Ground red pepper. Useful properties, application, contraindications

Black pepper is one of the most common spices, which is sure to be found in every housewife’s home.

Description

Black pepper is a shrub plant from the Pepper family. The plant is native to the Malabar Islands in India, which is why it is often called the “Malabar berry.”

The fruits of the tree are green peas that darken during processing. Depending on the time of collection and production technology, red, green and white peppers are also obtained. All varieties of pepper are used in cooking, but black pepper is the most popular.

In nature, shrubs climb up, entwining trees. Since pepper began to be cultivated, special poles have been installed for it on plantations, limiting the growth of the plant to 4-5 meters. In general, the height of the shrub can reach 15 meters. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long. After flowering ends, the plant bears round fruits, which initially have green, and then acquire a yellow or red color.

The length of the brush is up to 14 centimeters, which can contain 20-30 drupes. To obtain black pepper, the fruits are collected unripe, and when dried in the sun they turn black and wrinkle. The ripe fruits of the plant are soaked in water, the soft pericarp is removed and white pepper is obtained, which is not as hot as black pepper, but more aromatic and is also popular in cooking.

In India, black pepper has been grown since ancient times and was well known in Ancient Egypt, China, Rome and Greece. In the Middle Ages, pepper was highly valued and widely used in European cooking, despite its high cost. In those days, the monopoly on supplies belonged to merchants from Venice and Genoa. After this, the Portuguese, and even later the Dutch, took over the right to supply pepper to Europe.

Today, the largest producers of pepper are India, Brazil and Indonesia. These countries grow more than 40 thousand tons of pepper annually. In addition, black pepper is grown in Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Java, Kalimantan and other countries with tropical climates.

Use of black pepper in cooking

Of all the spices, black pepper is the most widely known. In cooking, it is used in ground form, whole peppercorns, and also as part of various spicy mixtures. The properties of ground black pepper include a more intense aroma, but it quickly runs out of flavor if it is not stored in an airtight container.

Pepper is added to almost all dishes - soups, gravies, sauces, minced meats, salads, marinades, sausages, legumes and vegetable dishes. It is also traditionally used in the preparation of all types of meat, game and fish, in cooking.

Composition and calorie content of black pepper

100 g of black pepper contains 12.5 g of water, 25.3 g of fiber, 10.4 g of protein, 38.6 g of carbohydrates, 3.3 g of fat, 4.5 g of ash, vitamins: beta-carotene (A) , thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (PP), choline (B4), pantothenic acid(B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid(B9), ascorbic acid (C), tocopherol (E), phylloquinone (K); macroelements: phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium; trace elements: fluorine, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, iron.

The calorie content of black pepper is 250 kcal per 100 g of product.

Benefits of black pepper

Useful properties black pepper was highly prized in ancient times. For example, doctors Ancient India It was used in the treatment of cough, sore throat, flu, asthma and as a pain reliever. And the ancient Greek doctors Hippocrates, Democritus and Pliny the Elder described the benefits of black pepper in their works.

Black pepper has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, restorative, bactericidal, anthelmintic, expectorant and diuretic effect. It increases stress resistance and improves the functioning of the cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine and respiratory systems.


Pepper contains an alkaloid called capsaicin, which gives it a characteristic burning taste, and also stimulates metabolism, stimulates appetite, restores the functioning of the pancreas and stomach, thins the blood, preventing the formation of blood clots, and lowers blood pressure.

Harm of black pepper

Not recommended for use this product in case of individual intolerance. Black pepper can also be harmful for stomach and duodenal ulcers, acute inflammations kidneys and bladder, anemia, after operations on the intestines and stomach.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Many of us use ground pepper as a seasoning for cooking. However, it is famous not only for its spicy and bright aroma.

Few people know the health benefits of ground black pepper.

In addition to culinary benefits, the spice also has a lot of medicinal properties.

Compound

Black pepper is the dried fruit of a tree vine. The homeland of the spice is India. In former times, black pepper was compared to gold in value. Today this spice is also grown in America. East Africa and some areas of Southeast Asia. High-quality black pepper has a rich black hue and sinks in water. The spice can be stored in the form of peas long time, but the shelf life of ground pepper is only 3 months.

