colon cancer.
2. Digestion support
“Black pepper sends a message to the stomach to release hydrochloric acid (HCl). This acid improves digestion. Through this process, it can help eliminate heartburn, indigestion, and bloating, ” Dr. Giang said.
Gastric acid is the hydrochloric acid component of gastric juice formed in the stomach to prepare food for digestion and absorption by the intestines. Acid seeps into food stored in the stomach, thereby helping to break it down so that it can be easily digested by the body.
3. Good for diabetics
According to Dr. Giang, black pepper has been shown to have impressive antioxidant and antibacterial effects, helping to promote the health of the gastrointestinal tract. These beneficial antioxidants can stabilize blood sugar.
A recent report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigated the effects of piperine on obesity and diabetes.
Researchers found that piperine helps regulate the metabolic rate of resting muscles, which can reduce obesity and diabetes.
Pepper is considered the king of spices.
4. Lose weight
Many researchers believe that pepper can burn fat thanks to the piperine contained in them.
For example, in a study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology, rats were fed a high-fat diet to develop obesity-induced dyslipidemia. They were given piperine and sibutramine for 03 weeks.
The researchers found that piperine supplementation not only significantly reduced weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad fat)… but also increased HDL (good fat) levels without changing food intake. This led them to conclude that piperine can help reduce lipids, which helps us lose weight.
Pepper is a spice that can replace high-calorie sauces when cooking. In other words, pepper has fewer calories compared to cheese sauces or fatty creams.
5. Reduce high blood pressure
Using pepper in cooking can help us reduce our overall salt intake. Less salt can help reduce water retention and fight hypertension.
Adding spices, such as black pepper, ginger, garlic, coriander, and bay leaves to food instead of salt can control blood pressure without losing the taste of the dish.
A study conducted at Comenius University in Slovakia on rats given piperine contained in pepper found that it could prevent blood pressure from rising. Another study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology also confirmed that piperine has antihypertensive effects on rats.
6. Antimicrobial effect
Piperine in black pepper is a phytochemical, which has many anti-inflammatory effects. It has shown the benefit for treatment of bacterial growth in rats./.