Digestive Bitters 101: Health Benefits and How to Use
Digestive bitters— what the heck even are they?!
Using bitters to support digestion has been around for thousands of years. So how can you take advantage of bitter herbs and improve #hotgirlstomach? You’re in the right place 👏
Did you know that surveys show 2/3 of people have struggles with digestive issues? And even more people show signs of being deficient in deficient micronutrients.
So is it time we work to improve our digestion? And if so, how?!
This post chats about digestive bitters- traditional herbs and medicinal tinctures that target specific flavor receptors and in turn, help your body digest food more effectively. Better digestion = better absorption of nutrients = improved symptoms and greater nourishment to your cells.
We'll also talk about some different options for stimulating these receptors with items that are probably already in your pantry!
What are digestive bitters?
You may think these are new products since they are havin' a moment in the online wellness space, but really they have been utilized for centuries.
Bitter herbs have been found in Egyptian wine vats for medicinal purposes. And throughout the centuries, all over the world, bitter foods have become customary to eat before or after meals. Dr Siegert (who is considered the father of medicinal bitters) made it popular in 1824 by marketing a tonic for sea sickness and stomach ailments.
This past summer, my family went to Italy and enjoyed our fair share of aperol spritz's before meals-- a cocktail with digestive bitters. In India, it's common to have fennel seed and licorice after a meal-- its the same idea.
Digestive bitters take this one step further-- they concentrate these bitter ingredients into a tincture. These concentrated products can help provide better results for your gi tract (gastrointestinal tract)
How digestive bitters support healthy digestion
All throughout our body we have taste receptors that are specifically triggered by bitter flavors. When these receptors are stimulated, it is like a signal to your salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and liver, encouraging the production and secretion of gastric juice and digestive enzymes. Not only that, but it helps engage the esophageal sphincter and pyloric sphincter. This keeps gastric juices and enzymes in the stomach to effectively break down the foods you eat-- minimizing heartburn and indigestion.
But what is amazing is that these receptors are not solely found in the mouth. Rather, they can be found all along the gut where they help with feelings of fullness and satiety. or in other words, fewer cravings and grazing sessions. The receptors are even found in our lungs and parts of our airway where they are found to aid in our immune system.
It's almost as if these bitter substances help to keep our body functioning optimally 💪🏼
Signs Digestive Bitters May be Helpful To Your Digestion
So how do you know if it's time to turn to bitters? Gas, bloating, heartburn or acid reflux, upset stomach, or stomach cramping can all be common signs of someone needing a little digestion support. These can all be indicative of someone having low stomach acid levels. When you are struggling to break down your food, you are also at risk of poor nutrient absorption. That causes a downstream effect of issues caused when you're deficient in essential nutrients.
Other struggles like blood sugar control and gut health balance can also benefit from using digestive bitters.
Having adequate nutrients in your diet (and actually digesting and absorbing them effectively) is the root of good health. I always talk about increasing your intake of nutrient-dense foods as part of a healthy lifestyle, but it doesn’t do your body any good if you are not properly digesting them. Poor digestion means poor breakdown of nutrients, which keeps your body from effectively utilizing them!
Wish Garden Badass Bitters Review
Not long ago, WishGarden Herbs sent me a few products to sample (thank youuuuu). One being their proprietary blend of digestive bitters mixed in a tincture-- BadAss Bitters. They describe their product as a Digestive aid that can help to support a healthy digestive response and stimulate digestive enzymes. I love that they prioritize using high-quality organic products that meet all the regulatory benchmarks from organic-certifying agencies.
Im gonna be honest-- this has a very intense bitter flavor. And I am never going to give you less than my true experience on a product-- this stuff does not taste good. But that is actually the exact point-- you want those concentrated blend of bitter herbs to trigger your bitter taste buds (remember those receptors we chatted about earlier?!)
The first time I tried the spray, the flavor was pretty shocking. But I found over time I got more acclimated to the flavor (not to be confused with enjoying the flavor, but it did become more tolerable). The reason I stuck with it was because I did notice improved digestion, especially after eating a higher-fat meal. Within minutes of spraying the tincture on my tongue, I quickly noticed a positive effect in the release of saliva. And meals that normally would leave me feeling a bit bloated, or uncomfy, would be digested easily without any unwanted symptoms.
So while I will not say it tastes good, it does deliver on the desired outcome- supported digestion.
If you are interested in trying the product,
here is the full ingredient list:
Organic Gentian root (Gentiana lutea)
organic Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Oregon Grape root (Mahonia spp.)
Yarrow aerials (Achillea millefolium)
organic Orange peel (Citrus sinensis)
organic Hops strobiles (Humulus lupulus)
Vegetable glycerine
Rocky Mountain artesian spring water
organic gluten-free alcohol
WishGarden has generously offers 15% off orders with code KAELYN ✨
How to use digestive bitters
Simply spray the tincture on your tongue 10-15 minutes before eating. You want the bitter flavors to stimulate the bitter receptors on your tongue-- this is what triggers your salivary glands and digestive tract to secrete digestive juices. This helps to fully break down your foods and support digestion.
It is recommended to take bitter herbs or digestive enzymes before eating a heavy meal, particularly one higher in fat and proteins.
Other bitters that you may already have on hand…
It can feel really overwhelming when you are trying to improve your health and you feel like there is always "something else" you should invest it. I promise you-- that is not the case. There are so many things you can do to help improve your digestion without investing in supplements. I even wrote a whole blog post about it here that you can check out: 8 Science-Backed Ways to Improve Your Digestion Today! 🍋
You can also stimulate these receptors in your body by consuming these herbs, foods, or drinks (some of which you may already have in your pantry). Many of these herbs are best consumed by drinking a tea version which I have linked! Simply brew a cup shortly before a meal to ensure you are supporting digestion and preparing your gi tract with enough stomach acid and enzymes:
Ginger— loooove this turmeric ginger tea from Rishi
Or chop up some ginger root and a wedge of lemon (I love to also add raw local honey 🍯) for a ginger lemon tea!
As always, nothing on this blog is medical advice or healthcare information. It is written for educational purposes and sharing my personal experience. Make sure to chat with your own healthcare practitioner or medical professional before starting a new product.