What are the benefits of ground black pepper? First of all, it is a universal seasoning for dishes made from meat, fish, vegetables and even mushrooms. Unique chemical composition causes a wide range of medicinal properties of pepper. The pungent taste of this spice is given by essential oils. Their content in ground pepper is about 1-2%. A unique component of the seasoning is piperine glucoside. It has amazing abilities: it stimulates the activity of amino acids in the gastrointestinal tract, increases the production of serotonin, and has an analgesic effect on the body. Ground black pepper also contains vitamins E and C, as well as starch.

Medicinal properties

At correct use Ground black pepper can have an effect on the body therapeutic effect. In folk medicine, it is often used in the treatment of many diseases and disorders of the body. What are the health benefits of ground black pepper?

Digestive organs

Ground pepper stimulates production hydrochloric acid, which allows food to be digested and absorbed faster in the stomach. In addition, the spice normalizes intestinal function, eliminating increased gas formation. Black pepper has a powerful antimicrobial effect and helps remove worms from the body. Fans of Ayurveda know first-hand the benefits of ground black pepper. According to it, you should consume 3 black peppercorns daily for 2-3 weeks after meals for the purpose of cleansing gastrointestinal tract from toxins and waste. This therapy has a detrimental effect on adipose tissue, accelerating the process of its splitting.

Cardiovascular system

Scientists have proven that ground black pepper reduces the risk of developing heart and vascular diseases. The essential oils in its composition thin the blood, effectively cleansing blood vessels of cholesterol and other harmful substances. Thus, the load on the heart muscle is significantly reduced, and with it the likelihood of heart attack and stroke.

Respiratory organs

What are the benefits of ground black pepper? respiratory system has been known for a long time. First of all, the spice perfectly dilutes mucus and removes it from the lungs. Developed in folk medicine special remedy based on ground black pepper to treat cough. To prepare it, you need to mix 1 glass of liquid honey and 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper. The product should be taken 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day after meals.

Application

In folk medicine, there are many recipes for using ground black pepper to treat various diseases. The ancients believed that the spice perfectly warms the blood. This property has been used to enhance potency in men. For a week, you need to take ground pepper mixed in equal proportions with sugar (half a teaspoon) and a glass of milk. The result is noticeable after 2-3 doses.

Speaking about the benefits of ground black pepper, we should mention its beneficial effect on hair. Masks with black pepper are especially useful for total hair loss. To prepare this home remedy needs to be mixed table salt and ground black pepper in a 1:1 ratio, and then add onion juice to make a mushy mass. The finished mask should be rubbed into the roots of the hair and left to act for 30 minutes, after wrapping the head cling film. The product prevents hair loss, activates hair growth and strengthens hair follicles.

Ecology of health: When taken orally, black pepper opens phlegm (which many sufferers try in vain to achieve chronic bronchitis), warms the digestive organs, improves appetite, treats sour belching, thins thick blood

There is a pepper shaker on almost every table. Dark gray powder improves the taste of main dishes, giving them a spiciness. But, habitually shaking the pepper shaker over the plate, we hardly think about how valuable medicinal product we hold in our hands.

The homeland of the famous spice of the East - black pepper - is India. Black peppercorns are the dried, unripe fruits of an evergreen vine that grows exclusively in the tropics. Despite the long-standing familiarity of Europeans with this spice, its chemical composition has not been sufficiently studied. It reliably identified only the bitter glycoside piperine, ethereal and fatty oils, starch, vitamins E, C. According to doctors of the ancient East, black pepper increases the digestive power of the stomach and energy nervous system, strengthens muscles, and has no equal in this.

Other properties of this food product have long given it fame as a medicinal product. When taken orally, black pepper opens phlegm (which many sufferers of chronic bronchitis try in vain to achieve), warms the digestive organs, improves appetite, treats sour belching, thins thick blood in melancholic and phlegmatic people, and expels wind from the intestines.

