Piperine: 5 properties and benefits you don’t know

Piperine is an alkaloid of black pepper to which slimming properties are attributed: it has a thermogenic action that helps to burn fat. But let’s discover all the benefits of piperine and if there are any side effects.

Piperine is an alkaloid of black pepper, a spice widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, thanks to its many beneficial properties. Specifically, piperine is a crystalline substance that covers the outer part of the pepper and it can be colorless or of a pale yellow, it belongs to the family of "pungent" and irritating substances, as well as capsaicin, a component of chilli. The piperine have slimming properties mainly due to its thermogenic action that stimulates the metabolism and helps burn fat, it also stimulates intestinal transit, it promotes digestion and more.

The first studies on piperine were conducted in 1820 by a Danish chemist from the University of Copenhagen, Hans Christian Ørsted, who isolated its molecular structure, although in Indian and Chinese medicine it was already used to treat some disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, constipation, slow digestion), heart disease, joint pain, gangrene and angina. But let's discover more about piperine and if there are any side effects.

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Piperine: characteristics, uses and side effects

Piperine helps to lose weight: piperine provides a thermogenic action that helps burn fat, promoting weight loss: there are in fact some food supplements based on piperine, to be taken only after consulting the doctor. In the past, piperine was used to treat metabolic disorders and to strengthen the gastric system by performing a toning action. Piperine then performs a slimming action, not only because it stimulates the metabolism, but also because it fights the formation of fat cells, it accelerates the secretion of digestive juices, it speeds up digestion and it helps keep nervous hunger at bay. Obviously, piperine alone does not help to lose weight but it must be associated with a balanced diet and constant physical movement.

Piperine stimulates intestinal transit helping to fight constipation and encouraging digestion: piperine also improves intestinal transit, thus helping in the event of constipation, often caused by a lack of fiber intake, as well as facilitating the absorption of important nutrients such as coenzyme Q10 and beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. Piperine also stimulates gastric secretion and it improves digestion.

Piperine facilitates tanning and helps the mood: by promoting the absorption of beta-carotene, piperine stimulates the production of melanin, facilitating tanning. In addition, it would also have a positive effect on mood, helping to counteract depression as it increases the production of serotonin and dopamine.

Piperine provides an antioxidant action: piperine also acts as a mild antioxidant counteracting the damaging action of free radicals and slowing down cellular aging, also helping to prevent cancer.

In addition, piperine has an expectorant and anti-inflammatory action, helping to reduce or eliminate inflammation, it promotes muscle relaxation, it purifies the body, thanks to its diuretic action, and it helps to tone the mind and body by increasing the levels of energy.