Black pepper is the fruit of the black pepper plant from the Piperaceae family and is used as both a spice and a medicine. A pinch of black pepper added to any recipe works more than just a flavor enhancer. This king of spices is known to offer a number of health benefits while providing an excellent depth of flavor to a dish. The use of black pepper in the diet helps to promote weight loss improve digestion relieve a cough and cold and boost metabolisms.