Have you ever heard of pink pepper? This native Brazilian ingredient is increasingly gaining space in cuisine, mainly because of its smooth and sweet taste and various health benefits.
To discuss the main advantages of adding condiments to food preparation, we invited the nutritionist Janiele da Silva Rodrigues.
According to the professional, the condiment contains several vitamins and minerals, contributing to increased satiety and weight loss.
As such, it is an ideal ingredient to be used in diets. But like everything in life, it is also necessary to have some care and precautions regarding utilizing this food.
Follow this article to learn more about the benefits of this type of pepper, the best ways to use it, what care is needed and still have access to some healthy and tasty recipes. Check out!
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10 Pink Pepper Health Benefits
Pink pepper is a small grain, but it has excellent health benefits, mainly because of its large amount of essential nutrients for the body’s maintenance.
According to nutritionist Janiele Rodrigues, this type of pepper also works directly to improve the health of the heart and the circulatory system as a whole, in addition to helping to prevent a series of diseases due to the action of its antioxidant properties on the immune system.
Also known as red or Brazilian pepper, the condiment brings other health benefits. Check it out below:
1. Rich in vitamins and minerals
According to Janiele, pink pepper is very rich in vitamins and minerals. The nutrition professional cites vitamins A, C, E and the B complex, such as B1, B2 and B3, which are present in high amounts in pepper.
Among the minerals, the condiment has large amounts of calcium and iron. IIron has a reasonable absorption rate by the body due to the combined action of vitamin C, making it nutritionally rich.
2. Helps to promote a sense of well-being
Vitamin C, found in large amounts in seeds, promotes well-being.
This is because it is an essential nutrient in producing neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, cortisol and serotonin. All of them are directly responsible for decreasing stress and increasing happiness.
3. Promotes weight loss
Another positive point of this food, according to Janiele, is its large amount of fibre, making it an excellent ally for those who want to lose weight.
This benefit is achieved because the fibres expand when they come into contact with stomach fluids, increasing the feeling of satiety. You eat a smaller portion of food and are satisfied longer.
In addition, the increased feeling of well-being also decreases the compulsion to eat. So, the result is weight loss healthily since pepper consumption is associated with a change in diet and physical exercise.
4. Good for the bones
Due to a large amount of calcium, pepper is also crucial for bone health, as highlighted by Janiele Rodrigues. This is because the mineral is present in the structures of bones and teeth.
When there is a low calcium intake, the body takes what it needs from the bones. Over time, this can lead to their weakening and a host of physical problems, especially in older adults.
When consumed correctly, pink pepper can help meet the mineral’s daily needs and help keep bones strong for life.
5. Boosts immunity
As it is rich in vitamin C, pink pepper is also a great ally in strengthening the immune system, highlights Janiele. This is because the vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid, stimulates the production of white blood cells, which are blood cells that act in the defence of the body.
In addition, ascorbic acid is an important antioxidant, allowing the body to be healthier and avoid opportunistic diseases. For this reason, adding small amounts of the condiment to your daily diet can be a great delicious way to protect yourself from colds and flu.
6. Fights inflammation
A study published in 2016 by Brazilian researchers showed that the consumption of pink pepper helped inhibit the production of some substances by white blood cells released during the inflammatory process.
These substances are responsible for adverse effects such as redness, pain, heating and tissue death in the affected area. In this way, inflammation is contained initially, thanks to the antioxidant action protecting the cells.
Thus, spice consumption can be a natural treatment option against allergies, whose symptoms are caused by inflammation.
7. Fights free radicals
In addition to the nutrients already mentioned, the professional also highlights that this species of pepper contains several phytochemical substances that act as antioxidants in the body, such as beta-carotene, lycopene, phenol compounds, flavonoids, tannins and triterpene acids. But what do they do in the body?
In short, antioxidant compounds act by preventing the action of free radicals. These last substances are naturally formed in the body but can interfere with functioning. Thus, they can favour the appearance of diseases and accelerate the aging process.
But as an antioxidant, pepper helps to keep the body healthy and young for longer. For this reason, you should always choose foods with this action.
8. Fights fungi and bacteria
The typically Brazilian seasoning also has actions against bacteria and fungi that are harmful to health, main thanks to the action of triterpene acids and other antioxidants, which prevent the proliferation of these microorganisms.
With that, it becomes an excellent ally for preventing diseases, improving the immune system and eliminating agents that cause various diseases.
9. Helps prevent cancer
The pepper’s antioxidant substances prevent healthy cells from becoming cancerous. Furthermore, some compounds found in the essential oil stimulate the death of diseased cells.
