The benefits and harms of black pepper, as well as ways to use it in cooking, cosmetology and traditional medicine

Have you ever thought about the fact that the usual black pepper can be used not only to add a spicy taste to the 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 used to buy the black peppercorns or ground at the market or in grocery stores. But how and where it grows, what properties it has - many do not know.

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

The birthplace of culture is India, later it appeared in America and Europe. To date, Vietnam is the leader in the collection of pepper. It is also actively grown in Brazil. The greatest harvest is obtained in the subtropics. The plant itself looks like a liana that twines around trees and can reach 15 m. At first, the fruits are green, then turn into red, and become black already in the process of drying in the sun.

Composition and properties

A small pea contains a lot of vitamins and minerals useful for the body:

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

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

Calorie content and nutritional value

These indicators are especially important for those who monitor weight. Also KBZHU is advised to count people with certain diseases (for example, diabetes).

The values ​​are given per 100 g of product.

The benefits and harms of black pepper

Like any product, black pepper can be both beneficial and harmful. Many parents are afraid to add it to their child's food. It is believed that it can negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. True or fiction - we will consider below.

To begin with, let's briefly define the beneficial and negative effects of the burning berry.

Useful:

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

Harmful:

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

Effects on organs and systems

Black pepper has a versatile effect on the body:

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

Healing properties

What diseases and conditions does black peppercorns help to cope with:

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

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

Slimming benefits

Black pepper is good for obesity and overweight. It happens that a person goes in for sports, begins to eat right, but the weight still does not go away. 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 deal with this problem.

Let's give an example of a recipe for a slimming cocktail. It can only be consumed if the stomach is healthy.

Ingredients:

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

The method of preparation is very simple: add pepper to a glass of kefir and mix. Drinking such a cocktail is recommended before bedtime. 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 the ingredients. Unlike the previous recipe, this cocktail should be drunk in the morning.

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

As a preventive measure, add peas or ground pepper to food. It goes well with meats, soups and stews.

Of course, black pepper alone will not save you 10-15 kg of excess weight. It is able to speed up metabolism, remove fluids and reduce appetite.

For men, women and children

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

Black pepper is useful for athletes: it prevents muscle stretching, strengthens joints. Many men who are engaged in physical labor are familiar with knee pain, their crunch when squatting. Black pepper will help minimize these 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 works well with skin conditions. He will not be able to even out his complexion, but he can relieve rashes, redness and acne. It is useful for women who follow the figure to add black peppercorns to soups and meat dishes.

For children, black pepper helps build a strong skeleton. Teeth are also bones, therefore, during the growth of molars, it is very useful, strengthens 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 your child complains of stomach pain after eating a spiced meal, give him warm milk with honey to drink. This drink will relieve spasm. In the future, it is better to protect the 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 acidity of the stomach;
• high blood pressure;
• age up to seven years;
• with caution during pregnancy, prohibited during lactation.

We strongly recommend that you refuse to use black pepper in any form if you have one of the contraindications.

How to use

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

In cooking

The most common use is for ready meals. Soups, dumplings, stews, meat and much more are eaten with black pepper. It is used when preparing vegetables for the winter.

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

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

1. Cook pasta in 2 liters of water. The cooking time depends on the variety (see the recommendations on the package).
2. Grind black pepper or grind in a blender.
3. Preheat the pan and add oil.
4. Add all the pepper.
5. Add a ladle of boiling water to the pan.
6. Mix thoroughly.
7. We transfer the pasta to the pan.
8. Cover with a lid, reduce heat.

Add greens or sour cream if desired. Sour cream is added after boiling water.

Black pepper sauce works well for dressing dishes.

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

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

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

In folk medicine

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

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

1. We heat the milk.
2. Add the cumin. We mix.
3. Add pepper.

It is advisable to drink such a drink before bedtime. If you are already sick, the shake will help you get back on your feet faster.

In cosmetology

For lush hair, we recommend trying a black pepper hair mask.

Ingredients:

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

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

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

To cleanse the skin of the face, pepper is used internally. Do not put any mask on your face, especially if there is irritation or sores. This will cause a strong reaction.

Reviews

We suggest that you read the reviews of people who have found useful 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 she added sour cream, but rarely. We did two courses for a month and a half. New hairs are not visible, but the loss has definitely stopped. Even this result suits us. Try it. "

Vera, 37 years old: “I love spicy food. There are no stomach problems, so I often cook with black pepper. Roast with peppercorns works especially well. Sprinkle them on the dishes 15 minutes before cooking, mix thoroughly. The aroma is beyond words. I don’t know if there is any merit in this, but my skin is good, my teeth are strong, I don’t have excess weight ”.

Stanislava, 26 years old: “I work in a fitness club, I need to look 5+. After the vacation, I gained extra pounds, prepared a cocktail of ground pepper with vegetables. Didn't like the taste, but the result is worth it. In addition, the puffiness went away. After that, my mother began to drink the same cocktail: by the end of the working day, her boots began to button up as easily as in the morning. "

Let's sum up

Black pepper grows in the subtropics, the color we are accustomed to does not acquire immediately, but gradually: under the influence of dry air and sunlight. It is widely used in medicine, it helps to increase blood pressure, lose weight, relieve puffiness, and strengthen bones. Beneficial for skin, hair and nails. It is advisable for children to eat no earlier than seven years.

Spice has found its place in cosmetology. Pepper masks improve scalp blood circulation, promoting hair growth. When it comes to cooking, pepper can add a spicy aroma and a hint of piquancy to any dish.