I’ve mentioned before now about the strange things that Italians believe in and how funny I find it.
I was in the process of writing a crap post but, at lunchtime, I was given the opportunity to write about something else.
A colleague, who originates from the South of Italy was asking another colleague about whether the chilli pepper (that he and a lot of Southern Italians sprinkle on most of their food) was bad for you. He was informed that it was not bad for you but black pepper was.
I couldn’t help but laugh. But, I was told that the doctors say this. “Which doctors? Where?”, I asked.
“All doctors, everywhere”, came the reply. I was astounded. I was certain that doctor’s in the UK did not say this and, in fact, that there were health benefits to using black pepper and said so.
“Yes, but you drive on the left”, came one person’s comment – said in jest, I have to add.
However, I had to check. I do know many Italians (including F) who dislike black pepper here. But this was the first time that I had heard of it being bad for your health.
A check on Google both for the health benefits and the possible harm of black pepper confirmed what I thought – although it MAY irritate your stomach, it is (they say) good for your digestive system. Obviously, eating it by the spoonful wouldn’t be advisable but, overall, as I suspected, there is simply nothing wrong with black pepper.
Of course, I am unable to compete with the ‘doctors say’ line from an Italian and have to admit defeat on this one. I will never be able to convince her that she is simply wrong and listening to old wives tales.
What I want to know is, where the hell do they get their ideas from? Anyone know?
Hi Andy – I get such a kick out of hoe people ‘defend’ their position. Myself included. Dolan is always pointing out how I do that with very little fact behind my defensens. He always mentions.
Love Gail
peace…….
I think everyone does to a certain extent, Gail. But Italians and the rest of us definitely believe different things. E.g. a black cat running across your path – lucky for us/unlucky for Italians!
oops – defenses
Ciao Andy,
it’s not an Italian idea!
My doctor has never said that black pepper is bad!
However, we do have other funny ideas (such as “cambiare l’aria”, you mentioned this somewhere if I’m not wrong etc.)
I didn’t know about the black cat!
Hi Lola,
OK, obviously, I can only report what I hear. I was assured that ‘all doctors, everywhere’ say this. Perhaps this is a local thing (like Italian food) and restricted to the area in which I work
)
Yes, I have mentioned that before
You didn’t? Again, by the same people, this was confirmed that day too (when they followed up my laughing by talking about other strange things that us Brits believe
To be honest, I’m sure if you travel around the UK and stay long enough in an area, there will be similar ‘strange’ things believed by people. As I have said, these are things handed down by generation to generation and therefore, in reality, just ‘old wives tales’
But they make me laugh all the same.
I have had many arguments with Italians on the subject of black pepper, which I love and put on all my food. The thing I find crazy is they are all so happy to eat overly salty food which is proven to be bad for you! But there is no convincing them.
You’re so right about the salt, Elena.
And you’re also right about not convincing them about black pepper.