| Black pepper comes from an evergreen vine that | | | | radiate it more than other foods. Organic pepper |
| was discovered many centuries ago in India. It | | | | is sterilized differently. Steam heat is the |
| was so highly prized that only the wealthiest had | | | | preferred way of treating peppercorns. Heat kills |
| access to it. Fortunately for us, most cupboards | | | | harmful micro-organisms and unlike radiating foods |
| contain this burst of flavor and are used daily in | | | | which violently oscillate the molecules and |
| our food preparations. In centuries past the | | | | potentially warp them, steam heat does the job |
| berries were selected and harvested by hand. To | | | | but maintains the integrity of the pepper. Black |
| make black pepper, the berries were picked while | | | | pepper does a lot more than flavor our food. |
| they were still green and unripe. They were piled | | | | There are many health benefits as well. Organic |
| up and left to ferment. They were then spread | | | | black pepper has the ability to: - Stimulate |
| out in the sun to dry. The result is a shriveled | | | | digestion - Stimulate metabolism and the proper |
| black peppercorn. Today the majority of our | | | | breakdown of fat cells (it has a thermogenic |
| pepper is handled much differently! In an effort to | | | | effect) - Has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory |
| control micro-organisms, our pepper can be | | | | properties - Can assist in keeping your arteries |
| treated chemically or irradiated or both. Chemicals | | | | clean - Is an effective anti-microbial. As a matter |
| such as ethylene oxide, which is used to make | | | | of fact, in very early centuries, pepper was used |
| ethylene glycol, is found in anti-freeze and is also | | | | as a preservative for food. Recent research has |
| used to sterilize medical equipment. This chemical | | | | shown its effectiveness at killing bacteria. It is |
| is also used to sterilize pepper! There are other | | | | especially effective when used with other foods |
| chemicals used to fumigate peppers as well, | | | | and spices such as garlic and onions, oregano, |
| chemicals that have been banned in Europe | | | | allspice, and cinnamon. By far the number one |
| because of their harmful effects not just on | | | | pepper in the everyday house hold is the black |
| humans but the environment as well. We eat only | | | | pepper! All the other peppers have healthful |
| small amounts of pepper at a time but think of | | | | benefits and can be consumed by the pepper |
| the long term effects of absorbing these toxic | | | | enthusiasts, but for most people, we freely use it |
| chemicals into our bodies! Then there is irradiation! | | | | without a thought on how it is processed. Being |
| The FDA seems fit to approve a much higher | | | | educated is key to maintaining good health and |
| level of irradiation for pepper for several reasons: | | | | our palates. Be informed before you buy! Enjoy! |
| - It has less moisture content and a harder shell | | | | Willie is a researcher and freelance writer whose |
| which makes it better for irradiation. - It takes a | | | | own health problems prompted her to gain |
| very high concentration of radiation to kill off | | | | information on health and wellness and share that |
| bacteria and insects and, - the FDA considers that | | | | knowledge with others. She is co-owner of a site |
| because we eat very little pepper compared to | | | | that focuses on detox through ionic foot baths |
| the amount of food we eat that it is ok to | | | | and foot massagers. |