Health benefits of Black Pepper

There are several potential health benefits of black pepper for the body and brain, and many of them come from the black pepper compound piperine. Pepper has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, especially in Ayurveda. However, you should be careful not to overuse it, as consuming too much black pepper can cause gastrointestinal side effects. Read on to learn more about black pepper, including nutritional information, health benefits, and potential risks.

Here are a few reasons to add a pinch of black pepper to your daily diet.

Cancer-fighting properties

No human studies have been done so far, but some laboratory studies suggest that black pepper piperine may have anti-cancer properties. For example, a comprehensive review of spices and cancer treatments points out that studies have found that piperin suppresses the replication of cancer cells in breast, prostate, and colon cancers.

This substance has also proved to be a promising treatment for the treatment of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. However, more scientists need to do more research to fully investigate this effect.

Anti-inflammatory benefits

Although there are no extensive human studies on the anti-inflammatory effects of black pepper and piperine, some rodent studies suggest that piperine may help reduce inflammation. For example, during a study aimed at investigating whether piperine could suppress heart damage associated with the anticancer drug doxorubicin, researchers found that laboratory mice injected with piperine had less inflammation.

Another rodent study suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of piperine may help protect renal tissue damage associated with ischemic reperfusion. Ischemic reperfusion refers to tissue damage that occurs when a part of the body does not receive enough oxygen. Researchers have also found that certain piperine supplements may help reduce the chronic inflammation experienced by people with metabolic syndrome, but more human research is needed.

High in antioxidants

The body produces free radicals, unstable molecules, which can damage cells naturally and in response to environmental stress. Excessive free radical damage can cause serious health problems such as inflammatory disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

Studies show that a diet high in antioxidants can reduce free radical damage. For example, in a review of both test tube and rodent studies, found that black pepper and piperine supplements may prevent or slow the advancement of free radical damage and related diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer.

Increasing “good cholesterol”

Researchers conducted a study of piglets randomly assigned a diet supplemented with or without black pepper and noted changes during their growing and fattening periods.

They found the piglets that consumed a diet supplemented with black pepper experienced a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein — which people call the “good cholesterol” — compared to other piglets.

Boosting brain function

Several animal studies have shown that piperine can improve brain function, especially for symptoms associated with degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. For example, researchers have found that piperine helps improve memory in rats with Alzheimer’s disease and reduce the formation of amyloid plaques. These are damaging protein fragments that first develop in the areas of the brain linked with memory and cognitive function.

Risks and side effects

There is little scientific evidence that black pepper poses major health risks and side effects. Consuming too much black pepper can cause digestive problems, which is true for most herbs and spices. Ingesting large amounts of black pepper can also cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat.

For example, studies in rodents have shown that piperine can promote the absorption of certain medications, such as antihistamines. This is useful for under-absorbed drugs, but it can lead to excessively high absorption of other drugs. Therefore, it is important to consult a healthcare provider about possible drug interactions before increasing black pepper intake or taking piperine supplements.

Summary

Black pepper and piperine have been included in the system of folk remedies and traditional medicine for thousands of years. Pepper is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, among other health benefits. It can also improve brain function and increase levels of good cholesterol.