For tonsillitis, cough with phlegm, bronchitis, black pepper powder is mixed with honey: 1 tbsp. spoon of powder for 1 glass of pure honey. Take 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day. Pepper and honey are also used as a diuretic for edema and heart disease.

To increase body tone and improve male potency black pepper is mixed with sugar in equal proportions, half a teaspoon of the mixture is dissolved in a glass of milk and drunk. According to the testimony of the ancients, in love affairs The help of this potion is felt the first time. A weekly course of administration should significantly stimulate the body.

Black pepper powder mixed in equal proportions with henna is an excellent external remedy for the treatment of skin diseases and lichens.

For radiculitis, osteochondrosis, joint pain, aches, neuritis facial nerve, in case of paralysis, weakened muscles are rubbed with oil, which is prepared as follows: in a glass olive oil add 1 tbsp. spoon of black pepper powder, bring the oil to a boil over low heat, boil for 5-10 minutes, cool, strain and use for rubbing.

With all the above types internal use black pepper should take into account the contraindications it has for acute inflammation of the bladder and kidneys. You should not eat pepper if you are anemic. allergic diseases, peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum. published

One of the most popular spices on the planet was born in India, on the Malabar Islands. Until the hot spice took its modest place in the field of cooking, small peas also served monetary unit, and a measure of weight, and even the level of prestige. Few people know, but ground black pepper, the harms and benefits of which we will consider today, is successfully used in medicine and cosmetology, and even helps to lose weight!

Product Description

The familiar black peas are the unripe fruits of a tree-like pepper vine that grows in warm latitudes. Habitual dark color The berries are acquired during the drying period, and it is in this form that the product becomes suitable as a spice - either in whole or in ground form. By the way, the white pepper found on sale is seemingly the complete opposite of black pepper - a fruit from the same vine, only it has undergone several intermediate stages of processing in the form of two-week soaking in a special solution.

Aromatic seasoning may lose its properties if stored improperly. Because fresh air, caught in a container with a spice, also refers to unfavorable conditions, it is not recommended to buy a lot of pepper for future use, and if you make small reserves, then in the form of whole grains, which are less susceptible to external factors. It is best to grind the peas immediately before use, and there is a rule - the coarser and coarser the grind, the more fragrant and pungent the seasoning. Many cooks or people who practice eating pepper medicinal purposes, and do not use a mill at all, but grind or crush the spice in a mortar.

By the way, the weight of the crushed seasoning is easy to determine using a simple teaspoon - one spoon holds exactly 5 g of the spicy granular substance.

Composition of black pepper

Ground black pepper, the harm and benefits of which we consider in this material, is a product worth high level food and energy value. However, due to the small amount of seasoning entering the human body with food, there is no need to talk about the serious value of the substance in life support processes.

The calorie content of ground black pepper (100 grams) is 250 kcal. Decomposing this indicator into the BZHU ratio, we obtain the following table:

In addition, per 100 g of product there are: 12.7 g of water, 25.5 g of fiber, 4.7 g of ash. Vitamin composition ground black pepper includes at least six types of B vitamins, carotenoids (A), ascorbic acid (C), phylloquinone (K), tocopherols and tocotrienols (E). List of trace elements contained in the product: sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, fluorine, iron, copper, selenium.

Comparative characteristics of pepper vine fruits

According to the results of the research, it was found that the fruits of the pepper vine have the same culinary characteristics, regardless of their appearance, therefore, the topic of the benefits and harms of ground black pepper in the diet by default can serve as a description of white grains, pink, and green. However, when using pepper for medicinal purposes, a slight difference in the quantitative content of resins and essential oils can be decisive, so you should not look for an alternative to the type of grain indicated in the instructions or deviate from the recipe proportions.

For special, specific taste properties ground black pepper is responsible for the alkaloid piperine, which also provides the pungency of the long leguminous product and is included in all fruits of plants of the “pepper” class without exception.

What is Piperine

The alkaloid piperine is located in the outer shell of the peppercorn, that is, the familiar black pea, devoid of skin, will not have the expected pungency and medicinal properties. It is the substance piperine, released in the form of crystalline granules, that forms the harm and benefit of ground black pepper. Features of this element affect digestive system, irritating her and stimulating her.

