"What is bitter in the mouth, is healthy in the stomach!" Bitter foods can really do a lot! Why you should get a bitter taste and how lemon, dandelion and broccoli stimulate your digestion and help you lose weight, you can read here.
As we all know, taste is a matter of debate, but there's one thing we can probably agree on: very few people, myself included, like bitter foods.
Brussels sprouts are still lovingly pushed to the edge of the plate by me today. Both my and your sense of taste is trimmed to sweet and salty. If I do not get jam bread in the morning, then my day can not start well!
"Actually wrong, because eating bitter is healthy," explains nutritionist and author Andrea Sokol. "Bitter substances are the smartest thing nature has to offer," she explains to me. Because bitter foods ensure better digestion and a good feeling of satiety.
Bitter substances in food can promote fat burning and really push the digestive tract. Well, if these are not good reasons to integrate Brussels sprouts and Co. more into our diet again.
In this post, we'll explain how bitter foods can benefit your health and which foods should definitely end up on your plate more often again!
Table of contents
What are bitsters?
Bitters are chemical compounds that acquire a bitter taste through the activation of a specific receptor. They can be produced synthetically or come from nature.
In many vegetables, the content of bitter substances has been reduced by breeding. They have thus been made edible for us. As a result, wild varieties still contain significantly more bitter substances.
On the one hand, bitter substances provide plants with natural protection against predators; on the other hand, they signal that plants/foods are toxic or spoiled.
The aversion to bitter taste is innate to us. Our body picks up the warning signal "bitter" via the tongue. Thus, our sense of taste can detect up to 1000 different bitter substances in food via 25 different receptor types!
If our tongue tastes something bitter, an alarm immediately goes off: "Attention, better not eat!".
In some cases, this makes sense, after all, some bitter foods are poisonous. Eating them can cause stomach problems such as nausea and diarrhea.
Because the bitter substances have been bred out of foods, we are simply no longer used to this bitter taste today. We have actually forgotten how to eat bitter without really noticing it. We need to learn to enjoy vegetables with bitter substances again. It's worth it, and not just in culinary terms!
How to detox a liver in three days!
Why eating bitter foods is healthy
We should start to appreciate healthy bitters again. They have many beneficial properties and are even called natural remedies.
Bitter substances in food have a positive effect on digestion and blood circulation by stimulating the production of bile and gastric acid. Goodbye digestive liquor, you now prefer to reach for vegetables with bitter substances.
Furthermore, they have a great influence on the cardiovascular system and on the urinary tract.
They have an anti-inflammatory, cleansing and antibacterial effect. This benefits your skin texture, for example. It becomes clearer and gets a healthy glow.
The pro list of bitters is quite long as you can see.
You can find bitter substances in food in many vegetables and fruits, herbs, walnuts or olive oil and of course in dark chocolate!
Food with a high proportion of bitter substances often has fewer calories. This helps to let the kilos fall. An extra portion of bitter substances can even reduce the terrible craving for sweets! That's what every woman dreams of.
So once again short and crisp: bitter substances in foods
- balance the acid-base balance,
- stimulate digestion,
- support the intestinal flora,
- promote blood circulation,
- stabilize the immune system,
- stimulate the cardiovascular system,
- prevent high blood pressure,
- fill you up faster and prevent cravings,
- support weight loss,
- improve the appearance of the skin.
But of course there are people who, even with the best intentions, simply cannot eat bitter foods. Nevertheless, you should not do without the many positive properties.
If the very thought of a bitter salad makes you lose your appetite, then you should try Products from Bitterliebe* try.
Bitterliebe has developed drops made from natural herbs that, among other things, suppress the desire for sweets. And all in a natural way. Without additives and side effects.
These bitter foods have it
You can find the healthy bitter substances in many foods. Try to include these foods regularly in your diet and you will benefit from them.
Let's go into more detail about the effects of bitter compounds in foods and see which foods hide which bitter flavors. But first, here are the top bitter foods. Try to use them regularly in your recipes.
Top 5 bitter foods
- Arugula
- Grapefruit
- Dandelion
- Cardamom*
- Broccoli
Bitter vegetables
There are many vegetables with bitter substances. Well-known representatives include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, eggplant, fennel, cucumber, chard, green peppers, radishes, kale and celery.
The great thing is that you can get fresh vegetables with bitters at any time of the year. In addition to the bitter substances, many green vegetables also contain a lot of vitamin C. Doubly good!
Try this spread with wild herbs!
Bitter salads
I bitter lettuce varieties with mild iceberg lettuce, which provides variety.
Especially chicory, endive, radicchio, arugula or Asian stem lettuce are full of bitter substances! By the way, a delicious honey-mustard dressing counteracts the bitterness somewhat.
Bitter and mega delicious: chicory orange salad!
Bitter fruits
Citrus fruits are the order of the day. Make sure that you take unsprayed fruits. Most of the nutrients are hidden in the peel, juice and white skin. Lemon, grapefruit, pomelo and kumquat definitely belong in your fruit bowl from now on.
Even though a glass of grapefruit juice tastes really bitter in the morning, it wakes you up and tastes really good with a shot of honey!
Bitter wild herbs
When the wild herbs grow in spring/summer, you should definitely go harvest! We have already explained to you that bitter substances have been partly bred away. Untouched wild herbs like gentian, feverfew, chicory, centaury, dandelion and wormwood are therefore bitter superfoods.
You can make a really tasty salad from dandelions. Give it a try!
Bitter herbs
Fresh herbs spice up just about any dish! A colorful pot of mint or oregano in the kitchen also looks great. Sage, dill, chives and savory contain many bitter substances.
Bitter spices
Of course, every tasty meal needs the right spice. You can get super easy bitters in your meal by adding them with Cardamom*, Cinnamon*aniseed, nutmeg or allspice. They also stimulate your liver and banish cravings.
Bitter foods in general
If you want to snack a little, you can treat yourself to a piece of dark chocolate. However, it should have 70 percent cocoa content. Walnuts are also a food rich in bitter substances and a tasty snack for in between meals. Olive oil, mustard and sesame paste are great for cooking and also have lots of bitters.
Include foods with bitter substances in the diet
Since bitter substances are contained in many different foods, there is something for every taste. Whether a crisp salad or an oriental spiced lunch, everyone gets their money's worth.
Prepare your favorite salad today, add some arugula and some wild herbs. Then whip up a dressing of mustard, honey, olive oil and a few squeezes of lemon. Yummy!
Or you can make a delicious tea from nettles or birch leaves.
A smoothie is always the right choice for on the go. Since spinach is a popular choice for super healthy green smoothies anyway, you can also try dandelion next time.
If you're looking for more inspiration, you can click through our recipes!
Do you already know this delicious wild herb soup?
Our conclusion
Bitter is better! At first, you may find it difficult to get used to bitter flavors. Bitter substances in food promote your digestion, help you lose weight and are worth loading more often on the dining table. Sour makes fun and bitter makes healthy! Just try it out. We wish you a good appetite.
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