The history of black pepper goes back to several centuries. Archaeological evidence suggests that people used pepper even in 2000 BC in India. It is one of the most common ingredient used for cooking around the world. Crowned as ‘the king of spices’, black pepper is also among the ingredients of very important Ayurvedic medicine.
While pepper originally belongs to South India, it is grown in other tropical countries, like Indonesia and Vietnam, as well. Being rich in many nutrients, black pepper can add a lot more to your food than just spice. For example, adding black pepper powder to your food instead of chili powder will help in digestion and gastric problems. Also, sprinkling black pepper powder on food helps in weight loss. However, one should avoid adding too much spice as it may have severe side effects.
If you are suffering from cold and cough, taking a teaspoon of honey with freshly crushed pepper does the trick. Adding a pinch of pepper powder to fruit juice helps remove excess water from the body. What’s more, it’s said that black pepper helps to deal with depression, as it stimulates the brain to work properly. However, remember that pepper loses its flavour and aroma through evaporation so its best to keep it in an airtight container.
