About Pepper

We’re talking black pepper. Although personally, I don’t use much pepper since I tend to not like hot flavors on my food, but black pepper is one of the most often used spices, as is salt.

In fact, it’s not only popular today, but it was once used as currency and presented to the gods as a sacred offering.

After researching black pepper, and writing this post, I think I’m going to start using pepper in moderation in more foods. It’s very healthy, as is cayenne peppers by the way.

Stop Bleeding with Black Pepper
Next time you nick yourself in the kitchen, reach for the black pepper, says Roberta Lee, M.D., vice chair of the department of integrative medicine at the Beth Israel Medical Center. Run cold water over the wound to clean it, using soap if you were handling meat. Then sprinkle on the pepper and apply pressure. In no time, the bleeding will stop. Turns out, black pepper has analgesic, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. And don’t worry—it won’t sting.

Some interesting facts taken from “The World’s Healthiest Foods“.

• Black pepper comes from the pepper plant, a smooth woody vine that can grow up to 33 feet in hot and humid tropical climates. They begin to bear small white clustered flowers after 3 to 4 years and develop into berries known as peppercorns. Ground peppercorns produce the spice we call pepper.

• Black pepper stimulates the taste buds in such a way that an alert is sent to to the stomach to increase hydrochloric acid secretion, thereby improving digestion.

• Black pepper has long been recognized as a carminitive, (a substance that helps prevent the formation of intestinal gas), a property likely due to its beneficial effect of stimulating hydrochloric acid production.

• Black pepper also has diaphoretic (promotes sweating), and diuretic (promotes urination) properties.

• Black pepper has demonstrated impressive antioxidant and antibacterial effects–yet another way in which this wonderful seasoning promotes the health of the digestive tract.

• And last but not least, the outer layer of the peppercorn stimulates the breakdown of fat cells, keeping you slim while giving you energy to burn.

Black pepper is available whole, crushed or ground into powder. To ensure best flavor, buy whole peppercorns and grind them yourself in a mill just before adding to a recipe.

So then, black pepper is much more than a spice to just add heat to the food. It’s very healthy and beneficial to your body!