Reasons to Spice Up Your Cooking with Peppercorn

A peppercorn is a type of fruit dried and used as a seasoning and spice. As the world’s most traded spice, peppercorn is a staple in kitchens and restaurants around the world. This spice has an earthy flavor with a spicy kick. So what makes peppercorn unique and how can this spice make your everyday meals even better? Let’s find out:

Adds a Hint of Spice

If you love spicy dishes with an earthy, robust aroma, start adding a pinch of freshly ground pepper to your everyday meals. Different types of peppercorns lend different flavors. Black peppercorns add earthy spiciness to a dish while white peppercorn lends fresh spiciness to everyday cooking. Whatever type of peppercorn you choose, make sure to use it freshly ground!

Peppercorns lose their flavors through evaporation.  Ideally, you want to get whole peppercorns and keep them in an airtight container. This way, the spice will never lose its flavor. Never crush or grind the whole bag of peppercorn if you want to maintain its distinct flavor.

Enhances Flavors

Pepper is always paired with salt because both seasonings complement each other. In fact, most restaurants around the world offer salt and pepper right on the dining table.

Salt and pepper go so well together that they complement a wide variety of meats, poultry, and fish. They can be used together to flavor various dishes. Of course, salt and pepper make an excellent seasoning individually but nothing beats this dynamic duo when it comes to seasoning foods. Using pepper and salt means you don’t need added spices to make any dish taste better.

Boosts Nutrient Absorption

Peppercorns boost the absorption of nutrients thanks to piperine. Piperine is a chemical that boosts the bioavailability of various nutrients including selenium, beta-carotene, as well as vitamins A and C. Consuming foods rich in piperine improves general health and well-being. Piperine also boosts the bioavailability of antioxidant curcumin. Curcumin is a nutrient that combats inflammation and infection. It also reduces the risk of cancer. Piperine also stimulates the amino acid transporters found in the intestinal lining. Amino acid transporters help break down nutritional compounds from the food you eat!

Stimulates the Appetite

Ever wonder why the distinct aroma of peppercorn makes you hungry? Apart from associating peppercorns’ aroma to your favorite dishes, this spice also stimulates the appetite through olfactory stimulation.  In Ayurveda, patients with poor appetite are given half a teaspoon of black pepper mixed with gur powder to stimulate the appetite. The aroma of peppercorn stimulate the senses, boosting a person’s appetite.

Boosts Weight Loss

Peppercorns are promoting weight loss by encouraging the breakdown of fat cells. In a clinical test, mice were given a portion of piperine to monitor the chemical’s ability to suppress fat accumulation and speed up the metabolic rate. Researchers concluded that piperine allows the body to burn off stored fat in lab animals.

In a separate study, researchers found that peppercorns promote frequent urination and sweat. The spice helps flush out toxins in the system, reducing excessive gas and bloating.