You need to understand that this substance cannot be opposed to diseases in its independent form, and in addition, it has a number of contraindications for various damage to the gastric mucosa, pregnancy and lactation.

Black pepper in cooking

The use of spices in the cooking process has its own rules, adhering to which it is easy to achieve maximum development of the taste of the spice. So, when cooking first courses, as well as sauces and vegetable stews, a pinch of ground black pepper is added to the dish at the last stage of its preparation. When using breading when frying meat or fish fillets in portions, the spice is added directly to the flour or breadcrumbs. When preparing any minced meat, it is better to add pepper to the crushed mass at the same time as salt - at initial stage mixing ingredients.

Ground black pepper is indispensable in preparing meat dishes, but few know that some classic confectionery- for example, ordinary gingerbread cookies - also include a small amount of hot seasoning in the recipe. As already mentioned, it is advisable to grind peas to obtain an aromatic bulk spice immediately before use, and during storage, ensure that the containers with the product are air- and moisture-tight.

The benefits of pepper in medicine

During heat treatment, some beneficial properties that indicate the benefits of ground black pepper are lost or reduced in effectiveness. Therefore, speaking of decisive therapeutic measures, do not mean the usual use of the spice as a seasoning for boiling broths, but the addition of the powder to warm or cold water, milk or alcohol solutions. If we're talking about about prevention (for example, colds or stomach disorders given the current satisfactory state of the body), then preparation separate funds optional - just sprinkle ground pepper on the already prepared and slightly cooled dish.

So specifically, what are the benefits of ground black pepper? Here is an incomplete list of problems that you can get rid of by regularly introducing spices into your diet:

  • indigestion associated with difficulty producing gastric juice;
  • accumulation of toxins and deterioration of the liver, which cannot cope with their removal;
  • obesity occurring against the background of metabolic disorders;
  • colds;
  • dermatitis and other skin lesions (including skin cancer);
  • nervous disorders, frequent stress, depressive states.

Particular attention was paid to the properties of ground black pepper when studying climacteric syndrome in women after 45 years. It turns out that the seasoning successfully stabilizes hormonal background during a period of sharp decline in estrogen production, which leads to the formation of a more stable state of the nervous system.

Harm from black pepper

The so-called individual intolerance or allergy to ground black pepper often turns out to be a simple accumulation of the substance in the body, which happens with an excessive addiction to spicy foods. Such oversaturation of the product is expressed by heartburn, constipation, and pain in the epigastric region of the stomach. If such manifestations occur for the first time, you should temporarily stop using pepper in food and observe the body’s reaction.

Absolute contraindications to the use of spices are:

  • inflammatory condition of the genitourinary system;
  • "acute abdomen" syndrome;
  • mental disorders, psychoses, excessive mental arousal;
  • the presence of stones in the bile ducts;
  • transferred for last month nasopharyngeal operations.

A relative contraindication is the period of pregnancy and lactation, when pepper is allowed to be taken during small quantities as part of ready meals. To prevent irritation of gastric tissue in case of existing problems with the digestive organs, this product should be consumed together with fatty foods or undergo heat treatment.

Traditional medicine recipes

When using the spice for treatment, you need to take into account that when consuming ground black pepper, the harm caused by the product can significantly outweigh the expected benefit. Therefore, it is forbidden to introduce hot seasoning into the main therapeutic treatment without the consent of the doctor, when it comes to elderly patients, children, pregnant women or people at risk for absolute contraindications.

Practical recipes from traditional medicine using black spice:

  • For cough. Add 1/5 teaspoon of black pepper powder to water heated to 30 o C (200 ml), stir and give to the patient to drink before eating. You need to take the medicine for 3-5 days twice a day.
  • General strengthening elixir. A third of a teaspoon of ground seasoning, 1 tbsp. spoon: dried St. John's wort, dry wormwood, linden honey and 0.5 teaspoon of tea leaves, mix and pour 500 ml of vodka. Infuse the liquid, shaking occasionally, for three months in a cool, dark place. Then drink 0.5 tbsp. spoon three times a day after meals, for 10-15 days.

