There are plant foods that are exceptional in terms of their benefits, since they are part of very select cuisines and offer therapeutic benefits to human health , thanks to their phytochemical components, such as piparra.
By virtue of the above, in the following article we provide you with information about what piparra is and its health benefits.
What is the piparra?
The Ibarra piparra or chilli pepper, with the scientific name Caspicum frutescens , is a variety of pepper grown in Spain , especially in the Basque Country, although there are other Spanish regions that grow it, such as La Rioja and Navarra.
Note: Literature describes that this pepper was brought by Christopher Columbus on one of his return trips from America and that the skill of Basque farmers managed to adapt this species to the climatic conditions of the area.
Apart from its excellent gastronomic attributes for consumers in the Spanish community, the piparra has interesting nutritional characteristics such as vitamin C, carotenes, B complex vitamins, especially vitamin B6 and vitamin B9 .
Additionally , it contains minerals such as calcium , magnesium and phosphorus and other nutrients such as fiber, carbohydrates, healthy fats and proteins .
What are the benefits of piparra for health?
Due to its chemical and nutritional components, piparra provides the following therapeutic benefits to human health:
1. Promotes cardiovascular health
Within the phytonutrient content of the piparra are vitamins , minerals and other organic compounds capable of regulating the presence of cholesterol in the blood, either by preventing its absorption through the intestines or through the action of some antioxidant components that favor the cholesterol regulation . (1)
To highlight: These properties of piparra contribute to cardiovascular health in the prevention of diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease or heart attacks.
2. Improves gastrointestinal and digestive conditions
Another of the benefits of piparra is its appreciable content of dietary fiber , which has properties that benefit digestive and gastrointestinal health.
In this sense, fiber facilitates the transit of food through the entire digestive tract until it is expelled in the form of feces, thus contributing to intestinal motility and the prevention of diseases such as constipation , abdominal cramps, diarrhea , hemorrhoids , among others. (two)
You should know: Fiber also works as a prebiotic , keeping the bacterial flora of the intestines healthy, favoring the breakdown and absorption of food.
3. Protects against oxidative damage
Among the piparra phytochemicals there are some with antioxidant properties , whose basic function is the fight against oxidative damage caused by free radicals, preventing premature aging of the body’s cells. (3)
4. Reduces joint pain
With the reduction of oxidative damage caused by free radicals, the components of piparra manage to mitigate joint pain caused by inflammatory processes.
Note: Joint pain can occur due to excess free radicals due to an uncontrolled immune system, which causes inflammatory processes that induce pain. (4)
5. Helps lose weight
Piparra is an interesting food product, which has a great place in many recipes for those interested in preserving or losing body weight.
First, the piparra helps regulate blood cholesterol, preventing the accumulation of body fat and second, it is a food that provides very few calories.
6. Promotes visual, skin and hair health
The carotene content of piparras favors the synthesis of provitamin A in the body, a micronutrient that promotes visual health. Likewise, its vitamin C content is involved in the formation of blood tissue to act in the wound healing process.
Similarly, the vitamin C contained in piparras is involved in the synthesis of collagen , a protein that gives firmness and elasticity to the skin.
How is piparra consumed?
The production process of the piparra in the Spanish region is completely handmade, allowing it to mature until it reaches an intense red color, which indicates that it is now the optimal time to harvest , becoming an excellent quality product for cooking.
That is why the most common way to consume piparras is in pickles, marinated in vinegar, but they are also included as ingredients in many salads.
On the other hand, the piparra is usually accompanied with other grains such as rice , prepared fried, as well as used to accompany meat and fish such as anchovies or simply consumed alone with olive oil.
To highlight: Basque gastronomy also uses it to accompany products such as salted meats, cured hams and matured cheeses.
Key Findings
- The piparra is a variety of pepper grown in Spain, especially in the Basque Country.
- Piparra is used in Spanish gastronomy and provides health benefits.
- Piparras promote cardiovascular and digestive health and protect against oxidative damage.
- The piparras can be eaten in pickles , alone with olive oil and serve as a companion to many other foods.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.