Pepper is bad: find out if it's true or if it's a myth to dispel
Pepper is perhaps the queen spice of our tables. We use it every day to flavor numerous dishes and popular tradition also attributes numerous beneficial properties to it. Why, then, are there those who think it is bad for your health? Let's find out where this food comes from, what its characteristics are and if we can consume it regularly. If you are pregnant and want to know which other foods to avoid, don't miss this video.
What is pepper and where does it come from
The pepper that we commonly use in cooking is the fruit of a perennial plant that belongs to the Piperaceae family, which includes 700 different species. The best known is that of Piper nigrum, which is a plant native to India but which is also grown in Vietnam, Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia. Its fruits, with an intense red color, contain seeds inside them, which constitute the real peppercorns. It is therefore from the fruit of this tropical plant that the seeds are collected around the month of February which will then go to make up this spice. Depending on the degree of ripeness and the treatment to which they are subjected, we will have black, green and white pepper. The pink pepper, on the other hand, belongs to another "variety of plant, namely the Schinus molle.
After being harvested from the plant, the peppercorns are cooked in boiling water to eliminate any impurities and then they are dried in the sun, where they acquire their particular dark and wrinkled appearance. Pepper is a spice commercialized for a very long time that has contributed to the sustenance of many economies of tropical countries, so much so that, although its origin is exotic, it has become one of the most popular condiments even in Western cuisine.
Black pepper is, of all the varieties, the most spicy and aromatic. It is produced by immersing the drupes in boiling water for a few minutes and then drying them in the sun. It is rich in antioxidants but, unlike chilli, it does not contain vitamin C. In the kitchen it is used in many recipes, such as the famous pasta with cacio e pepe or fillet with pepper, and has been appreciated for thousands of years.
Green and white pepper, on the other hand, are more delicate and less aromatic than black pepper, and they are also less spicy. Both, however, share the same properties with the black one, in fact, according to popular medicine, they are equally good for our health.
Properties and benefits of pepper
Black pepper contains many substances, including fiber (almost 25%), water, proteins, fats and sugars. In addition, it also has numerous vitamins (A, B, E, K, J ) as well as several important antioxidants that are beneficial to our health such as luthenia, zexanthin, lycopene, alpha and beta carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. However, what really characterizes pepper is that it makes it a much loved spice it is the presence of piperine, which is the substance responsible for its particular flavor.
Black pepper, very rich in antioxidants in all its varieties, is one of the spices to be integrated in the diet, in fact it has been used for many years in numerous cultures. A peppercorn contains terpenes, including limonene and α- and β -pinen, steroids, lignans and flavones. These volatile substances are responsible for the aroma of the spice, as well as the main elements of the essential oil. The peppercorns therefore play an important protective function against numerous organs of the human body (including the liver), so much so that studies have shown its effectiveness in treating diseases and inflammations that affect the body.
Pepper has numerous beneficial properties for health and for the body widely recognized by medicine and confirmed by the news of recent studies dedicated to this spice. In fact, it is a remedy used for many years known to the popular tradition of many cultures. In particular, the peppercorns have a function:
- protective for the gastrointestinal system. Piperine promotes the production of gastric juices and the absorption of selenium, therefore pepper has the function of stimulating the digestive action and metabolism. Taking it is useful in case of diarrhea, colitis, constipation, or meteorism.
- purifying. Pepper, by increasing urinary stimulation and sweating, favors the elimination of toxins.
- antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Piperine works by reducing the activity of enzymes responsible for inflammation. Some research has shown that the consumption of pepper helps to better tolerate pain and prevents the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
- slimming. It seems that pepper helps those who have embarked on a weight loss diet because it promotes thermogenesis, or the elimination of calories.
- preventive against degenerative diseases.
However, there are some cases (such as during pregnancy) in which the use of pepper must be monitored in order not to exceed with an excessive quantity that could have contraindications.
When pepper hurts: its contraindications
Although pepper has many benefits for health and for the body, there are some cases in which its use is not recommended. Contraindications concern only special cases and, in general, moderate use without exaggerating the quantity, according to the medicine does not involve risks.
- in case of hemorrhoids or cystitis, pepper aggravates the problem and causes more pain.
- when you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis, ulcers or sensitivity of the intestinal tract.
- when taking certain medicines because there may be interference between the active ingredients, especially those used in medicines for hypertension and epilepsy.
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the use of pepper is not prohibited, however it is necessary to control the intake of piperine so as not to abuse it. In fact, it is good if taken to a limited extent, but it should always be used with special attention because it can cause allergic reactions.
In general, the excess of pepper is not beneficial, however just do not overdo it and use the wheat only to flavor foods (that is, always within a healthy and balanced diet) to avoid any contraindications.
