The use of bitters for improving health has been pursued for centuries. These have consisted of various herbs, used in salads, tinctures, and extracts.
We have four primary taste receptors. These are sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. There is actually one that is rarely talked about making it five, and that is the taste of musty.
Unfortunately, far too many people are hooked on, and focus on the sweet and salty tastes, while ignoring the importance of the sour and bitter receptors.
Bitters are an awesome digestive aid. They’re mood elevating and they up-regulate parasympathetic tone, (the nervous system that is involved in restoring and feeding the body).
Bitters are antidepressant in nature, and support blood sugar regulation as well as immune function. They’re considered tonics and stomachics (a medicine or tonic which promotes appetite or assists in digestion).
The best time to take bitters is early in the morning or an hour before meals. The early morning use can assist in down regulating adrenal over stimulation. This would be for the person suffering from elevated cortisol levels.
Excessive use of bitters can actually weaken the stomach, so a little can go a long way. Besides the tongue, bitter receptors have been found in the gut, and promotes release of cholecystokinin, which triggers the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bile. This is one reason so many suffer gall bladder problems. They never stimulate bile clearance by eating too many sweets and starches without adding in bitters, which are frequently found among the green leafy vegetables.
Bitters regulate stomach function, appetite and production of healthy acid in your stomach. Besides stomach acids, activation of the bitter receptors is also though to trigger elimination of absorbed toxins from the gut lining, or epithelium.
In the lower gut, bitters influence fluid secretion into the bowel, which produces a mild laxative effect. This should be considered when stools are hard and dry.
When considering the addition of bitters to the diet, there are prepared bitters, which have traditionally been used in alcoholic drinks, like angostura bitters. These can be obtained from local grocery stores.
One of the strongest acting bitters is gentian root. This is one which is employed in one of my favorite digestive aids from the company Medi Herb. Besides gentian, it contains dandelion. Dandelion leaves are a very good source of bitters, and not as powerful as the gentian. They’re great added to salads provided they’ve not been sprayed.
Hops are well known for their calming effect, and in Europe, many beers are referred to as bitters due to the high bitter essence created by the hops. Many who drink beer and the liver isn’t a mess, will note greater relaxation and improved digestion from the beer.
For those trying to quit coffee, but find constipation to be a severe problem when not getting their coffee, bitters can make all the difference. The bitter in coffee is the primary moving force that initiates bile flow and fluid into the bowel.
If you or your family deal with excess gas, bloating, and constipation, look at your diet. Are you a slave to the sweet and salty taste buds, while ignoring your body’s needs for bitters? You can correct this by investigating what foods provide the bitter components. Getting started with a digestive aid like “Digest” from my office, (which consists of various bitters, including gentian and dandelion) could seriously improve your health and your total outlook on life.
We have four primary taste receptors. These are sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. There is actually one that is rarely talked about making it five, and that is the taste of musty.
Unfortunately, far too many people are hooked on, and focus on the sweet and salty tastes, while ignoring the importance of the sour and bitter receptors.
Bitters are an awesome digestive aid. They’re mood elevating and they up-regulate parasympathetic tone, (the nervous system that is involved in restoring and feeding the body).
Bitters are antidepressant in nature, and support blood sugar regulation as well as immune function. They’re considered tonics and stomachics (a medicine or tonic which promotes appetite or assists in digestion).
The best time to take bitters is early in the morning or an hour before meals. The early morning use can assist in down regulating adrenal over stimulation. This would be for the person suffering from elevated cortisol levels.
Excessive use of bitters can actually weaken the stomach, so a little can go a long way. Besides the tongue, bitter receptors have been found in the gut, and promotes release of cholecystokinin, which triggers the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bile. This is one reason so many suffer gall bladder problems. They never stimulate bile clearance by eating too many sweets and starches without adding in bitters, which are frequently found among the green leafy vegetables.
Bitters regulate stomach function, appetite and production of healthy acid in your stomach. Besides stomach acids, activation of the bitter receptors is also though to trigger elimination of absorbed toxins from the gut lining, or epithelium.
In the lower gut, bitters influence fluid secretion into the bowel, which produces a mild laxative effect. This should be considered when stools are hard and dry.
When considering the addition of bitters to the diet, there are prepared bitters, which have traditionally been used in alcoholic drinks, like angostura bitters. These can be obtained from local grocery stores.
One of the strongest acting bitters is gentian root. This is one which is employed in one of my favorite digestive aids from the company Medi Herb. Besides gentian, it contains dandelion. Dandelion leaves are a very good source of bitters, and not as powerful as the gentian. They’re great added to salads provided they’ve not been sprayed.
Hops are well known for their calming effect, and in Europe, many beers are referred to as bitters due to the high bitter essence created by the hops. Many who drink beer and the liver isn’t a mess, will note greater relaxation and improved digestion from the beer.
For those trying to quit coffee, but find constipation to be a severe problem when not getting their coffee, bitters can make all the difference. The bitter in coffee is the primary moving force that initiates bile flow and fluid into the bowel.
If you or your family deal with excess gas, bloating, and constipation, look at your diet. Are you a slave to the sweet and salty taste buds, while ignoring your body’s needs for bitters? You can correct this by investigating what foods provide the bitter components. Getting started with a digestive aid like “Digest” from my office, (which consists of various bitters, including gentian and dandelion) could seriously improve your health and your total outlook on life.
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