Today, a product such as black pepper is available in every household. It costs mere pennies and can be found at any grocery store. It is hard to believe, but once the monopoly on the sale of black pepper in Europe was held by Arab tribes. And the product was so expensive that it served as the equivalent of money, and the rich gave it as a dowry to their daughters. What lies in black pepper such that, in the Middle Ages, people embarked on a distant and dangerous journey, just to get a bag of black berries? Why was this spice so appreciated? The benefits and harms of black pepper will be the topic of our article.
Plant description
Perennial evergreen liana received the Latin name Piper nigrum from botanists. And in translation this means "black pepper." Thus, it becomes clear that the most valuable in the plant are not the stem (which can reach a length of 15 meters) and not dark green leathery leaves, but berries. In the wild, there are about one and a half thousand varieties of pepper. But they are used as spices, and, therefore, are cultivated, only ten of them.
On plantations, the liana is limited in height to four meters. The berries of black pepper, the benefits of which we will consider here, are harvested unripe when they are green or yellow in color. The birthplace of this plant is South India. Now liana is grown in many countries with a tropical climate. This explains the cheapness of the product. But the best is still Indian pepper, or rather, from the province of Malabar. It is not as hot as, for example, Malaysian, but very fragrant. Indonesian black pepper is also in demand. If the peas have a light brown hue, they are from Vietnam. They have little aroma, but more than enough stinginess.
Types of Peppers
Just say: the sweet Bulgarian look, sometimes called paprika, has nothing to do with Piper nigrum, and with other peppers too. This plant belongs to the nightshade family. And a relative of bell pepper is eggplant, tomato and potatoes. And, in fact, Piper nigrum is used as a spice in various forms. Unripe berries are dried and packed. This is black pepper peas. The benefits and harms of this product are the same as its ground counterpart. Crushed berries should be stored in airtight packaging, since the aromatic qualities of the spices disappear for several months.
Even in cooking, white, green (these varieties are less burning) and red peppers are used. For the last spice, the berries are harvested fully ripe. Therefore, red pepper is most acute. If we talk about the black variety, then the peas should be no more than five millimeters in diameter. Their skin is dried and wrinkled. Ground black pepper should have a dark gray tint and a very strong characteristic aroma.
In perfumery, the fruits of the bus are widely used. So called the pink variety of pepper.
Penetration into Europe
Alexander the Great, with his campaigns in India in the 4th century BC, discovered black pepper for ancient Greece. The Europeans immediately appreciated the benefits and especially the taste of this product. The Greeks even presented black pepper as a sacrifice to the gods. In the Roman era, the product, like salt, served as the equivalent of money.
In the Middle Ages, black pepper was also very appreciated, as Arab merchants controlled the way to India. The high cost of the product was also explained by the fact that on one bunch of lianas there can be berries of different degrees of maturity. And the plant began to bear fruit from three years of life. "Piper Nigrum" is a very whimsical liana. It requires not only a hot climate, but also special lighting. By the way, black pepper was the first spice that Russian people began to use in their kitchen. And the spice came to taste so much that now it is added to all dishes except desserts and drinks.
Composition of dry unripe berries Piper nigrum
Now we know what black pepper is. The benefit of this product is due to its composition. What trace elements are found in Malabar berries? These are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, alkaloids, essential oils, resins and vitamins. The unique substances piperidine and piperine are responsible for the severity of black pepper. Surprisingly, the berries contain a lot of starch - up to 60 percent of the total chemical composition. Of the vitamins in black pepper, A, B (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9), PP, E, K, and C are present. Moreover, there are more ascorbic acid in Piper Nigrum than in oranges. But since black pepper is used in minimal doses, the spice cannot be regarded as the only source of vitamin C. Of the minerals in the product, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper, selenium and fluorine are present. Such a rich composition allows black pepper to be one of the most useful seasonings. There are not so many contraindications to its use. But we still list them.
Ground black pepper: benefits and harms
Chefs know the secret: this spice enhances the appetite. In addition, it stabilizes the digestive process. Before exams, students and schoolchildren should lean on black pepper, as it enhances blood circulation in the brain and thereby stimulates mental activity, strengthens memory. This spice is an excellent antidepressant. It also dilutes blood and lowers cholesterol, being a product for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Spice has a mild laxative effect. It cleanses the body of toxins. With a cold, black pepper is good as an expectorant and diaphoretic. Noticed: those who love seasoning suffer less from cancer.
But the negative qualities of this product also exist. Black pepper should not be abused by people with a gastric or intestinal ulcer, urinary tract disease, with hypertension and anemia. Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding should also minimize the spice in their diet. If you are going to take urine and blood tests, then the day before you should refrain from using black pepper. Spice can significantly affect the results of laboratory tests, and therefore the diagnosis will be made incorrectly.
Black pepper peas: benefits and harms
In principle, these are the same berries, only in their entirety. They have the same chemical composition, which means useful and harmful qualities. But there is a specificity. After all, peas and peas are used in gastronomy differently than ground product. We put whole berries in marinades, homemade preserves. Therefore, some spices are passed on to related products, while others are not.
In folk medicine, they mostly use tincture of berries on alcohol or vodka. This tool is great for pain in the joints and spine. Rub the lower back with tincture - and radiculitis will be removed by hand. The benefits of black pepper for men are undeniable. If you often eat spice in food, then you can enhance sexual potency. Pea peppers also serve as a prophylactic against prostate adenoma disease and even treats the early stages of this ailment. And if you grind the berries and mix the powder with sugar in a proportion of one to one, then such a folk drug will increase (though only temporarily) your male potency.
Black pepper and slimming
Have you noticed that the residents of Southeast Asia, where spicy dishes are in honor, are distinguished by their harmony. It turns out that black pepper helps to fight overweight. The use of spices in the difficult fight against unwanted kilograms has been verified by scientific research. The piperine substance, which is responsible for the burning properties of the seasoning, as well as other chemical compounds destroy fat cells and remove it from the body. But it should be remembered that the optimal dose of black pepper is 4 grams per day.
There are several recipes for using spices for weight loss. First, you need to drink a glass of fat-free kefir every morning, seasoned with a pinch of black pepper. In the evening, prepare a cocktail of vegetable juice (cucumber, tomato, half a paprika). The drink should also be seasoned with a pinch of black pepper. Such a diet, of course, should be practiced by people with a healthy stomach.
Black pepper in folk medicine
As soon as this spice appeared in Russia, it was immediately adopted by healers. The known benefits of ground black pepper in the treatment of skin diseases. If, in equal proportions, mix the spice with soy flour and olive oil, then lichen can be cured with this substance.
The antimicrobial properties of ground black pepper are also known. It is used as a powder to sterilize wounds and accelerate the healing process.
In diseases of the kidneys and liver, it is also worth leaning on seasoning - it helps to filter harmful substances and removes toxins from the body. But most often, traditional medicine uses black pepper for colds. It is mixed with honey and consumed inside. This is an excellent expectorant, diaphoretic, and pain reliever.
Black pepper in cosmetology
This seasoning is used not only inside, but also externally. The benefits of black pepper were also appreciated by cosmetology. In case of hair loss, it is worth mixing this spice with salt in equal proportions and dissolving the powder in onion juice. This mask must be kept on the head for half an hour, and then washed off. This procedure should be carried out once a week.
Pink pepper essential oil is used in perfumes, as well as in anti-cellulite massages. Creams with Piper Nigrum are produced for problematic skin, because the spice has an antimicrobial and wound healing effect. Use black pepper extract and rinse the mouth. It freshens the breath no worse than menthol - due to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria. Shampoos with black pepper in the composition successfully fight dandruff.