Stroll down the zest passageway of any supermarket and you'll probably recognize energetic red cayenne pepper sitting close by the black peppercorns. These two famous flavors are habitually utilized together in recipes to add a fiery kick and sharp flavor. Yet, do cayenne and black pepper share more practically speaking than only their peppery taste?
In particular, many individuals puzzle over whether cayenne contains piperine, the marked bioactive compound tracked down in dark pepper. This is a significant inquiry since piperine is connected to medical advantages like decreased irritation, better supplement ingestion, and perhaps even weighting the executives.
This article will investigate the connection between cayenne pepper and piperine. We'll bring a profound jump into the dynamic mixtures, well-being impacts, and culinary purposes of each. Peruse on to realize whether cayenne truly does without a doubt contain the strong supplement enhancer piperine.
What is Cayenne?
Cayenne peppers belong to the Capsicum annuum species of chili peppers, which also includes bell peppers, jalapeños, and paprika. Cayenne is made from drying and grinding hot peppers of the Capsicum frutescens varietal, particularly the cultivars known as ‘bird’s eye pepper’ and ‘red chili.’
Cayenne has been used for both food and medicine for thousands of years in South and Central America, before being brought to Europe in the 15th century by Christopher Columbus. In culinary traditions worldwide, cayenne powder is valued for its pure heat and earthy flavor. It’s also used as a warming circulatory stimulant in various herbal medicine systems.
The main bioactive compounds in cayenne are called capsaicinoids, including the primary capsaicin. Capsaicin is what gives all chili peppers their signature spiciness and heat sensation. It’s been shown in studies to boost metabolism, promote weight loss, and have antifungal properties. Other potential benefits of cayenne pepper include reduced inflammation, increased circulation, and improved digestion.
What is Piperine?
Found in plants of the Piperaceae family, most notably in black pepper (Piper nigrum), piperine is the organic compound responsible for black pepper’s pungency. It is present in peppercorns at about 5-10% concentration.
Piperine has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine to stimulate digestion and treat gastrointestinal issues. Modern research has focused on piperine’s ability to substantially boost absorption and bioavailability of nutrients like curcumin, selenium, vitamin B6, and beta-carotene.
One 2015 study showed taking piperine with curcumin, the active component of turmeric, increased curcumin absorption by up to 2000%. Piperine is thought to achieve this through mechanisms like stimulating digestive enzymes and inhibiting drug metabolism processes in the liver.
In addition to enhancing nutrient absorption, preliminary studies report piperine may also help lower inflammation and cholesterol levels. But more research is still needed to confirm many of the proposed benefits of piperine.
Is Cayenne Related to Black Pepper?
At first glance, the hot and spicy cayenne seems totally different than the sharp and woody black pepper. However, they do have a distant familial relationship. Cayenne belongs to the Solanaceae or nightshade family of flowering plants. Black pepper is a member of the Piperaceae family of flowering vines. Both families fall under the clade or branch known as Magnoliids.
So, while not closely related botanically, they are connected through evolution from a common ancestor plant species. They also both contain active compounds, capsaicin and piperine respectively, that provide a signature heat or pungency. This spicy flavor profile likely evolved to deter mammals from consuming the berries and inhibit seed dispersal.
But does their shared pungent quality mean that cayenne peppers also contain piperine, the key bioactive in black pepper? Conflicting information exists on the web. Some sources claim piperine accounts for cayenne’s hotness and medicinal properties. Others argue piperine is found only in black pepper.
Analyzing the scientific literature, piperine does not appear to be present in any notable quantity in cayenne peppers. The 2015 study cited earlier on black pepper extract piperine increasing curcumin absorption clearly states piperine is found only in black pepper, not cayenne or other peppers. No studies have been conducted attempting to isolate piperine from cayenne.
While not containing piperine itself, cayenne and black pepper do appear to have complementary effects on nutrient absorption and bioavailability. So combining the two may provide benefits, albeit through their unique active compounds rather than a shared one.
Using Cayenne and Piperine Together
Although not scientifically proven to interact directly, some functional medicine doctors and health bloggers recommend combining cayenne and black pepper together. The reasoning is that this mixture could have a synergistic effect in:
- Improving digestion
- Increasing absorption of vitamins and minerals
- Providing anti-inflammatory benefits
- Promoting healthy circulation
For example, one simple healing tonic is to mix cayenne pepper and freshly ground black pepper in lemon water. The capsaicin in cayenne stimulates digestion and blood flow, while the piperine in black pepper boosts the bioavailability of the vitamin C from the lemon.
Another way to use cayenne and black pepper together is by adding them both to turmeric golden milk or turmeric tea. The piperine in black pepper enhances the absorption of curcumin in the turmeric, while the cayenne provides its own anti-inflammatory action.
Keep in mind these combinations have not been validated by controlled studies. But preparing teas, tonics, or spices using cayenne with black pepper is generally considered safe and may come with additional benefits.
Does Black Pepper or Cayenne Pepper Activate Turmeric?
As mentioned earlier, one of the most well-researched benefits of piperine in black pepper is enhancing the absorption and bioavailability of curcumin, the main active compound in turmeric. Studies demonstrate that adding just 2mg of piperine powder to curcumin supplements can increase bioavailability by up to 2000%.
Without this piperine bio-enhancer, much of the curcumin we ingest gets metabolized and excreted quickly without entering circulation. Adding black pepper helps slow curcumin metabolism and increases the amount absorbed into the body.
Cayenne does not appear to have the same strong nutraceutical synergistic effect with turmeric as black pepper’s piperine. However, combining turmeric and cayenne may still be beneficial. The capsaicin in cayenne has its own anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that complement curcumin. Cayenne also increases circulation and cell uptake of compounds.
So while black pepper is clearly more potent at “activating” turmeric through piperine, cayenne can still add value and a flavor kick to turmeric-based dishes and teas. For maximum turmeric bioavailability and anti-inflammatory benefits, always add some fresh cracked black pepper.
Other Ways to Increase Piperine Intake
Since piperine is not present in significant amounts in cayenne or other chili peppers, the only highly concentrated dietary source is black pepper. Some ways to increase your daily intake of piperine include:
- Grinding fresh black peppercorns over meals or adding to recipes
- Using black pepper extracts or supplements that quantify piperine content
- Consuming Piper longum or long pepper, a close relative of black pepper
- Eating black peppercorns whole or with lemon and honey for alkalizing effect
- Combining black pepper with turmeric, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and other spices for synergy
The recommended dosage of supplemental piperine is around 5-20 mg per day, which provides sufficient amounts for boosting nutrient absorption. Always start low with new supplements and increase slowly. Excess piperine may cause burning sensations, diarrhea, nausea, or numbness in the tongue.
Conclusion
Cayenne and black pepper are both prized for their spicy flavor and medicinal properties. But contrary to some information online, piperine is not found in significant levels in cayenne, belonging uniquely to black pepper. While they don’t share this key bioactive compound, cayenne and black pepper do appear to have complementary effects on absorption and metabolism.
Combining cayenne pepper and piperine-rich black pepper may provide a synergistic effect in areas like stimulating circulation, aiding digestion, and fighting inflammation. But black pepper alone contains the renowned bio-enhancer piperine to “activate” compounds like turmeric. To maximize the benefits of both the capsaicin in cayenne and the piperine in black pepper, try using them together in recipes, teas, and spice rubs.
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