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 Black peppercorns or black pepper comes from the pepper herb. These plants grow in tropical regions like Southeast Asia and India and can grow very tall. During the three year period of allowing the plant to grow, small flowers are formed, which eventually develop into berries. These berries are then harvested or picked while they are still unripe and green, and then dried till they become shriveled and turn black or dark brown in color. What you end up with is the pepper corn. You can buy black pepper either as ground pepper or pepper corns. However, ground black pepper is considered not to be as flavorful and pungent as pepper corns that are freshly ground. Ground black pepper also cannot be stored for long. Food always has a better taste when freshly ground black pepper is added just before serving or at the end of cooking.

Black pepper contains many essential oils that benefit health like piperine, which is an amine alkaloid. There are also present many monoterpenes hydrocarbons like limonene, terpenene, and sabinene that give the pepper an aromatic property. These active agents present in the pepper also improve the gastrointestinal tract's mobility. These properties in black pepper aid digestion by raising the secretions of gastrointestinal enzymes and boosting the power of digestion. The health benefits of pepper also include controlling the blood pressure and heart rate and improving the production of blood cells. In addition, black pepper is a very good source of several vital B-complex groups of vitamins like niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin.

Some of the medicinal uses of black pepper include its use in dentistry as an antiseptic and for gum swelling and tooth decay. Black pepper is also used in preparing traditional medicines that help with indigestion and flatulence. However, there is insufficient data to support them in modern medicine. The oil of black pepper is used as an expectorant, a bactericidal, a stimulant, a diuretic, and an anti-catarrhal, digestive, analgesic, and antiseptic agent. It is considered to be effective in treating muscle tension, fevers, indigestion, rheumatism, coughs, bronchitis, anemia, and toothache. Black pepper is very useful in culinary preparations as it is a versatile spice, and it is used in almost all savory cooking. A good snack you could try preparing is roasted peppers in olive oil.

Bleeding from the sites of ulcers and gastrointestinal irritation are the side effects of pepper when used in excessive amounts. Hence, individuals with ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers, and diverticulitis conditions should avoid recipes made with pepper.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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