Benefits and Science of Black Pepper

Black pepper is one of the most popular spices used worldwide today. Punchy, slightly zesty, and bold in flavor, it’s a welcome addition to many dishes. It’s made from peppercorns that are found on the vine Piper nigrum, native to the Malabar coast of India. Peppercorns are deep red berries that are harvested from the vine and ground down to create what we know as the table spice, black pepper.

However, black pepper has important purposes beyond flavoring your favorite meals. In fact, it’s called the “King of Spices,” and for good reason. It has actually been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries due to its unique combination of powerful, beneficial plant compounds. One such compound, an alkaloid called piperine, has been studied for its anti-inflammatory properties.

When it comes to nutrition, black pepper has many health benefits. One of the most impressive benefits of black pepper is the impact it has on other nutrients. Black pepper is a catalyst for bioavailability, meaning the herb can improve the absorption of essential nutrients that may otherwise not be adequately absorbed into the body.

Black pepper health benefits

Black pepper for better absorption

Bioavailability refers to the degree to which nutrients are available for the body to effectively use, and the rate that they get absorbed into the body after they have been consumed. Basically, taking a supplement doesn’t necessarily mean that your body will absorb and use all the nutrients. It all depends on how much of that supplement is absorbed in your gastrointestinal tract.

As it turns out, piperine, a bioactive compound within black pepper, is extremely effective at boosting the bioavailability of some of today’s most powerful plant-based supplements – namely, turmeric.

Black pepper and turmeric

Turmeric and its main inflammation-relieving compound, curcumin, are popular wellness supplements, with both ancient Ayurvedic tradition and modern science backing them up. With significant health benefits, it’s no wonder that this herb is revered worldwide, and has been throughout most of history. But, this golden spice comes with a catch – the bioavailability of curcumin, the most powerful healing agent within turmeric, is extremely low. Therefore, when taken alone, curcumin’s potential health benefits are lowered significantly.

When turmeric is taken alongside black pepper, however, absorption in the body can be improved by up to 2,000% according to clinical studies. Therefore, when taking supplements that include turmeric, it is imperative that black pepper, or piperine, is included to increase the bioavailability of the herb. Otherwise, your body will not fully absorb the nutrients, and the potential health benefits will be foregone.

Why we use black pepper | healthy, beyond relief

Ultimately, black pepper carries a wide array of health benefits on its own, and when taken alongside an herb with low bioavailability, essential nutrients have a better chance of being absorbed. We’ve included 3 mg of black pepper in every dose of Pain Relief & Recovery to help the body absorb the strong doses of turmeric and curcumin.

• Improves the bioavailability of turmeric and curcumin
• Supports a healthy response to inflammation