The benefits and harms of black pepper, as well as methods of its use in cooking, cosmetology and traditional medicine

Have you ever thought that the familiar black pepper can be used not only to add a piquant taste to a dish? It turns out that a familiar spice can cure a number of diseases! Black pepper has found its use not only in cooking and medicine, but also in cosmetology.

How and where it grows

We are used to buying black peppercorns or ground at the market or grocery stores. But many people don’t know how and where it grows, what properties it has.

Black pepper is a real berry. So what if it’s burning? And it does not acquire black color immediately, but gradually. But first things first.

The birthplace of the culture is India, and later it appeared in America and Europe. Today, Vietnam is the leader in pepper collection. It is also actively grown in Brazil. The greatest harvest is obtained in the subtropics. The plant itself looks like a vine that entwines trees and can reach 15 m. At first the fruits are green, then turn red, and become black when dried in the sun.

Composition and properties

A small pea contains a lot of vitamins and microelements that are beneficial for the body:

In addition to vitamins, black pepper contains the following beneficial macro- and microelements:

• phosphorus;
• iron;
• copper;
• zinc;
• sodium;
• calcium;
• fluorine.

Calories and nutritional value

These indicators are especially important for those watching their weight. KBJU is also advised to count people with certain diseases (for example, diabetes).

Values ​​are given per 100 g of product.

The benefits and harms of black pepper

Like any product, black pepper can bring both benefits and harm. Many parents are afraid to add it to their child's food. It is believed that it may negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Is this true or fiction? Let’s look at it below.

To begin with, let’s briefly define the beneficial and negative effects of hot berries.

Helpful:

• to thin thick blood;
• to cleanse blood vessels;
• for weight loss;
• for respiratory diseases;
• for chronic fatigue;
• to preserve youth and beauty;
• for diarrhea and constipation;
• for healthy teeth and gums;
• from cellulite.

Harmful:

• for gastritis and stomach ulcers;
• for sore throat and acute sore throat;
• for reproductive disorders.

Impact on organs and systems

Black pepper has a variety of effects on the body:

Important! A beneficial effect for the gastrointestinal tract occurs only in the absence of ulcers or gastritis.Otherwise, the pepper will cause burning and cutting pain in the stomach.

Medicinal properties

What diseases and conditions does black peppercorns help cope with:

• low blood pressure;
• diarrhea;
• constipation;
• haemorrhoids;
• acne and acne;
• toothache;
• parasite infection;
• arthritis;
• herpes;
• obesity;
• stomatitis and other diseases of the oral cavity, including scurvy;
• swelling and fluid stagnation in the body.

The list is impressive. The correct dosage and regular use of pepper will ease the unpleasant symptoms.

Benefits for weight loss

Black pepper is useful for obesity and excess weight. It happens that a person plays sports, starts eating right, but the weight still does not come off. Sometimes the reason lies in the fact that the body does not remove excess fluid, so the volumes do not decrease. Pepper is able to cope with this problem.

Here's an example of a weight loss cocktail recipe. It can only be consumed if the stomach is healthy.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper;
• 1 glass of kefir.

The preparation method is very simple: add pepper to a glass of kefir and mix. It is recommended to drink this cocktail before bed. The last meal should be two hours before the drink.

Another recipe requires more ingredients:

• 100 ml juice bell pepper;
• 100 ml cucumber juice;
• 100 ml tomato juice;
• a pinch of black pepper.

Mix all ingredients. Unlike the previous recipe, this cocktail should be drunk in the first half of the day.

Important! The course of treatment should not exceed 10 days.

As a preventive measure, add peppercorns or ground pepper to your food. It goes well with meat, soups and stewed vegetables.

Of course, black pepper alone will not save you from 10-15 kg of excess weight. It can speed up metabolism, remove fluid and reduce appetite.

For men, women and children

Let's start with the strong half of humanity. Dishes with black pepper enhance potency in men over 40, that is, the product is aimed specifically at age-related changes. If a decrease in potency occurs at a young age due to a disease, specialized medical care is needed.

Black pepper is useful for athletes: it prevents muscle strain and strengthens joints. Many men engaged in physical labor are familiar with pain in their knees and their crunching when squatting. Black pepper minimizes such symptoms.

For women, black pepper is a source of beauty and youth. It is widely used in cosmetology to strengthen hair and nails. Black pepper copes well with skin diseases. It won’t be able to even out your complexion, but it can get rid of rashes, redness and acne. For women who are watching their figure, it is useful to add black peppercorns to soups and meat dishes.

Black pepper helps children develop a strong skeleton. Teeth are also bones, so during the period of growth of molars it is very useful, strengthening tooth enamel. It is believed that pepper can be given to children from the age of five, but it is still better to wait until the age of seven.

Important! If, after eating food with the addition of spices, the child complains of stomach pain, give him a drink of warm milk with honey. This drink will relieve spasms. In the future, it is better to protect your child from this product.

