Black pepper has been considered the king of Islamic spices and has been used in Ayurveda medicine (traditional Indian medicine) for thousands of years.
Black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices worldwide. Black pepper has a spicy and light flavor, suitable for many dishes. Here are 10 health benefits of black pepper supported by scientific research.
Why should we eat black pepper regularly?
1. Black pepper is high in antioxidants
Black pepper is rich in a plant active ingredient called piperine, in vitro studies show that piperine has strong antioxidant properties.
Studies show that: A diet high in antioxidants may help prevent or reduce the harmful effects of free radicals.
Test-tube and rodent studies have observed that black pepper and piperine supplements can reduce free radical damage.
In one study, mice fed a high-fat diet plus black pepper or black pepper extract showed that signs of free radical damage in cells were less than after 10 weeks compared to mice that ate only High-fat diet.
2. Black pepper has anti-inflammatory properties
Chronic inflammation can be a fundamental factor in many conditions, such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Many laboratory studies have shown that piperine - the main active ingredient in black pepper - can effectively fight inflammation.
For example, in studies on rats with arthritis, treatment with piperine helped reduce joint swelling and inflammatory markers in the blood.
In rat studies, piperine has prevented airway inflammation due to asthma and seasonal allergies.
However, the anti-inflammatory effects of black pepper and piperine have not been extensively studied in humans.
3. It is beneficial for your brain
Piperine has been shown to improve brain function in animal studies.
In particular, it has demonstrated potential benefits for symptoms associated with brain degeneration such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
For example, a study in mice with Alzheimer's disease showed that piperine improved memory.
In another rodent study, piperine extract appears to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques, which are dense clusters of damaging protein fragments in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease.
4. Control blood sugar level
Studies show that piperine can help improve blood sugar metabolism.
In one study, mice fed black pepper extract had lower blood sugar levels after consuming glucose compared to mice in the control group.
Black pepper hati helps improve blood sugar levels
In addition, 86 overweight people taking supplements containing piperine and other compounds for 8 weeks experienced significant improvements in insulin sensitivity - a measure of the level of insulin hormone that removes glucose from the blood.
However, it is unclear whether similar effects will occur with black pepper alone, as a combination of many active plant active ingredients were used in this study.
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5. Black pepper helps lower cholesterol levels
High blood cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide.
Black pepper extract has been studied in animals because of its ability to lower cholesterol levels.
In a 42-day study, rats were fed a high-fat diet and black pepper extract reduced blood cholesterol levels, including LDL (bad) cholesterol.
In addition, black pepper and piperine are thought to increase the absorption of dietary supplements that have potential cholesterol-lowering effects such as turmeric powder and red yeast rice.
For example, studies have shown that black pepper can increase the absorption of turmeric's active ingredient - curcumin - by up to 2,000%.
6. To prevent cancer
The researchers hypothesized that the active compound in black pepper, piperine, may have anti-cancer properties.
Although no human trials have been done, in vitro studies have shown that piperine slows the replication of breast, prostate and colon cancer cells and causes cancer cell death.
Another test-tube study screened 55 compounds from spices and observed that piperine from black pepper was the most effective in enhancing the effectiveness of traditional treatments for breast cancer.
Moreover, piperine has shown promising results in laboratory studies to reverse the antigenic antigenic status in cancer cells - a problem that hinders the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Although these results are promising, more research is needed to understand the potential anti-cancer properties of black pepper and piperine.
Other benefits
Black pepper may be beneficial for health in other ways, according to preliminary research:
7. May reduce appetite. In one small study, 16 adults reported reduced appetite after drinking black pepper drinks.
8. Enhance nutrient absorption. Black pepper can increase the absorption of essential nutrients like calcium and selenium, as well as some beneficial plant compounds, such as those found in green tea and turmeric.
9. May enhance intestinal health. Preliminary research suggests that black pepper can increase good bacteria in your gut.
10. May help relieve pain. Although it has not been studied in humans, rodent studies suggest that piperine in black pepper may be a natural painkiller.