For ages, plants have been used for numerous benefits for mankind as well as humans. However, with time we have forgotten the value and the hidden benefits of various plants. Pepper fruit is one of them, we need to acknowledge the miraculous benefits and properties of this plant to utilize this to its maximum potential.
Recently the pandemic has made us realize the value of a healthy and strong body. Thus, it’s important to understand the goodness of nature and use it to enhance your health. As plants contain many chemical compounds that can help us to gain nutrition and, in the long run, can show miraculous health benefits.
Hence, today we are going to discuss the 8 health benefits of Pepper fruit. Scientifically called Dennetia tripetala and its fruit is known as Pepper fruit. This plant is a native species of west Africa and also flourishes in many rainforests and in Savanah.
The best part is that it’s easily available in most regions of the world. Moreover, it is filled with proteins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, riboflavin, thiamine, and vitamins A, C, and so much more. Now let’s have a look at how this vibrant fruit can improve your health.
1. Helps in Preventing Cancer
Pepper fruit is rich in antioxidant vitamins A, C, and flavinoids moreover, it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help in dealing with cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties help in regulating inflammation which reduces the risk of cancer.
It also helps in reducing any abnormal cell growth that can lead to cancer. Many studies have proven that Pepper fruit helps in preventing prostate cancer in humans with its cytotoxic properties and the ability to inhibit abnormal growth.
Moreover, you’ll be surprised that according to the International Journal of Cancer, pepper fruit can also help in reducing the risk of breast cancer. The carotenoids present in pepper fruits can be really essential in battling breast cancer.
2. Anti-viral properties
Common cold and seasonal viral is something we all struggle with, as antibiotics don’t work in these cases. Hence, we need to take help from natural ingredients, and pepper fruit’s anti-viral properties can help you out.
For ages, people have used pepper fruit mixed with other herbs to make remedies for treating cold symptoms. Cold impacts the upper respiratory system, which leads to symptoms like sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and sneezing all day long. Thus, the anti-viral properties of pepper fruit can help you fight colds, flu, and seasonal viral.
3. Helps in Postpartum recovery
After childbirth, women need to recover their bodies, and natural ingredients like pepper fruit can help in healing a woman’s body after labor. From ancient times people have believed that pepper fruit helps in postpartum recovery.
Moreover, Nigerian people also use to make a tonic using this plant and other herbs, which work wonders for helping women’s bodies recover. It contains actives compounds that help stimulate uterus contraction and pain-relieving properties and can also help in healing wounds that occur while delivering a baby.
Furthermore, you can easily make a tonic using pepper fruit seeds for nursing mothers. To extract the maximum amount of benefits, you need to grind the pepper fruit seeds and make soup. However, you can also consume it raw as well.
4. Helps in treating Infantile Convulsion
Pepper fruit contains 1-nitro-2-phenyl ethane that helps in treating Infantile convulsion. This is a genetic disorder that occurs in babies within 12 months of age. However, Infantile Convulsion is a severe condition, and if not treated in time, it can result in paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis.
There are many other properties in this fruit that can help in fighting neurological disorders, are its anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and hypnotic properties. Moreover, in many ancient herbal remedies, pepper fruit is used to treat infantile convulsions.
You’ll be surprised to know the hypnotic properties of 1-nitro-2-phenyl ethane can also help in treating insomnia and will also help in getting a sound sleep. Hence, if you are having trouble sleeping, Pepper fruit can be your best friend.
5. Helps with Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most common diseases, and there is no cure for this all you can do is regulate your blood sugar level. However, several studies have proven that pepper fruit can help in lowering your blood sugar level due to it contains antihyperglycemic properties.
This helps in significantly reduce plasma glucose levels in humans. Thus, if you want to keep your blood sugar level in check, you need to include pepper fruit in your diet.
6. Helps in preventing Gastrointestinal Diseases
Upset stomach, acidity, bloating, and parasite infestation are all gastrointestinal diseases and are quite common as well. All of these diseases can make you suffer and make you feel uncomfortable.
However, Pepper fruit contains many properties that can help you cope with gastrointestinal diseases. Native Africans used to incorporate roots, leaves, and seeds of Dennetia tripetala for treating stomach ulcers and other digestive issues.
Thus, consuming a regulated amount of pepper fruit in your diet can help you deal with digestive problems in the long run. One additional tip that I would like to recommend is that if you are facing Gastrointestinal disease, avoid Dairy.
7. Many medicinal benefits
The native Nigerians were very well aware of the magical properties and medicinal benefits of pepper fruit. Thus, they have incorporated the use of its roots, fruits, and leaves in preparing medicinal remedies.
These remedies can be used to prevent cancer, gastrointestinal issues, and many others. As this plant is rich in proteins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, riboflavin, thiamine, and vitamins A, C, and so much more. Thus, Dennetia tripetala can be used to treat the following:
- Treating motion sickness and nausea
- Helping in childbirth and inducing contractions.
- Treating infections.
- Eradicating insects and pests.
- It helps in treating respiratory diseases.
- It helps in treating typhoid fever and malaria
- Used in oral hygiene products.
- It helps in preventing and treating stomach ulcers.
- Getting rid of intestinal worms and parasites.
Thus, including pepper fruit in your diet is really important to extract all these health benefits from this wonderful plant.
8. Improves organ functioning
For your body to work efficiently, it is extremely important for your organs to perform significantly well. Thus, to make sure your organs are functioning well and are in their best state, you need to ensure you provide nutrition to your body from within.
Hence, even if any one of your organs is not performing effectively, it can cause severe harm to your body. Moreover, it has been scientifically proven that certain fruits and vegetables can help boost your organ health. Pepper fruit is one of the plants that are extremely beneficial for your organs, and it also prevents potential damaging effects.
Things to keep in mind while consuming Pepper Fruit
Pepper fruit might not be your favorite due to its slightly bitter taste. As mentioned above, there are numerous benefits of consuming this and including it in your diet.
However, before consuming this, you need to understand the potential side effects as well. Just like knowing its benefits, it’s equally important to be aware of its cons as well.
As you know, pepper fruit is good for postpartum recovery. However, you should avoid consuming this during pregnancy as there is a risk that it might induce early contractions and even pre-mature delivery as well.
Although it helps induce contraction, still it’s advisable to use this after childbirth. You can also use it in the last trimester of your pregnancy. However, I still would recommend you consult your doctor before incorporating pepper fruit into your diet.
Moreover, you need to test whether you are allergic to pepper fruit or not. Hence, before consuming this or any medicine containing Dennetia tripetala, you need to make sure you are not allergic to it.
Consumption of anything beyond a limit can cause potential harm than good. Therefore, always start by including a small amount of this plant in your diet.
The Bottom Line
I hope after going through this article, you now understand all about the health benefits of pepper fruit and its potential side effects as well. There is so much more that we need to discover about this miraculous plant.
I know this might not be your favorite thing to eat because of its slightly bitter taste. Still, there are so many pepper fruit recipes with which you can add flavor to this and satisfy your taste buds as well as stay healthy.
Furthermore, it’s loaded with antioxidants, Vitamins, and many other nutrients. Thus, you need to believe in the power of nature and herbs like pepper fruit.
