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7 Bitter Foods That Cure Indigestion

By Pooja Kaushal

It would be surprising to know that we need bitter foods to aid digestion. Sweet foods have been the preferred foods in present times. It surely is leading to a number of health problems. It is time we changed our eating habits and started including all kinds of foods, especially bitter foods.

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How does bitter foods aid digestion?

One has to develop a taste for bitter foods for digestion. The advantages of consuming bitter foods are many. When you consume bitter foods, a message is sent to the brain. It leads to the release of the gastric hormone called gastrin. This, in turn, stimulates the digestive function of all organs involved in the digestive process.

Bitter tasting foods stimulate the taste receptors and the salivary glands. This also leads to an increase in appetite. Bitter foods increase secretion of saliva. It also means that the digestion process begins in the mouth itself. Once the food reaches the stomach, the digestion becomes a lot easier.

The hormone gastrin aids in the secretion of hydrochloric acid, which helps break down proteins and destroy any harmful microbe present in the food.

Bitter foods are required for digestion as they are considered to have a cooling property that helps to reduce hot inflammatory conditions. Bitter food stimulates increased production of bile in the liver, while the gall bladder is stimulated towards increased bile excretion.

We need to have bitter foods to aid digestion. Take a look at some bitter foods for digestion.

Dill

Dill

Dill is an aromatic herb with very thin leaves. You can add it to vegetables or curries.

Kale

Kale

A dark leafy green vegetable makes for an excellent addition to salads.

Turmeric

Turmeric

This is a yellow coloured root. It can be had fresh and juicy or as a dried spice. Either ways, it benefits you in multiple ways.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek

The sharp bitter taste is its characteristic. The leaves are less bitter than the seeds but equally benefiting. The seeds can be grounded and added to any preparation but in limited quantity.

Bitter gourd or bitter melon

Bitter gourd or bitter melon

This is a dark green vegetable with a spiky surface. It can be had as a juice, fried snack or vegetable.

Dandelion greens

Dandelion greens

Consider these to be one of the classic bitter foods for digestion. Add them fresh to salads or gently wilt in pastas to get the aroma and the taste.

Arugula

Arugula

Yet another leafy green which helps stimulate bile production. Use it as the base of your salad and experience the cooling effects it has on the digestive system.

Read more about: digestion foods