“Dinner Table Staple” COMBATS inflammation

I often tell you about the health benefits of the foods you eat.

But what about what you put on your food?

There’s a hot debate over the health benefits of salt. (I happen to think it’s great for you.)

But it turns out that the spice that goes hand-in-hand with salt—and that you likely reach for at most meals—can fight chronic inflammation, cancer, and more.

When it comes to pepper, the more the better!

Not just because of how it flavors your food… but because of its impressive array of health benefits.

Pepper has been used in traditional medicine practices for centuries to treat everything from flatulence to epilepsy.

And modern science has finally uncovered just what makes this ebony spice so good for you.

It has to do with an antioxidant called piperine, which is the compound that gives pepper its famous kick.

As an antioxidant, it helps combat the formation of free radicals in your body. Free radicals damage your cells and contribute to every major condition you can think of.

Animal studies have shown that piperine can significantly reduce makers of free radical damage, compared to non-supplemented animals.

It’s also great at fighting inflammation, another underlying process that’s involved in all major health conditions.

Animal studies have shown that supplementation with piperine can reduce both inflammation and pain in rats with arthritis.

You can also think of black pepper as the Robin to Batman—i.e., the superhero’s sidekick.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant found in red wine and berries that has gained popularity in recent years for its ability to help prevent heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

The problem is that your body doesn’t absorb it very well.

Enter black pepper.

Simply adding black pepper to resveratrol can boost its bioavailability (your body’s ability to utilize it) by up to 60 percent!

It does the same for curcumin, carotene, and vitamin B6.

In fact, one study showed that combining 20 mg of piperine with 2 grams of curcumin boosted curcumin absorption by 2,000 percent!

And in test tube studies, piperine has been found to reduce the reproduction of breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells.

Next time you sit down for dinner, don’t skimp on the salt—or the pepper.

And if you’re taking any of the supplements I mentioned above, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking a piperine supplement for maximum absorption and benefits.

P.S. In a recent study, researchers identified a technique you can do just TWICE a week that can supercharge your body’s inflammation-fighting response. Click here to read about it.

 

SOURCE:

Brown, L. (2022, April 8.) Black Pepper: Healthy or Not? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/black-pepper-healthy-or-not-179815