Using ground black pepper, purchased in store packaging and having a shelf life of more than six months, as a medicinal raw material is a waste of time and health. Such a product can slightly improve the taste of food, but has no benefit for medicinal purposes.

Black pepper for weight loss

In order to get rid of excess weight the spice is used both internally and externally. Let’s immediately make a reservation that you cannot get rid of sagging skin that occurs during weight loss or cellulite by simply smearing yourself with pepper mixture. A mixture of 1 teaspoon of ground seasoning and 1 tbsp. Spoons of honey are applied with a rubbing motion to additionally remove toxins released with sweat and stimulate blood circulation only after active sports and before taking a warm shower.

For internal cleansing of the body and additional splitting lipids, dilute 2 grams of pepper in 0.5 liters of warm water and divide this amount of liquid into three doses during the day. You should take the “talker” strictly after meals.

One of the most common spices present in the kitchen of almost every housewife is black pepper. Together with salt, this spice has long become an integral part of any table setting. Black pepper is used to season first and second courses and is used in marinades and sauces. With the help of this spice, housewives add a specific aroma, spiciness and piquancy to cooked dishes. At the same time, people, as a rule, do not think at all about the beneficial properties of black pepper. Meanwhile, oh healing power Fragrant black peas were known back in ancient times.

India is the birthplace of most of the most common spices. Black pepper was no exception. The peas of such a popular spice today are the fruits of an Asian vine. After collection, they are subjected to special processing, after which the pepper is not always black. Many people have seen pink, green or white peppercorns in supermarkets. Housewives also actively use this spice in the form of ground powder.

Compound

Black pepper contains peculiar substances characteristic of most oriental hot spices. Black pepper contains starch, essential oils, chavicin, pyroline, gum. The alkaloids piperine and capsaicin provide the burning taste for humans. In addition to exotic components, black pepper is rich in vitamin C ( ascorbic acid), B vitamins, carotene, phosphorus, iron, calcium. It should be noted that it is important to properly store this ancient spice, otherwise the essential oils contained in the pepper will evaporate.

Useful properties

Have been highly valued since ancient times healing properties black pepper. On its basis, Indian healers prepared various medicinal mixtures against influenza, sore throat, and pain relief for healing. Medicines using black pepper can improve the functioning of the respiratory, digestive, endocrine, cardiovascular systems, increase the body's resistance to stress. This is not surprising, since this spice has the widest spectrum impact. Black pepper has diuretic, expectorant, anthelmintic, bactericidal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Benefits for the digestive system

Black pepper is extremely beneficial for the human gastrointestinal tract. Of course, if consumed in moderation. This hot spice activates the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, improving digestive processes. Food seasoned with black pepper increases appetite, warms a person in the cold season, helps get rid of colic and systematic persistent constipation.

There is one effective way, helping . You need a grain of black pepper and bay leaf grind into powder and drink the mixture warm tea. Many argue that this way increased gas formation can be overcome much more effectively than any expensive pharmacological agents. In addition, consuming this powder promotes sweating and urination, removing accumulated harmful substances, which ultimately leads to weight loss and elimination of swelling.

Benefits for blood vessels and skin

Due to the presence of capsaicin and piperine alkaloids, which give black pepper its characteristic hot taste, it stimulates metabolism, thins the blood, and prevents blood clots. Black pepper, which is part of various lotions and compresses, is successfully used in the fight against skin diseases. For example, the alkaloid piperine stimulates the skin to produce natural pigment in diseases such as. And to get rid of dandruff, you need to mix a glass of cottage cheese with a teaspoon of black pepper, and rub the mixture into the roots of your hair. Finally, in countries where dishes with the addition of this spice predominate, there are fewer cancer patients.

Thus, to prevent various diseases and maintain your health, you should use the beneficial properties of black pepper and regularly introduce it into your diet. You just need to remember that you shouldn’t get too carried away with hot spices. And eating black pepper in small concentrations means health and a good mood!