Are black pepper good for you

Black pepper is one of the most widely used spices on the planet. It’s valued not only as a flavoring agent in our meals, but also for a variety of other purposes, such as medicinal uses, as a preservative and in perfumery. In recent decades, scientific research has explored the many possible benefits of black pepper essential oil such as relief from aches and pains, lowering cholesterol, detoxifying the body and enhancing circulation, among many more.

Black pepper’s major active principle, piperine, has been shown to have many beneficial health attributes including possible anticancer properties, which is why researchers have looked at it for inclusion in diet therapy for cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention.

Black pepper essential oil benefits

1. Because of its warming, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, black pepper oil works to reduce muscle injuries, tendonitis, and symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism.

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine assessed the efficacy of aromatic essential oils on neck pain. When patients applied a cream composed of black pepper, marjoram, lavender and peppermint essential oils to the neck daily for a four-week period, the group reported improved pain tolerance and significant improvement of neck pain.

2. Aids Digestion

Black pepper oil may help ease the discomfort of constipation, diarrhea and gas. In vitro and in vivo animal research has shown that depending on the dosage, black pepper’s piperine exhibits antidiarrheal and antispasmodic activities or it can actually have a spasmodic effect, which is helpful for constipation relief. Overall, black pepper and piperine appear to have possible medicinal uses for gastrointestinal motility disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

3. Lowers Cholesterol

An animal study on the hypolipidemic (lipid-lowering) effect of black pepper in rats fed a high-fat diet showed a decrease in the levels of cholesterol, free fatty acids, phospholipids and triglycerides. Researchers found that supplementation with black pepper elevated the concentration of HDL (good) cholesterol and reduced the concentration of LDL (bad) cholesterol and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the plasma of rats fed high-fat foods. (6) This is just some of the research that points toward using black pepper essential oil internally to reduce high triglycerides and improve total cholesterol levels.

4. Lowers Blood Pressure

When black pepper essential oil is taken internally, it may promote healthy circulation and even lower high blood pressure. An animal study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology demonstrates how black pepper’s active component, piperine, possesses a blood pressure-lowering effect. (8) Black pepper is known in Ayurvedic medicine for its warming properties that can be helpful to circulation and heart health when used internally or applied topically. Mixing black pepper oil with cinnamon or turmeric essential oil can enhance these warming properties.