As someone who enjoys
cooking, and eating, I have been a fan of black pepper for a long time. It has
many culinary uses and is a very useful spice for cooks. However, until quite
recently, I was not aware of the nutrients that came with black pepper. I think
I am far from alone in that, and most of us have probably never thought of
black pepper as a health food.
Background Information on Black Pepper
Black pepper has been
used since ancient times, and in the past has been very valuable, to the extent
that it was often used in trade like a currency. It was even used as a a
sacrifice to the gods. Nowadays, though, we are lucky that black pepper
is available all year round, in abundance, and is also quite cheap.
The pepper plant, from
which this excellent spice is produced, is a woody vine type plant that grows
in the tropics. It is very tall growing, maybe thirty feet in some cases.
The vines flower after about three or four years; these bunches of small white
flowers which then the berries known as peppercorns. It is these
peppercorns, when ground, that produce the spice we know as black pepper.
The benefits of black
pepper, though, go far beyond its undoubted culinary uses. Recent studies
suggest that black pepper may have a number of important health benefits.
One of the most important of these is its ability to improve the health of the
digestive system and intestines, and thus improving digestion.
Black Pepper and the Digestive System
Over recent decades,
problems with digestion have increased in frequency, and black pepper seems to
be effective in improving digestion. This is probably due to the way in which
black pepper stimulates the taste buds. This stimulation transmits a
message to the stomach to increase its secretion of hydrochloric acid, thus
improving the digestion of the food once it reaches the stomach.
Insufficient production of stomach acid can lead to heartburn, indigestion and
other problems, and black pepper may help to alleviate such problems.
Furthermore, black
pepper reduces the formation of intestinal gas, thus providing a natural
solution to the embarrassing problem of flatulence. This effect is most
likely also the result of the stimulation of hydrochloric acid production. Black pepper has also
been shown to have significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties, both
of which are important for fighting disease and maintaining overall good
health. With so much in its favour, black pepper is a valued ingredient
or condiment for just about any cooked meal.
Black Pepper in Cooking
Personally, I favor
grinding peppercorns, as you then know it is freshly ground , and probably more
flavorsome. Peppermills, which stand nicely against salt and pepper pots should
you have them on the table, are readily available, and sometimes in matching
sets.
There is some thought
that the skin of the peppercorn is good at stimulating the metabolism, leading
possibly to a slimmer figure and healthier body, which would be a good bonus
for grinding your own peppers. If you do decide to buy
your black pepper already ground, do try to buy the best quality you can get if
you really want to benefit from both the flavour and the health benefits.
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