Most people are familiar with black pepper, a popular spice or food additive in the West since the medieval period. White pepper, the lesser-known sister of black pepper, is actually made from the same plant called the piper nigrum. However, they are processed in different ways. To make black pepper, the berries are harvested and sun-dried in the whole form. White pepper, on the other hand, is made by removing the outer layer of the berry and leaving the white insides to dry in the sun.
Taste-wise, black pepper is hotter. White pepper is preferential for people who do like the spiciness of black pepper and for dishes with a delicate flavor balance that the more potent black pepper might disrupt.
Health Benefits of White Pepper
Many of the health benefits of black pepper translate to its white sister as well. Pepper has a wide array of health benefits including fighting colon cancer, aiding digestion with its significant manganese content, relieving tooth pain, correcting skin problems with its powerful piperine compounds, aiding weight loss by preventing fat cell accumulation, and boosting bone health with its impressive combination of micronutrients.
Several other healthcare applications of this pepper are currently in the exploratory phase. Folk medicine is rich with uses for black pepper including as a decongestant, a cough cure, a blood pressure control, a catalyst for healthy sweating, and more.
An Alternative to Pharmaceutical Drugs
Many commonly prescribed medications carry a risk of sometimes horrific side effects. Blood pressure medications, weight loss drugs, and even common cold medicines sold over the counter could potentially damage your health. On the other hand, no one has ever died or even suffered injury from too much pepper!
How to Include White Pepper in Your Diet
Fortunately, including this in your diet is extremely easy. So many dishes benefit from a dash of pepper that they are impossible to list. From mashed potatoes to fried eggs to okra, pepper enhances flavor while adding in a kick of health-promoting activity. Delicious recipes that include a copious dose of pepper are available on the web. Consider helping your heart beat a little easier or your lungs breathe a little easier by introducing some pepper into your next meal.
Works Synergistically with Turmeric
Turmeric is an ancient herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. Modern scientists have discovered an impressive array of health benefits for turmeric. Another interesting discovery of this research is that pepper actually significantly boosts the body’s absorption o turmeric by as much as 2000%. It is such an effective combination, in fact, that many popular turmeric supplements come premixed with pepper. So the next time you reach for your turmeric supplement, consider a pinch of pepper to wash it down.
Adding a bit of this wonderful plant product to your diet could make a world of difference both for the tastiness of the dish and for your overall health.