Bitter foods? Please don’t, most people think. Bitter taste is usually associated with inedible, bad or even toxic food. Natural bitter substances are true health boosters. Find out here what bitter substances are all about, in which foods they are hidden and what positive effects the substances have on your health.
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What are bitter substances anyway?
We perceive five taste qualities with our tongue . In addition to sweet, sour, salty and umami, the taste buds of our tongues are also trained to perceive bitter tastes. We taste bitter far back on the tongue. Responsible for the bitter aftertaste of certain plant foods such as
- Brussels sprouts
- fennel
- artichokes
- eggplants
- radish
- black cumin
- Grapefruit
- cinammon
are the bitter substances they contain . These are chemical compounds that specifically activate bitter taste receptors in humans and animals . With bitter substances, plants protect themselves from natural predators, because what tastes bitter is not eaten. Bitter substances occur to a certain degree in all naturally growing plants. The more naturally fruit and vegetables can grow, the more bitter substances can be found in the food. And that’s very good news, because the bitter compounds play aTolfioow role in your health. The motto is therefore: bitter substances? Can I have some more, please!
5 health-promoting effects of bitter substances
1. Bitter substances stimulate digestion
Bitter substances trigger reflex digestive reactions. If the receptors on your tongue perceive bitter substances, more saliva is promptly produced . With this, the ingested food is already pre-digested in the mouth. The more saliva, the better the pre-digestion. The bitter substances then trigger a similar reaction in the stomach. The gastric mucosa is supplied with more blood, more gastric acid is produced and the food is digested more easily and quickly. Bitter substances also support the digestive system wherever possible. Liver, bile and pancreas are stimulatedand produce more digestive juices, with which the chyme is digested particularly carefully on its way through the intestines. Nutrition experts now agree that bitter substances are excellent for healthy and normal bowel function and stimulate bowel activity .
2. Help with weight loss with bitter substances
Bitter substances are natural appetite suppressants . They ensure the release of the hormone cholecystokinin, which is responsible, among other things, for suppressing appetite. Anyone who suffers from food cravings is well advised to counteract this with foods rich in bitter substances. In the meantime, even specially formulated bitter substance drops are available, which are intended to actively support weight loss. If you want to curb your appetite, you can put a few drops of concentrated bitter substances on your tongue after eating or before cravings. The manufacturers of such bitter substance drops rely on the natural bitter power of dandelion, artichoke herb, lavender blossoms or turmeric root.
3. Bitter substances as mood enhancers
In research, there is increasing evidence of a possible antidepressant effect of bitter substances . They have mood-enhancing properties and work against tiredness, stress and exhaustion. If you suffer from low mood, you should reach for dark chocolate or foods rich in bitter substances such as fennel, spinach, radishes or chicory more often.
4. Healthy nervous system thanks to bitter substances
Bitter substances stimulate our nervous systems . The active ingredients in bitter foods activate parts of the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system in particular, also known as the sympathetic nervous system, reacts to bitter substances and activates organs such as the heart, intestines, liver or kidneys. The result: We are more alert, focused and efficient. Bitter substances are therefore often used specifically to combat exhaustion, stress or tiredness .
5. Positive effect on cholesterol levels
Some studies have found that increased consumption of foods rich in bitter substances is associated with a reduction in bad LDL cholesterol in the blood. Bitter substances as part of a balanced diet seem to have a positive effect on vascular health, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
