HWN Suggests

Is Black Pepper Healthy? Here’s What the Science Says

Like salt, black pepper sits on almost every kitchen table or countertop in America. But while whole books have been written about sodium consumption and human health, black pepper and its compounds have garnered little attention from experts. But pepper probably deserves more scrutiny. Some research has linked black pepper marinades to the elimination of heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, which are the cancer-causing chemicals that form when meat is charred or cooked at high temperatures. A group at Kansas State University found that mixing one gram of fine black pepper with 100 grams of ground beef—which works out to about a teaspoon of black pepper per half-pound of meat—almost completely eliminated…

read full article

Featured

 Black pepper: healthy or not?

Everybody knows that consuming too much salt is bad for your health. But nobody ever mentions the potential impact of the other condiment in the cruet set: black pepper. Does it have an effect on your health? Certainly, people through the ages have thought so. Black pepper, the dried berries of the Piper nigrum vine, has been part of traditional Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine for thousands of years. Ayurvedic practitioners believe that it has “carminative” properties – that is, it relieves flatulence. And in traditional Chinese medicine, black pepper is used to treat epilepsy.

 Pepper changed the world – but how many people know that?

Colonialism was born from the greed for spices and led to today’s globalised world. I know because it’s my family’s story.

Articles of Interest

How Pepper Went From “Black Gold” to Everyday Seasoning

You can’t pay rent with the spice anymore, but it’s still well worth your money. It was Britain’s enterprising nature and quest for food that led to colonization—and effectively changed global cuisine, suggests Lizzie Collingham in The Hungry Empire. There’s no question the spice trade made a permanent impact on the way we eat, one of the largest being the discovery of black pepper.

Pepper's progress

It is our oldest, most important spice, yet for years pepper has been neglected. Now, it is finally getting the gourmet treatment

The story of pepper, or how this trade shaped the world.

The archaeological evidence of pepper dates back at least to 2000 years BC. We know that pepper was exported during this period, but by what means and as it is still a mystery. Indeed traces of an old probable trade in India pepper in Egypt have been discovered the presence of pepper grains both in the nostrils and in the belly of Ramses le Grand...

A Surprising Digestion Helper- Pepper!

One spice that is always on our table is black pepper. It's a great way to get the color black in your diet and its unique color means there are some unique health benefits too!

Black Gold: The Glorious History of Pepper

The global popularity of pepper followed the rise of the Roman Empire. The Romans brought pepper from the East to the western shores of continental Europe to use as an exotic, if expensive, spice. Romans used it in their food in the same way that we do and the famous Roman cookbook, Apicius’ De re coquinaria featured pepper in the majority of its recipes.

Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatise

Black pepper, with piperine as an active ingredient, holds rich phytochemistry that also includes volatile oil, oleoresins, and alkaloids. More recently, cell-culture studies and animal modeling predicted the role of black pepper against number of maladies.

Black pepper and its pungent principle-piperine: a review of diverse physiological effects

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is one of the most widely used among spices. It is valued for its distinct biting quality attributed to the alkaloid, piperine. Black pepper is used not only in human dietaries but also for a variety of other purposes such as medicinal, as a preservative, and in perfumery. Many physiological effects of black pepper, its extracts, or its major active principle, piperine, have been reported in recent decades. Dietary piperine, by favorably stimulating the digestive enzymes of pancreas, enhances the digestive capacity and significantly reduces the gastrointestinal food transit time.

Black Pepper May Give You A Kick, But Don't Count On It For Weight Loss

Apparently, in the war against fat, saying no to the freshly grated Parmesan cheese is going to be more effective than saying yes to the black pepper. It's a cruel, cruel world.

Black Pepper: The King of Spices with a Fiery Flavor and Surprising Benefits

Derived from the berries of the Piper nigrum vine, black pepper adds depth and complexity to countless culinary creations. But this spice offers more than just flavor. It also boasts a range of potential health benefits. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of black pepper, exploring its history, culinary uses, and the surprising ways it can enhance both your cooking and well-being.

The Story Of Black Pepper | Black Pepper in History

Black peppercorns are the unripe berries of the Piper nigrum vine, which thrives in hot, humid climates. Cultivation initially involved wild pepper vines, but over time, farmers developed techniques for domestication and selective breeding, leading to various black pepper varieties with different flavors and aromas.

Weight Loss News: Black Pepper--The Secret Fat Fighter?

Love fresh ground pepper? If so, you may be happy to hear about the latest findings: It may zap fat cells.

What Are the Health Benefits of Black Pepper?

If you’ve ever faced a plate or bowl of bland food or even a dish that was missing just a little something, chances are you’ve reached for a set of salt and pepper shakers. But while the risks associated with salt are well-known, using black pepper isn’t nearly as hazardous.

What can I use instead of black pepper?

Salt and pepper are stock ingredients, but what can you substitute if someone is allergic to the black stuff?

What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Black Pepper Every Day

Chances are, you reach for the pepper shaker most days without thinking twice about what this everyday spice is doing for your health. While black pepper doesn’t contribute much in the form of energy or macronutrients, it’s rich in antioxidants and powerful plant compounds that support your health in surprising ways. Plus, it may even enhance the health benefits of the foods you sprinkle it on.

What Peppercorns Only Dream of Being

I put a few between my teeth and crunched. They cracked like coriander, releasing a billowing aroma, and then a slowly intensifying heat, like pepper. The taste changed by the second. The heat lingered. But the spice was pleasantly tempered, ripe with flavors reminiscent of jasmine, hazelnut, butter and citrus, and with the kind of oiliness you get from nuts. They were entirely different from black peppercorns.