There is an importance to the taste of bitterness in some foods and
herbs. The “bitterness” on our taste buds alone is a nutrient, in a sense. The
bitterness sends a chemical reaction throughout bodies and has numerous health
benefits.
Many nutritionists,
herbalists, and other health experts believe that far too many modern
industrialized humans are deficient in bitter substances.
Here are a few of the health benefits of bitter foods.
1. Helps to absorb nutrients
While bitterness is
often perceived as unpleasant, the interaction between bitter constituents in
foods and our bitter taste receptors stimulate the production of gastric acid
in the stomach. This helps prime the stomach for the food it is about to encounter.
“Bitter foods and herbs help to stimulate digestive juices and support food
digestion,” says professional dietitian Nicole Dube of Halifax, N.S. “Bitter
foods help stimulate our taste receptors on the tongue, which subsequently
stimulates enzyme production and bile flow. The better your food is digested,
the more nutrients you will absorb from your food. It doesn’t matter what you
eat, if you can’t absorb it, it won’t be of much benefit to you.” Dube often
recommends eating a dandelion salad for people with digestive problems.
2.
Stimulates metabolism
Bitter foods and
herbs like green tea have been shown to boost metabolism. Drinking green tea is
one of the easiest ways to rev up your metabolism. A study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that green tea-extract increases
the metabolism by 4% over a 24-hour period. Green tea has also been shown to
inhibit fat absorption—the movement of glucose into fat cells, [support
healthy] glucose levels after eating a meal, prevent insulin spikes which
prevents fat storage, and reduce appetite. People that choose sweet foods over
bitter foods are also at risk for metabolic syndrome.
3.
Balances taste buds and controls that sweet tooth
Eating bitter greens increases the appetite to eat more bitter
greens.
“We all have
different sensory levels. It depends on genetics, what you’ve trained your body
to like, what your mother ate when you were in utero or what your heritage is,”
says Theresa Albert, a Toronto-based registered nutritionist and founder of the
website, My Friend in Food. In Ayurvedic tradition, bitter foods are thought to
reduce food cravings and aid in weight loss. In TCM, bitter foods are prized
for ‘removing heat’ in the body – could that speak to their very modern
‘anti-inflammatory’ benefits?
4.
Fights free radicals and stimulates immune function
Recent studies have
shown that bitter foods, including dark chocolate, can help fight free radicals
in the body. Of course, Bitter foods are usually nutrient dense Bitter foods
pack plenty of nutrition into each bite. For instance, beta-carotene for healthy
skin; folate for a healthy nervous system; vitamin K for healthy blood clotting
and phyto-chemicals for healthy inflammation response, managing cholesterol,
balance hormones, detoxify the blood and metabolizes fats. Many greens are also
mineral rich; gentle cooking will help make those minerals more bioavailable to
the human body.
5.
Cleanses the body
Bitter roots and veggies contain fiber to help sweep wastes through
the digestive tract. Bitter foods also contain sulfur-based compounds which
support the natural detoxification pathways in the liver; helping it to do what
it is meant to do – keep your body clean and clear.
List
of some bitter foods and herbs
There are a wide variety of bitter foods and herbs. Some of them are
best taken as a tea to help your body register the bitter taste to get the
digestive juices flowing. Some better foods and herbs include:
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Kale
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Dark chocolate
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Coffee
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Nettles
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Dill
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Sesame
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Dandelion
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Horseradish
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Watercress
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Parsley
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Cilantro
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Goldenseal
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Arugula (one of my favorites)
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Japanese eggplant
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Turmeric
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Fenugreek seeds
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Leafy greens
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Barley
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Basil
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Jicama
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Lettuce
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