Healthy Bits · Nutrition & wellness
Bitter foods for digestion
Bitter is the flavor many of us avoid, yet traditional food cultures have long served bitter greens before or alongside a meal. Bitter tastes are thought to prompt the flow of saliva, stomach acid and bile, the digestive fluids that help you break down food and absorb fats.
Bitter foods to try:
- Arugula, dandelion greens and radicchio
- Endive, chicory and broccoli rabe
- Dark chocolate or raw cacao
- Citrus zest
I often suggest clients start dinner with a small bitter salad. It's also a nice cue to slow down before the main course.
Try this: toss a handful of arugula with olive oil, lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt, and eat it first at dinner tonight.
- digestion
- greens
- gut health
Healthy Bits are for general education and aren’t medical advice. Check with your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing, take medication, or are managing a health condition.