In today’s modern world,
people tend to want sweet foods, and shun anything that’s bitter. But
bitter herbs are essential for digestive health and many other
issues. Let’s look at why kratom is so bitter, why that’s a good
thing, and how to appreciate the health benefits of bitter tonics.
We’ve gotten so accustomed
to processed foods being loaded with salt, chemical flavorings,
sugar, artificial sweeteners, and high fructose corn syrup – it
seems we’ve lost our taste for what is naturally bitter. We think
bitter things taste “bad”. We have a lot of trouble tolerating
substances that aren’t sweet or salty.
Coffee. There’s another
bitter plant product. To drown out the bitterness of coffee, we tend
to add milk, flavored creams, organic honey, or raw sugar to it.
Dandelions, especially the
root, make a very bitter tea, as do hops. Yet, those who study herbs
and natural substances rave about how effective these herbs are for
their health. You may have heard of Swedish Bitters, a special, old
fashioned herbal tonic that can still be purchased from health food
stores.
So what’s up with
bitterness? Why do bitter herbs like dandelion, hops, and kratom
benefit our bodies so much?
Your tongue contains
tastebuds that analyze what you put in your mouth. Depending on how
they taste, your entire digestive system is triggered by the vagus
nerve, which causes it to adjust itself to take advantage of the
nutrients and other beneficial qualities of the food or drink you
consume. By masking bitterness, you’re sending the wrong signal to
the chemistry lab of your internal system.
What signals do bitter
substances send forth?
According to The Sunlight Experiment, bitterness triggers these events:
Increases
salivation
Increases
gastric acid
Increases
the enzymes responsible for breaking down nutrients
Increases
bile production in the liver
Regulates
insulin and glucagon to better maintain healthy blood glucose levels
Stimulates
the repair of the gut tissue
Improves
the tone of the gastric tract to reduce flatulence and
gastro-esophageal reflux
Improves
the absorption of vitamin B12
Improves
appetite
Supports
healthy liver function
Relieves
heartburn
Relieves
nausea and vomiting
Reduce
sugar cravings
Reduces
gas and bloating
Improves
the absorption of foods
Useful
for vegans and vegetarians in absorbing vitamin B12
https://thesunlightexperiment.com/blog/2016/6/20/herbal-bitters-what-are-they-and-how-do-i-use-them
Bitter
herbs include: wormwood, endive, raddichio, horehound, bitter melon,
valerian, mugwort, angelica, yarrow, hops, gentian, milk thistle,
golden seal, chamomile, dandelion, peppermint, chicory, argula, globe
artichoke, coffee, echinacea, tea (Camellia sinensis), common
sorrel, neem tree, centaury, buckbean, cinnamon, blessed thistle.
When
you aren’t feeling very well, sometimes a bitter tonic of organic
herbs is what you may need to get back into stride.
Dieticians
say that the best way to get bitters into your system is to prepare a
salad of fresh, organic greens from the list above. Not quite as
effective, but still good, is to take bitters as supplements in
capsules, powders, or tablets.
So
when you take kratom, by capsule, liquid extract shot, tincture,
resin, brewed tea, or toss and wash, keep in mind the many wonderful
benefits of this bitter herb. Especially keep in mind the value of
bitterness if you use the toss and wash technique of putting kratom
powder directly on your tongue and washing it down with orange juice,
herbal tea, grapefruit juice, coffee, or water.
We
tend to consume way too many salty and sweet substances. In many
cases….Bitter is better!
