Not just your average spice.
Black pepper has been used as a spice in civilizations all over the world, in both ancient and modern times. It is an exotic climbing perennial plant native to the hottest regions of India as well as the central Himalayas. In addition to supporting digestion and immunity, it also increases the absorption of turmeric into the bloodstream by 2000%.
Black pepper has been cultivated and used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and continues to be used now, along with other healing herbs and spices.
How can Black Pepper heal me?
In Ayurvedic medicine, black pepper is one of the most powerful digestive stimulants. It helps burn excess ama (toxins), cleanse the body, stimulate appetite, and improve digestion. Most importantly, it enhances bioavailability to help the body absorb and circulate other nutrients.
The beautiful friendship of black pepper and turmeric
We all have someone in our lives that lifts us up and urges us to be the best version of ourselves, and black pepper is that friend.
Black pepper has been found to increase the bioavailability of different drugs by 30% to 200% and shown to increase the absorption of turmeric by up to 2000%. Turmeric by itself is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream, so when taken alone, we miss out on all its wonderful benefits.
When combined, black pepper and turmeric have a powerful effect on inflammation, digestion, reducing pain, and fighting cancer.
Turmeric has the ability to provide the relief that many anti-inflammatory drugs provide, without the negative side effects, especially for diseases such as arthritis. Black pepper also contains anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic power as well, making this combination powerful in reducing inflammation-caused discomfort and pain.
Black pepper and turmeric both have powerful cancer-prevention properties. Together, they even have the ability to interrupt the self-renewal process of breast stem cells, where breast cancer originates.
Finally, the two combined have the power to enhance digestion. Turmeric has been used to support digestion in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Black pepper enhances the activity of digestive enzymes, helping our body process food quicker and easier.
Support digestion and healthy gut flora
In Ayurveda, an unbalanced digestive system can appear as the root cause for many common diseases. If your system is needing some clean-up and detoxification, black pepper is your spice.
Black pepper directly supports the digestive system by stimulating beneficial digestive secretions and increasing digestive enzymes, two major facets of healthy digestion.
Along with helping the body digest food properly, black pepper also has the ability to protect the gut by halting the growth of harmful bacteria. When unwanted bacteria is kept out of the digestive system, healthy probiotic bacteria have a supported environment to thrive.
When we take care of our gut microbiome, we reduce our risk of gastrointestinal imbalances, illnesses, and infections.
Stay nourished by supporting a healthy appetite
Appetite loss can be common when you are suffering from certain conditions like indigestion, a weak immune system, depression, anxiety, and stress. However, it is important to nourish our body so that we receive all the nutrients we need to stay healthy and supported.
Black pepper has shown to improve appetite through olfactory stimulation (sense of smell).
Cleanse toxins out of your system
Due to its diaphoretic and diuretic properties, black pepper promotes sweating and urination. While at first glance, more sweating and urinating seems inconvenient, it is actually very helpful in removing toxins from the body.
Sweating helps remove toxins and excess water from our body. Urination helps remove uric acid, urea, excess water, and fat. Black pepper as a carminative also helps expel gas out of the body in a healthy way.
Find Black Pepper and 9 other powerful intellect herbs and adaptogens in our Focus + Balance capsules.