Black Pepper and Mood
Black pepper's use as both a spice and medicinal herb dates back over 3000 years. It has been shown to significantly enhance the absorption of curcumin. It is also believed to be a powerful antioxidant that may provide benefits for mood, aging and memory.
Black Pepper enhances nutrient absorption.
Black pepper is included in Aquilegy to enhance the absorption of turmeric/curcumin. Curcumin is known to be poorly absorbed in our bodies but studies by show when taken with black pepper, curcumin absorption could increase by 2000% (1).
Black pepper has also been shown to enhance the absorption of vitamin B6 (2) and selenium (3).
Black pepper might support in other ways, too.
Black pepper could provide benefits as a central nervous system stimulant with properties that may also enhance mood (4). Studies have shown black pepper affects certain pathways of the brain that could support mood (4)(5) and even brain longevity (6)(7).
References:
1) Shoba, G., Joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., &; Srinivas, P. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica, 64(04), 353–356. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957450
2) Vitamin B6. BioPerine®. (2021, August 11). Retrieved September 26, 2022, from https://bioperine.com/vitamin-b6/
3) Selenium. BioPerine®. (2021, August 11). Retrieved September 26, 2022, from https://bioperine.com/selenium/
4) Butt, M. S., Pasha, I., Sultan, M. T., Randhawa, M. A., Saeed, F., &; Ahmed, W. (2013). Black Pepper and health claims: A comprehensive treatise. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 53(9), 875–886. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2011.571799
5) Ademuyiwa, O. H., Fasogbon, B. M., &; Adebo, O. A. (2021). The potential role of piper guineense (black pepper) in managing Geriatric Brain Aging: A Review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1980764
6) Balakrishnan, R., Azam, S., Kim, I.-S., &; Choi, D.-K. (2022). Neuroprotective effects of black pepper and its bioactive compounds in age-related neurological disorders. Aging and Disease. https://doi.org/10.14336/ad.2022.1022
7) Mostafa, N. M., Mostafa, A. M., Ashour, M. L., &; Elhady, S. S. (2021). Neuroprotective effects of black pepper cold-pressed oil on scopolamine-induced oxidative stress and memory impairment in rats. Antioxidants, 10(12), 1993. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10121993