Black pepper

Piperine is an alkaloid found in black pepper. The health benefits of piperine may be less popular when compared to its culinary use but there are several health benefits of piperine that are worth mentioning. Listed below are some of the health benefits of piperine that may be helpful for you.

Special Precautions of Piperine

• Preliminary evidence shows that it may be toxic in some circumstances, and may even interfere with reproductive processes, including negative effects on sperm. Piperine at doses higher than 15 mg daily may affect the metabolism of a wide range of drugs. Even lower doses may affect the bodys metabolism of some drugs.
• Piperine may also form cancer-causing substances when eaten with nitrates. Experts suggest that people who take piperine supplements should be careful when also eating food that contains nitrates as a preservative.
• Taking large amounts of black and white pepper by mouth, which can accidentally get into the lungs, has been reported to cause death. This is especially true in children.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It’s OK to use black and white pepper in food amounts if you are pregnant. But taking larger amounts might be unsafe. There is concern that black pepper in large amounts might trigger a miscarriage. Also, avoid putting pepper on your skin. Not enough is known about the safety of using topical pepper during pregnancy.If you are breast-feeding, limit pepper intake to food amounts. Not enough is known about the safety of using larger medicinal amounts.
• Lithium interacts with BLACK PEPPER AND WHITE PEPPER
• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with BLACK PEPPER AND WHITE PEPPER.
• Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-Glycoprotein Substrates) interacts with BLACK PEPPER AND WHITE PEPPER.
• Phenytoin (Dilantin) interacts with BLACK PEPPER AND WHITE PEPPER.
• Propranolol (Inderal) interacts with BLACK PEPPER AND WHITE PEPPER
• Rifampin interacts with BLACK PEPPER AND WHITE PEPPER.
• Theophylline interacts with BLACK PEPPER AND WHITE PEPPER

The benefits of Piperine are

• weight loss : The property of piperine that makes it useful for weight loss is its ability to increase thermogenic activity. Thermogenesis is the process of generating cellular energy in cells and this effectively promotes an increase in the metabolic rate of the body. However, further studies are needed to be able to say that piperine itself is a weight loss aid.
• enhances absorption of nutrients : Another of the health benefits of piperine is its ability to promote bio-availability of nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamin B6, amino acids, selenium, glucose, and curcumin.
• inflammation : Piperine is also known to be of value in diseases where inflammation is involved like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This also makes it a good pain reliever.
• cancer : Several studies have shown the value of piperine when it comes to cancer. In studies conducted on mice, piperine showed a positive effect on lung cancer by producing a significant decline in the formation of tumor nodules.
• mood enhancer : Piperine is also known to improve production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that enhances ones mood and also relieves pain. Piperine is an alkaloid, making it harmful, as well as useful to the health. When taken in the right amount, piperine will give you all the health benefits it has to offer. However, caution should be taken as no RDA or recommended daily allowance is given for piperine. Pregnant women and mursing mothers as well as those with underlying medical conditions should first consult a doctor before starting any supplements with piperine.