It wasn't too long ago that bitters were taken before every meal. This is because they mix with our digestive juices and keep things moving, so that the resulting waste will be quickly eliminated. It also helps the digestive juices (like hydrochloric acid) do their job. The regular use of bitters increases metabolism in addition to enhancing elimination. This plays a crucial role in weight loss.
Bitter Greens and Herbal Bitters
According to herbalist Christopher Hobbs, wild greens are a great source of bitters. Dandelion greens, plantain, mallow, sow thistle or dock all work with digestion. However, not all people are able to harvest their own green vegetables. In that case, purchasing greens such as kale, collards, endive or even mustard greens is a good choice.
In Chinese medicine, bitter foods are also known to move toxins along the path of elimination. This is considered cleansing and energizing. Eating leafy greens, for example, helps reduce phlegm, fat and water retention and is said to lower the risk of serious health problems. Bitter greens are considered laxative, stimulant, cooling and cleansing. In the book Asian Health Secrets, acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist Letha Haddady writes, "...dandelion leaves in a salad, or roasted dandelion root as a coffee substitute, cleanses the liver. Other bitter salad greens, including chicory and endive, are rich in vitamins, yet slimming."
Although there are bitter pills available on the market, these are generally ineffective. According to herbalist David Hoffman, if bitter herbs are given in a capsule form and cannot be tasted, their digestive properties do not come into play. It is the bitterness, through the taste buds and a reflex action in the brain, that stimulates a complex response aiding digestion. Herbal medicine in the form of tea or tincture, however, is a good supplement to bitter greens in the diet. Barberry, centaury, gentian root and dandelion root are all options.
In Ayurvedic (practices of the Indian subcontinent) medicine, are said to enhance digestive fire, leading to better digestion and weight loss. In addition to foods and herbs already listed, bitter melon is often employed along with a variety of bitter spices, such as mustard seed and ginger. Indeed, ginger is even used raw, chewed before meals or grated and mixed with salt and lemon juice. Ginger tea is also widely employed.
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