Today spices are rightly considered as indispensable ingredients for the preparation of gastronomic delicacies. Condiments such as pepper and chili pepper enhance the aroma and flavor of our recipes, transforming the simplest of dishes into a gourmet specialty. But in the past spices were also used as medicines to successfully treat a wide variety of diseases and health problems. Modern science has demonstrated the validity of these employments.
Europrodotti invites you to discover how each spice contains a treasure of important active ingredients, precious resources that contribute to strengthen our immune system, keeping us healthy and treating us in a natural way.
The effectiveness of spices as functional ingredients: chili pepper and pepper
In the previous article of this review on healthy ingredients we talked about the benefits for the body and mind of garlic and onion, the king and queen of condiments. In this article we will explain the positive effects of the active ingredients contained in chili pepper and pepper.
Chili pepper
Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a spice native to Latin America used as a condiment for its strong spicy taste. Suffice it to say that Calabrian chilli pepper has a degree of spiciness fifty times higher than that of paprika. But chili peppers found widespread use in medicine long before in pots and stoves.
In the Americas the ancient Maya used it to treat diarrhea and toothache while the Aztecs used it to make compresses against rheumatic pain. With its spread to the rest of the world, other peoples discovered its therapeutic and pain-relieving virtues. In Malaysia it was used against jaundice, scarlet fever and cholera. In the Philippines as a remedy for swelling. In China as an anesthetic in surgical operations.
When chili pepper finally arrived in Europe, the fame of its therapeutic efficacy was such that it was initially used exclusively in medicine. Long pepper, as it was nicknamed, became a dominant element of Italian pharmacology in the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the various texts that described its virtues, one of the most famous was the Medicinalium iuxta propria principia by the philosopher and theologian Tommaso Campanella. This manual underlined the effectiveness of chili pepper in the treatment of eye and ear diseases, paralysis and dyspepsia.
The reason for the beneficial effects of chilli pepper is to be found in its high content of capsaicin, an alkaloid which, in addition to being responsible for the strong spicy flavour, has the ability to prevent nerve endings from transmitting pain sensations to the brain. In addition to this pain-relieving property, capsaicin is also able to reduce the formation of thrombi which hinder circulation in the blood vessels.
Chili pepper also has a very high content of vitamin C, even six times higher than that present in lemons. This characteristic, combined with the fact that chilli berries were easier to stow and preserve than citrus fruits, made this spice a popular remedy among sailors in the treatment and prevention of scurvy in the days of sailing.
The health benefits of chili pepper
- Pain reduction: capsaicin relieves muscle and joint pain by acting as a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent.
- Heart health: a regular but moderate consumption of chili peppers can improve blood circulation, reduce LDL cholesterol levels (the "bad" one) and prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: chili peppers have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce chronic inflammation, associated with many diseases such as arthritis.
- Improved digestion: chilli pepper stimulates the production of gastric juices, promoting digestion and preventing disorders such as bloating and constipation.
- Benefits for the immune system: chilli peppers are rich in vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and helps protect the body from infections.
- Antioxidant properties: chili peppers contain antioxidants such as vitamins C and A which help fight free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and premature aging.
- Blood sugar control: some researchers suggests that chili peppers may help regulate blood sugar levels, making it potentially useful for people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
- Weight control: scientific tests have shown that chilli pepper reduces the feeling of hunger and increases the feeling of satiety. Just drink a glass of tomato juice with chopped chili pepper to eat less and choose less caloric foods.
- Treatment of alcoholism: in many countries alcohol dependence is treated with the administration of chili pepper extracts.
- Improved mood: consuming chilli peppers can stimulate the production of endorphins, known as "happy hormones", improving mood and reducing stress and depression.
- Aphrodisiac effects: even if the links between eros and chilli pepper have not been demonstrated so far, the addition of the latter can have exciting effects, at least as a consequence of the power of suggestion.
Three important tips about the use of chili pepper
- Chili pepper offers many health benefits but should be consumed in moderation because it can irritate the digestive tract, especially in people with gastrointestinal problems, such as gastritis or ulcers.
- To reduce the burning sensation of chili pepper is useless to drink water or other liquids because capsaicin is not very soluble. We advise you to chew a piece of bread well, which will detach the capsaicin molecules from the oral mucous membranes.
