7 amazing benefits of black pepper

Black pepper’s advantages reach far beyond seasoning. Locally known as kaali mirch, the wonder spice can stave off a cough, help you quit smoking, soothe muscle soreness, and more.

As compiled from whfoods.org, Reader’s Digest and Health magazines, find out how a little pepper can go a long way with your health.

Crushes cancer

Sprinkle some kaali mirch to help fight cancer. Research has proven that the wonder spice wards off breast cancer. A chemical compound in pepper called piperine may be able to help prevent a breast cancer tumour from developing, a University of Michigan Cancer Centre study suggests. Pepper’s potential cancer-preventing properties multiply when it’s paired with haldi or turmeric; combine the two in a mouth-watering Pakistani-style chicken karhai to reap benefits.

Soothes wet cough

Battle off an irritating mucus-y cough with a cup of black pepper tea with honey, a remedy rooted in New England folk medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. The pepper stimulates circulation and mucus flow plus honey is a natural cough reliever and mild antibiotic. Place one teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and two tablespoons of honey in a cup. Fill with boiling water and steep for about 15 minutes. Strain, sip and bid farewell to that pesky khaansi.

Helps quit smoking

A 2013 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that when nicotine users or chain smokers inhaled the scent of black pepper or its oil, their cravings were reduced. Participants reported a slight burning sensation in the throat, which mimicked the sensation they enjoyed when smoking. Researchers suggest smokers smell a drop of the oil on a cotton ball or sniff your pepper canister directly whenever a craving hits. It might sting but pepper is a natural decongestant too — if nothing else, it’ll clear out your sinuses.

Soothes sore muscles

Sore after a gruelling workout? Loosen tense muscles up by massaging them with a mixture of black pepper and olive oil. Black pepper is considered a “warming” agent because it increases circulation and warmth to the area where it’s applied. This will help relax tight muscles and prepare you for your next workout sooner than you originally planned. Apply the oil directly to the skin whenever your muscles are feeling tight or sore.

Improves digestion

A peppery meal may in fact be easier on your gut. Black pepper aids digestion by stimulating the secretion of hydrochloric acid — a stomach acid that helps break down food, according to research. Hydrochloric acid is necessary for the digestion of proteins and other food components in the stomach. When the body’s production of the acid is insufficient, food may sit in the stomach for extended periods of time, leading to heartburn or indigestion. All the more reasons to pepper up your breakfast eggs.

Nurtures skin

Black pepper has antioxidant properties that help promote clear skin. Pepper brings a gentle heat to the skin that opens pores and allows for a deeper clean. Its texture also works well as an exfoliant. To banish black heads and score a clear complexion, mix one cup sugar, half cup coconut oil and a pinch of ground pepper in a bowl; stir together with a spoon. Rub the scrub onto wet skin in the shower and wash off. The spice stimulates blood circulation to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the surface of the skin, and the grains help slough off dead cells, says Wendy Allred, a cosmetologist in NY.

Heals a cut

Doctors swear by black pepper as a home remedy to stop small cuts and scrapes from bleeding. Pepper has antibacterial properties and also is proven to make blood coagulate or clot quicker, stopping bleeding sooner. In fact, WWII soldiers used black pepper on the battlefield to heal their wounds. The People’s Pharmacy recommends applying pressure as a primary way to stop bleeding first, following with rubbing black pepper gently to the wound.

BY: UMNIA SHAHID

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2015.

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