Is Black Pepper the Answer to Weight Loss, a Healthier Heart?

Black pepper is loaded with Vitamins A, C, and K, healthy fatty acids and works as a natural metabolic booster.

Black pepper is loaded with Vitamins A, C, and K, minerals, healthy fatty acids and works as a natural metabolic booster.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

How many of us want to lose weight? Everyone, right? Okay, at least most of us do.

Did you know Indian cuisine offers a variety of spices that tingle not only your taste buds, but also benefit your health? One of them is black pepper, which can turn dull dishes into lip-smacking delicacies while also helping you shed those extra kilos.

Black pepper is loaded with Vitamins A, C, and K, minerals, healthy fatty acids and works as a natural metabolic booster. 

These benefits make black pepper a storehouse of uncountable health benefits, including weight loss.

Black pepper prevents the formation of intestinal gas and aids in digestion. It also has potential benefits for fighting obesity.

Mehar Rajput, Dietitian & Nutritionist, FITPASS

So how can you include black pepper in your diet?

How Can You Consume Black Pepper?

Add a dash of freshly ground black pepper in tea.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Black pepper can be consumed in a variety of ways:

• Gulp or Chew Directly: Those who can tolerate the burning hot flavour of black pepper can consume 1-2 peppercorns directly every morning. This will rev up your metabolism.
• Black Pepper Tea: Add a dash of freshly ground black pepper in tea.
• Sprinkle It Over Salads: Use black pepper as a seasoning and simply sprinkle it over your favourite salad. This not only adds an extra flavour to your plate, but also aids weight loss.
• Add it Your Everyday Beverage: A pinch of black pepper powder over a buttermilk recipe or masala-mint-lemonade goes a long way in not only shredding extra pounds, but also maintaining a healthy gut and immunity.
• Black Pepper Oil: Add a drop of 100 percent pure, black pepper oil in a glass of plain water and consume it before breakfast; using it as salad dressing is another option.

Health Benefits of Black Pepper

Black pepper aids in digestion and assimilation of food.(Photo Courtesy: Pixabay)

Black pepper has numerous benefits that help in weight loss:

The thermic effect of pepper prevents the formation of new fat cells and thus prevents weight gain.

Rupali Datta, Nutritionist

• Black pepper contains a powerful compound called ‘Piperine’, which gives it its taste. This compound interferes with the formation of new fat cells. This process, known as adipogenesis, helps trim your waist and lower cholesterol levels.
• Contains Phytonutrients: Black pepper aids in digestion and assimilation of food. The outer layer of black peppercorn contains potent phytonutrients which helps in breakdown of fats cells.
• Helps in Promoting Good Cholesterol: Pepper helps in reducing fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol levels in the plasma and lipid profile. It also helps in elevating the good cholesterol and reducing the formation of new fat cells in the body.
• Cuts Down Visceral Fat: Visceral fat leads to various metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, PCOS, hormonal imbalance, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. Black pepper has anti-oxidative and anti- microbial properties that fight visceral fat and prevent its accumulation.

(With inputs from media reports.)

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