Green Peppercorn: 5 Popular Benefits | Side-Effects | Preservation

As an excellent substitute for chili powder, green peppercorn, or under-ripe peppercorn, is an ingredient that can bring that mildly-spicy flavor into your meal. It is used in the preparation of sauces, curries, and even as a seasoning for poultry dishes. In a nutshell, even after being not as popular as its ripened-form (black peppercorn), green peppercorn is still a prized flavoring ingredient that is used in gourmet dishes. Its under-ripe nature makes it milder than black peppercorn, and it is soft to bite. Picked as an immature fruit, from the same vine as black pepper, green peppercorn is first boiled and then treated with potassium sulfide that prevents it from turning black and oxidizing. As for its availability, green peppercorns are sold at local supermarkets keeping gourmet spices and herbs.

There are multiple reasons for you to consider adding green peppercorn to your diet. In fact, green peppercorn has an impressive list of health benefits associated with it. Some of these benefits are listed below:

1. Green Peppercorn Are A Moderate Source Of Sodium

The sodium content in green peppercorn is vital for managing the rate of the fluid flow in the bloodstream.

The sodium content in green peppercorn is vital for managing the rate of the fluid flow.

2. It Is Great For Digestive Health

The advantageous link between the consumption of peppercorns and one’s digestive health is well-known, and green peppercorns are no exception. One of the most vital compounds found in green peppercorns, which contributes to this benefit, is called piperine. The presence of piperine helps in the secretion of the stomach juices, thus increasing the rate of digestion.

Also Read: Benefits Of A Vitamin E Rich Diet | Best Anti Aging Foods: The Complete List

3. Green Peppercorn Works Against Intestinal Issues

Again, by aiding in the secretion of hydrochloric acid, the consumption of green peppercorn helps with the reduction of gas. Moreover, the anti-microbial nature of hydrochloric acid helps in killing the bacteria present in the food before it gets into the intestinal tract, thus preventing you from contracting any intestinal diseases.

4. Rich In Anti-Oxidants

Green peppercorn is rich in vitamin C and A, which are powerful antioxidants that can help in lowering the concentration of free radicals and reduce the risks associated with free-radical damage. Free-radicals, or free oxygen atoms, often combine with the healthy cells in your body and exert oxidative stress over the cell walls thus damaging them. Anti-oxidants, on the other hand, tend to combine with the free-radicals before they get a chance to reach the healthy cells, thus reducing the risk of contracting any disease associated with free-radical damage.

The antioxidants are beneficial in lowering the free radical concentration.

Also Read: A To Z Of Antioxidant-Rich Food | Complete List Of Food Items To Fight Free-Radicals

5. High On Dietary Fiber

Fiber is one of the most important macro-nutrients that is required for healthy digestion. Since fibers are the indigestible part of the food, an item that is rich in fiber tends to take longer to digest. And due to this, the stomach ends up spending more energy and burning calories. Thus, green peppercorn, being a food item rich in fiber, can help in weight management.

Also Read: Super Foods To Reduce Belly Fat | Lose Weight In 7 Days

The side-effects play an important role in the overall effects that a food item has on one’s health. It is often considered important to regulate your consumption of food items because an uncontrolled consumption can lead to an unbalanced diet, which may lead to serious health concerns. As for the side-effects of green peppercorn, some of them are associated with its sodium content, for a large amount of sodium content can result in the contraction of the blood vessels, further increasing the blood pressure.

Too much of any type of peppercorn might disrupt your balanced diet and give rise to some health concerns.

Side-Effects Of Green Peppercorn: Though there are not many studies that can exactly point out the side-effects of green peppercorn, you must still consider regulating your consumption to avoid the occurrence of any adverse effects and keep yourself in perfect health.

Also Read: Substitutes For Tarragon | Cayenne Pepper Substitute

Preservation of food items is one of the basic steps that are crucial for its marketing and distribution. Moreover, the use of synthetic preservatives should be avoided as they tend to bring about changes in the nutritional value of the item. The various ways of preserving green peppercorns are listed below:

1. Air-Drying

The drying of green peppercorns inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold, hence keeping it fresh for a longer time. Air-drying is the reason for the wrinkly skin most commonly associated with peppercorns, both green and black.

2. Freeze-Drying

This is another method of removing the moisture from the peppercorn and preventing the growth of microorganisms. Peppercorns that are freeze-dried tend to have smooth outside skin and a mild taste.

Due to its mild flavor, green peppercorns are a great ingredient that you can add to your dish to spice it up. In recent times, green peppercorns have found their place in salad dressings and mildly-spiced sauces.

Do you use them in cooking? How do you like green peppercorns?

Here are some interesting questions on green peppercorn