Does black pepper help with weight loss?

Black pepper not only adds a lot of flavor to your food, but it also has many health properties for those who consume it, beyond simply helping you lose weight.Also known as the queen of spices, black pepper has a wealth of benefits, as it is good for digestion, helps you absorb nutrients, contains antioxidants, and may improve cholesterol levels, blood sugar control, and brain health. Discover with us whether it really helps with weight loss and its beneficial properties.1. AntioxidantsBlack pepper is rich in a plant compound called piperine, which according to test-tube studies has potent antioxidant properties. This means it helps you combat free radicals, those unstable molecules that can damage cells, causing premature aging or heart disease, for example.Some research suggests that a diet rich in antioxidants may help prevent or delay the harmful effects of free radicals, while other test-tube and rodent studies have observed that piperine and ground black pepper supplements may reduce free radical damage.2. Anti-inflammatory propertiesMany laboratory studies suggest that piperine, the main active compound in black pepper, may effectively combat inflammation, a relevant factor in many conditions, such as arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of black pepper and piperine have not yet been widely studied in humans.3. May help improve gut healthPreliminary research has suggested that black pepper may increase the good bacteria in your gut, and this has been linked to immune function, mood, and chronic diseases.4. May improve blood sugar levelsStudies conducted on animals, such as rats fed black pepper extract, suggest that piperine may help improve blood sugar metabolism. Furthermore, 86 overweight individuals who took a supplement containing piperine and other compounds for 8 weeks experienced significant improvements in insulin sensitivity, a measure of how well the insulin hormone removes glucose from the bloodstream.However, there is no evidence that the same effects would occur with black pepper alone, as this study used a combination of many active plant compounds.Black pepper for weight lossIt is believed that adding black pepper to green tea and taking it several times a day may help break down excess fat, improve metabolism, and ultimately aid in weight loss. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this.What has been relevant is the use of compounds from pepper called alcamides and piperamides as “bactericides, fungicides, anti-inflammatories, anesthetics, and even antivirals,” which would help combat the covid-19 disease, according to a recent study from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav).According to statements from the Research Center, Mercedes G. López and Jorge Molina Torres identified “a type of piperamides that may contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the body,” but this research is still a long way from being conclusive.