- If you get carried away when adding chili pepper to a dish, you can remedy this by adding some cheese. In fact the casein, the protein found in milk and dairy products, has the ability to dissolve capsaicin.
How to add chili pepper to your diet
You could prepare a complete menu with chili pepper, from appetizers to desserts. You could start with an appetizer of cured meats and sausages where the Calabrian nduja would stand out, excellent spread on toasted bread.
As a first course, in addition to suggesting the classic spaghetti with garlic, oil and chili pepper, we propose the fish soup with tramezzina, a little-known but very appetizing Lombard specialty prepared with freshwater fish cooked in a broth based on fish-bones, tomatoes and vegetables, white wine, saffron and crumbled chilies.
As a second course you can serve an appetizing goulash. This meat stew typical of Hungarian cuisine, but widespread in all the territories that were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire such as Trentino Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia, is prepared with beef, tomato paste, cloves, bay leaves, onions, paprika, garlic, red wine and, of course, chili pepper.
As a cheese it is worth trying a Piedmontese specialty: the electric tomini, fresh tomini seasoned with chilli pepper and left to marinate in oil and vinegar.
Pastry-making has long since approved the use of chili pepper in desserts, as the 2000 film Chocolat also teaches. For this reason we suggest you try a Sacher cake with chili pepper.
Pepper
Pepper (piper) is the fruit of a tropical plant native to India and represents the most used spice in the world. Unlike other condiments its use is not limited to the preparation and cooking phase of food but can also occur after the dishes have been served. A table can be considered well laid if, in addition to the oil, vinegar and saltshaker, there is also a pepper shaker or, even better, a pepper mill to allow diners to grind the grains on the spot and thus exploit the fullness of their aroma.
The health benefits of pepper come from piperine, an alkaloid found in different concentrations depending on the type of pepper:
- in green pepper the concentration of peperina is the highest. This variety is in fact harvested before maturation, fully preserving its healthy characteristics;
- in black and white pepper the concentration is medium. Black pepper is obtained by sun-drying ripe berries and is the most used in Western cuisine. The white variety is produced by soaking the seeds in water until the outer film comes off and then drying them;
- in red and orange pepper, which are harvested only after full maturation, piperine is present in minimal quantities.
The health benefits of pepper
- Benefits for digestion: the piperine present in pepper stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, facilitating the digestion of food and preventing problems such as bloating, indigestion and constipation.
- Treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia: in Spain the Instituto de Salud Carlos III has successfully experimented with the use of piperine in the treatment of patients suffering from oropharyngeal dysphagia, a gastro-intestinal mobility disorder which also prevents swallowing.
- Antioxidant properties: pepper is rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and slowing the aging process.
- Stimulation of nutrient absorption: piperine is known to promote the absorption of certain nutrients such as selenium, vitamin B, beta-carotene and curcumin.
- Help in weight loss: pepper can help to lose weight by increasing metabolism and promoting thermogenesis, the process by which the body burns calories.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: piperine has demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory properties, alleviating pathologies such as arthritis.
- Antibacterial properties: pepper has antibacterial properties that help fight infections.
- Brain health benefits: some studies suggest that piperine may have a positive effect on cognitive function, improving memory and concentration.
- Blood sugar regulation: regular consumption of pepper may help stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Dermatological benefits: thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, pepper can be useful in treating skin problems such as acne and irritation.
How to add pepper to your diet
It’s impossible to count the recipes that include at least a pinch of pepper among the ingredients. Even when it is not indicated the addition of this seasoning helps to enrich the flavor of pasta and rice first courses, soups, fish and meat main courses and vegetable side dishes.
For those who don't feel like cooking or aren't very skilled at cooking, we suggest sprinkling it on simple dishes such as a fried egg, pasta or white rice, ricotta or on a plate of lettuce or iceberg. Its spicy taste also allows you to reduce the use of salt.
Chili pepper and pepper are precious condiments of Italian and international cuisine that also play an important role as healthy ingredients. Europrodotti selects the best qualities of these spices and brings them to your tables, safeguarding their original gastronomic and beneficial properties.