These two benefits come together to act to prevent the appearance of tumours, especially in the breasts and prostate.
10. Improves heart health
Another advantage of consuming this type of pepper, according to the nutrition professional, is its action on heart health, mainly because of calcium. That’s because this mineral promotes muscle contraction.
This keeps the heart rate at normal levels and also improves blood circulation. In addition, the mineral also helps in blood clotting, which can prevent bleeding.
How to use the ingredient in recipes?
Because of its sweet taste, this type of pepper is widely used in sauces, salads and meat with spices. However, the nutrition professional highlights that it can be used in several other preparations as long as it is not exaggerated.
With that in mind, Homemade Remedy has separated some delicious recipes using pink pepper so you can reproduce them at home. Check out!
Chicken with pink pepper sauce
The first recipe is a chicken breast with pink pepper sauce, where the sweet flavour seasoning becomes the highlight and makes the dish more flavorful. Learn to prepare!
Ingredients:
- Three chicken breast fillets
- One small sprig of rosemary
- 1 cup and a half of water
- Two tablespoons of butter
- One tablespoon of pink peppercorns
- 150 grams of fresh cream
- Oil and salt to taste.
Preparation method:
First, you need to make a marinade for the chicken. So mix the salt, rosemary and water well in a bowl. Soon after, add the chicken breast and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
After this, take the chicken to fry over medium heat until golden and set aside. Place the butter and pink pepper in the frying pan, lightly frying the ingredients.
Finally, add the cream, add salt and pour over the chicken. There, the recipe is ready to be served and makes three servings.
Filet with pepper sauce
Red meat also goes very well with this type of pepper, especially since it doesn’t erase the flavour of the other ingredients. See how to prepare below!
Ingredients:
- 3 pieces of filet mignon
- Half a cup of fresh cream
- One tablespoon of chopped chives
- One teaspoon of pink peppercorns
- half chopped onion
- Two tablespoons of butter
- 1/2 teaspoon of pepperoni pepper
- Two tablespoons of white wine
- Olive oil and salt to taste.]
Preparation method:
Heat the butter and oil in a skillet and place the fillet to fry, seasoning only with salt. Once that’s done, put the meat on a platter and set aside.
The next step is to cook the onion and chives for about a minute in the same skillet in which the meat was cooked. Once this is done, add the white wine, the cream, the peppers and the juice that has come off the heart. Mix the sauce well, pour over the nature, and it’s ready to serve.
Olive oil sauce with pepper
Another indication for the use of pepper is in salad dressings. The option you will learn next is simple, easy to prepare and very tasty. Check out!
Ingredients:
- One fresh rosemary sprig
- 1/2 teaspoon of pink peppercorns
- 1/2 bunch of fresh thyme
- 1/2 sprig of fresh basil
- One sprig of fresh mint
- 1/2 cup (of tea) of extra virgin olive oil
- One clove of garlic.
Preparation method:
Thoroughly wash all fresh herbs and then chop them into small pieces. Then mash the garlic and bring it all into a small bowl. Finally, add the oil and peppercorns, transfer to a saucer and serve.
Condiment care and contraindications
You saw the advantages of consuming pink pepper and how to use it in recipes. However, it also has some contraindications and precautions, according to nutritionist Janiele Rodrigues.
The primary care is about who can or cannot consume the seasoning. According to the professional, people who suffer from hypertension or gastrointestinal problems should avoid consumption, as pepper can worsen symptoms.
She also emphasizes that “we must not abuse the consumption of any food; this way, this pepper should not be eaten in excess.” The professional informs that in large quantities, this condiment can be toxic and interfere with the taste, causing sensitivity to the tongue.
What is pink pepper?
First, you must know that pink pepper is not precisely a pepper. The seasoning is the fruit of the tree known as capoeira ( Schinus terebinthifolius ), a plant native to the Brazilian coast.
This tree usually measures between 5 and 10 meters in height and has a broad crown and trunks. Therefore, if you want to have it at home, you need plenty of space, mainly because it invades the territory of neighbouring plants.
As it does not belong to the pepper family, the red pepper has a very different flavour, with soft, sweet, and fragrant touches. Thus, it is used in many dishes.
My name is Ellie Lauderdale, MD and I am USA based professional Nutritionist .
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and board certified specialist in sports dietetics who is trained in integrative medicine. I have worked with hundreds of clients, from those suffering with chronic disease to professional and olympian athletes. My goal is to help optimize you from the inside so that you can feel, perform, and look your best on the outside.