Boost Your Digestive Health With The Power Of Bitters
Are your experiencing digestive upsets like bloating, pains or reflux? Or perhaps you just want to get the most nutrition from the foods you eat? Let me introduce you to bitter herbs.
Known for their ability to naturally support digestion, bitters can be a game-changer for anyone looking to improve their gut health, boost nutrient absorption, and even stimulate a sluggish appetite. Let’s explore the benefits of including bitters in your diet and why Dandelion root tea, ginger, and true cinnamon are perfect choices to get you started.
Why Bitters Matter For Digestion
Bitters stimulate your digestive system, triggering several important processes that keep your gut functioning optimally:
Improved Stomach Acid Production:
Many digestive issues, such as bloating and indigestion, stem from low stomach acid. Bitters, like dandelion root and ginger, encourage the production of stomach acid, which is essential for breaking down food effectively.
Increased Enzyme Production:
Digestive enzymes are crucial for properly breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Bitters help signal your body to release these enzymes, ensuring that your meals are fully digested and nutrients are properly absorbed.
Enhanced Nutrient Absorption:
By promoting optimal stomach acid and enzyme levels, bitters help improve nutrient absorption. This ensures that essential vitamins and minerals from your food are better utilised by your body. In short, you get the most nutrition from the foods you eat.
Stimulates Appetite:
If you find yourself struggling with a lack of appetite, particularly in the morning, bitters can help stimulate your hunger. This is especially helpful if you’re striving to support your metabolism and hormone health with a nutritious protein rich breakfast.
Getting Bitters Into Your Day:
While you can much on bitter foods like rocket and dandelion greens through a salad, add raddiccio and ginger through your cooking, the real benefits of bitters come when you consume them 15-30 minutes before meals.
The best time to consume bitters to support digestion is 15-30 minutes before meals. This timing allows the bitter compounds to stimulate the production of stomach acid and digestive enzymes, priming your digestive system to break down food more efficiently. Bitters taken before meals can also help improve appetite, particularly for those who struggle with low hunger, and aid in the proper absorption of nutrients while reducing bloating or discomfort after eating.
For ease, you can enjoy bitters in the form of teas, like dandelion root tea, before your main meals to naturally support digestive health.
The Back To The Paddock Dandelion Root Tea blends also contain additional herbs & spices that provide extra digestive support- ginger & cinnamon. Let’s explore these further…
Dandelion Root Tea: A Powerful Bitter
Dandelion root tea is one of the most potent bitters available, and it offers many digestive benefits.
Liver Detox and Digestive Support:
Dandelion root is known for supporting liver function, which plays a key role in digestion. A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food1 found that dandelion root has hepatoprotective properties, meaning it helps protect the liver and improve bile production. Bile is essential for breaking down fats and promoting smoother digestion. This means regularly consuming cups of organic Dandelion root tea helps out your absorption of fat soluble vitamins- crucial for hormone and fertility health.
Improved Stomach Acid and Enzyme Production:
Dandelion root has been shown to encourage the production of stomach acid and digestive enzymes, making it easier for your body to break down food and absorb nutrients efficiently. This is especially beneficial for women looking to balance hormones and improve gut health.
Ginger: A Digestive Powerhouse
Ginger is another fantastic bitter that’s been used for centuries to aid digestion. Its active compounds, gingerols, and shogaols are known to support various digestive processes.
Stimulation of Digestive Enzymes:
Ginger promotes the production of digestive enzymes, speeding up the breakdown of food and improving nutrient absorption. A study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology2highlighted ginger’s ability to accelerate gastric emptying, reducing symptoms of indigestion.
Anti-inflammatory Properties:
Ginger also helps reduce inflammation in the gut, which can improve overall digestive comfort and reduce bloating. Ginger also supports liver detoxification, which helps reduce toxin driven inflammation.
True Cinnamon: A Subtle Bitter for Gut Health
True cinnamon (Ceylon cinnamon), while not as intensely bitter as dandelion root or ginger, still offers digestive benefits, particularly through its ability to regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation.
Support for Gut Health:
True cinnamon has mild bitter qualities that can support digestion by enhancing enzyme function and reducing digestive discomfort. A study published in Phytotherapy Research3 found that cinnamon could help regulate blood sugar levels, which helps to treat causes of insulin resistance and supports conditions such as PCOS and weight challenges.
Cinnamon also has warming properties which bring more circulation to the digestive organs to support digestive function.
Ease of Incorporating Bitters Into Your Diet
One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to include these digestive-supporting bitters in your diet is through herbal teas. At Back To The Paddock, we’ve created two specialised blends that incorporate these powerful bitter herbs:
Detox Me:
Detox Me blend features dandelion root and ginger, providing a perfect balance of bitters that support liver detoxification, stimulate digestive enzymes, and promote better nutrient absorption.
Balance Me:
This Balance Me blend contains true cinnamon, offering a more subtle bitter profile that supports gut health, helps with blood sugar regulation, and enhances overall digestive comfort.
Sip Your Way to Better Digestion
Supporting your digestive health doesn’t have to be complicated, or stressful. Start with simply adding 1-3 cups of Back To The Paddock’s Detox Me or Balance Me specialised blends to your daily routine. You can easily benefit from the natural power of bitters like dandelion root, ginger, and true cinnamon.
Whether you’re looking to boost your metabolism, improve nutrient absorption, reduce inflammation, balance your hormones or just feel more comfortable after meals, these herbal blends make it easy to nourish your gut and balance your hormones, all in the form of a soothing, delicious tea.
It’s time to sip your way to better health—starting with a cup of bitters!
References
(1) Choi, U. K., Lee, O. H., & Yim, J. H. (2010). “Hepatoprotective effect of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root against acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice.”Journal of Medicinal Food, 13(3), 549-556. doi:10.1089/jmf.2009.1227.
(2) Hu, M. L., Rayner, C. K., Wu, K. L., Chuah, S. K., Tai, W. C., Chou, Y. P., & Chiu, Y. C. (2011). “Effect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsia.”World Journal of Gastroenterology, 17(1), 105-110. doi:10.3748/wjg.v17.i1.105.
(3) Research published inPhytotherapy Research demonstrated that cinnamon can help regulate blood sugar levels, supporting digestive health by maintaining stable energy levels.
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Kasey Willson
Kasey Willson is a Naturopath, Nutritionist, Podcast host & founder of the Back To The Paddock range. Kasey is dedicated to educating, empowering and inspiring busy women to be the best version of themselves. She is a sought-after expert and beacon of hope for those striving for healthy cycles, skin, sleep, moods & metabolism.