What Are Benefits of Eating Black Pepper?

Black pepper is a popular cooking spice made by grinding up black peppercorns, which grow on a vine native to Vietnam and India. Aside from gracing dining room tables, usually paired with a salt shaker, black pepper might also offer some health benefits as well. It can be used alone or with other spices for added benefits.
Minerals

 

Black pepper contains several minerals that are very important to the human body, one of which is chromium. Black pepper also contains calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc.
Vitamins and Phytonutrients

 

Black pepper might not be thought of as a vitamin-containing food, but it does contain many vitamins and phytonutrients. Black pepper is high in vitamin K and also contains beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, choline, folic acid, lycopene, niacin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, and vitamins A, C and E. Many of these vitamins have antioxidant properties, helping to reduce the harmful effects of free radicals on the body and helping to prevent cancerous changes to cells.
Digestive Benefits

 

Black pepper is thought to provide several benefits to the digestive system, though these benefits are unproven. This spice might improve digestion by increasing the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Increased acid helps digest food more efficiently, possibly reducing the incidence of indigestion and gas.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties

 

Black pepper is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties that might be beneficial in treating certain medical conditions. When combined with turmeric, black pepper was shown to have a positive impact against breast cancer cells, according to a study at Colorado State University. Black pepper might also help reduce irritation from insect bites and possibly help fight inflammatory respiratory conditions such as asthma. These benefits remain speculative as of July 2011.
Considerations

 

Black pepper should not be used in place of conventional medical treatment. Talk with a doctor or herbalist for specific recommendations for your situation if you think black pepper might be of benefit. Because this spice hasn't been studied extensively for medicinal uses, no dosage recommendations exist.