Contraindications for use

Pepper is a strong irritant, so the list of contraindications is easy to predict:

• stomach ulcer;
• angina;
• exacerbation of gastritis;
• increased stomach acidity;
• high blood pressure;
• age up to seven years;
• with caution during pregnancy, prohibited during lactation.

We strongly recommend that you avoid using black pepper in any form if you have one of the contraindications.

Methods of use

Pepper has taken root well in cooking, medicine, and cosmetology. A cheap product helps make the dish fragrant, heal the skin and rid the body of parasites.

In cooking

The most common use is adding to prepared dishes. Soups, dumplings, stewed vegetables, meat and much more are eaten with black pepper. It is used when preparing vegetables for the winter.

If you are not on a diet, we recommend trying spaghetti with cheese and black pepper.

Ingredients:

• 350 g spaghetti;
• 1 tbsp. a spoonful of black peppercorns;
• 1 tbsp. spoon of vegetable oil;
• cheese (preferably parmesan);
• salt.

Preparation:

1. Cook the pasta in 2 liters of water. Ready time depends on the variety (see recommendations on the package).
2. Grind black pepper or grind in a blender.
3. Heat a frying pan and pour in oil.
4. Add all the pepper.
5. Add a ladle of boiling water to the pan.
6. Mix thoroughly.
7. Transfer the pasta to the frying pan.
8. Cover with a lid and reduce heat.

If desired, you can add herbs or sour cream. Sour cream is added after boiling water.

Black pepper sauce works well for seasoning dishes.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 teaspoons of coarse ground pepper;
• 0.5 onions;
• 4 cloves garlic;
• corn starch solution (in water);
• 1 tbsp. a spoon of light soy sauce;
• 1 tbsp. spoon of brown sugar;
• a pinch of salt.

Preparation:

1. Finely chop the onion and garlic.
2. Fry the onion in a frying pan until golden brown.
3. Add garlic.We continue roasting.
4. Add pepper, sugar and soy sauce.
5. Mix thoroughly, add water (adjust the quantity yourself, the consistency should be similar to sauce).
6. Prepare an aqueous solution of corn starch: 1 teaspoon of starch + 2 tbsp. spoons of water.
7. Add to the container and mix thoroughly.
8. Salt.

Important! You can use white sugar rather than brown sugar, but the sauce will turn out pale. If you run the sauce in a blender after cooking, it will become homogeneous.

In folk medicine

Traditional medicine offers to protect the body from seasonal colds using a simple folk remedy.

Ingredients:

• 1 glass of milk;
• a pinch of pepper;
• cumin to taste.

Preparation:

1. Heat the milk.
2. Add cumin. Mix.
3. Add pepper.

It is advisable to drink this drink before bed. If you are already sick, a cocktail will help you get back on your feet faster.

In cosmetology

For voluminous hair, we recommend trying a hair mask with black pepper.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon honey;
• a pinch of ground black pepper;
• 100 ml water or cognac;
• 1-2 drops of lemon juice.

Mix all the ingredients (the honey must first be melted). Apply the mask exclusively to the hair roots. Leave for no more than 20 minutes. You can add a spoonful of burdock or castor oil to the recipe.

It is recommended to make this mask no more than twice a week.

To cleanse the skin of the face, pepper is consumed internally. Do not apply any masks to your face, especially if there is irritation or wounds. This will cause a strong reaction.

Reviews

We invite you to read reviews from people who have found beneficial uses for black pepper.

Albina, 56 years old: “My husband began to go bald.Age, of course, takes its toll, but I didn’t want to part with my hair. I prepared a mask for him with the addition of black pepper. Other ingredients included cognac and honey. Sometimes I added sour cream, but rarely. We did two courses for a month and a half. No new hairs are visible, but the hair loss has definitely stopped. Even this result suits us. Try it."

Vera, 37 years old: “I love spicy food. I don’t have any stomach problems, so I often cook with black pepper. Roast with peppercorns works especially well. I sprinkle it on the dishes 15 minutes before they are ready and mix thoroughly. The aroma cannot be described in words. I don’t know if the spice is to blame for this, but my skin is good, my teeth are strong, and I’m not overweight.”

Stanislava, 26 years old: “I work in a fitness club, I need to look “A+”. I gained extra pounds after my vacation and prepared a cocktail of ground pepper and vegetables. I didn't like the taste, but the result is worth it. In addition, the swelling has gone away. After that, my mother started drinking the same cocktail: by the end of the working day, her boots began to fasten as easily as in the morning.”

Let's sum it up

Black pepper grows in the subtropics; it does not acquire its usual color immediately, but gradually: under the influence of dry air and sunlight. Widely used in medicine, helps increase blood pressure, lose weight, relieve swelling, strengthen bones. Has a beneficial effect on skin, hair and nails. It is advisable for children to eat it no earlier than seven years of age.

Spice has found its place in cosmetology. Masks with the addition of pepper improve blood circulation in the scalp, causing hair growth. As for cooking, pepper can add a spicy aroma and a touch of piquancy to any dish.