THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF BLACK PEPPER
Of the many spices that are staples of a perfect pantry, one stands out as the “king of spices.” Black pepper, a condiment made by grinding the dried berries of the flowering plant Piper nigrum, is used in a lot of cuisines to add a mildly spicy flavor to foods. Next to salt, pepper is the most commonly used seasoning for savory dishes, and it complements all other spices perfectly. In fact, black pepper has the ability to enhance the taste, aroma and medicinal properties of whatever spice it is used together with.
Black pepper is also a medicinal spice with a long history of use in traditional medicine. According to studies, black pepper is rich in active compounds that give it plenty of beneficial properties, especially antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Piperine, the chemical responsible for the pungency of black pepper, not only helps relieve ailments like nausea and headaches, it also boosts the absorption of plant compounds from other medicinal plants, such as curcumin from turmeric.
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