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