Health Benefits of Black Pepper

Health Benefits of Black Pepper

Black pepper comes from the berries of the pepper plant. Black pepper, green pepper and white peppercorns are actually the same fruit (Piper nigrum); the difference in their color is a reflection of varying stages of development and processing methods.

Pepper is cultivated since millennia. Pungent and aromatic, it is grown in Southern India since more than two thousand years, has always been much valued all over the world. Along with other spices from India and lands farther east, it changed the course of world history. It was in some part the preciousness of these spices that led to the European efforts to find a sea route to India and consequently to the European colonial occupation of that country, as well as the European discovery and colonization of the Americas. Pepper was so valuable that it was often used as collateral or even currency.

1. Black pepper is known to improve digestion. Consume 5 gm of black pepper powder mixed in a cup of buttermilk in case of digestive problems and intestinal infections. It treats these problems effectively as well as gives relief.  
2. Black Pepper helps stomach to produce hydrochloric acid which is needed to digest food. This prevents food staying in the stomach for a long time which ultimately cures flatulence and stomach irritations.  
3. In case of anorexia (loss of appetite), a decoction of black pepper taken helps solving the problem by stimulating the taste buds.  
4. In case of fever with chills, drink little warm water boiled with pepper seeds. It effectively reduces the high temperature.  
5. Chewing the seeds, gargling with warm water boiled with the seeds, relieves toothaches. 
6. A decoction of black pepper taken twice a day alleviates constipation.  
7. Sucking few pepper corns provides immediate relief from throat irritations and dry cough.  
8. A decoction of black pepper taken twice a day helps common cold and cough.  
9. It promotes proper urination and sweating that helps get rid of harmful toxins from the body.  
10. In case of minor cuts, sprinkle little black pepper powder on the area. It stops bleeding and its antibacterial properties promote immediate healing by killing the germs.