SPICE OF THE WEEK - PEPPER

SPICE OF THE WEEK 

BLACK PEPPER

* Black pepper is a tree cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning

* When dried, the fruit is known as a Pepper Corn.

* Black  Pepper - cooked and dried unripe fruit

* Green Pepper - Dried Unripe Fruit

*White Pepper -  Ripe Fruit seeds

* Black pepper is the most pungent and flavorful of all types of peppers.

* Black pepper is available whole, crushed or ground into powder.

* To ensure best flavor, buy whole peppercorns and grind them just before adding to a recipe.

* Buying whole peppercorns will help to ensure that you are purchasing unadulterated pepper since ground pepper is often mixed with other spices.

* Black pepper should be kept in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry place.

* Add pepper at the end of the cooking process since it loses its flavor and aroma if cooked for too long, adding it near and end will help to preserve its flavor.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK PEPPER

# Pepper Increases the hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach, thereby facilitating digestion

# Helps to prevent the formation of intestinal gas.

# Promotes sweating and urination, which removes toxins from the body

# Helps in breakdown of fat cells thus helps in weight loss

#  Pepper is added to tonics for cough & cold.

# Helps to fight infections & insect bites

# Helps in transporting the benefits of other herbs to all parts of the body.

# Piperine , one of the components in pepper helps to reduce memory impairment and cognitive malfunction

# Helps to cure vitiligo

# Aids in treating tooth decay & tooth ache.