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