Bitterness is a taste isn’t liked by all, but bitters are great at supporting gut function, which is absolutely necessary when you are trying for a baby.
Bitter foods are known to stimulate digestion, support the liver’s detox capabilities and soothe the gut.
But, you have to taste the bitterness for them to work effectively. Unfortunately, supplements aren’t going to cut it! The bitter taste interacts with the tongue’s bitter receptors, which trigger the secretions of digestive enzymes and bile. Bile is required to digest and absorb fats and remove metabolic waste products, which would otherwise accumulate and be reabsorbed back into our circulation.
Bitter foods also improve overall digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes, which help break down our food and extract all the nutrients from it. This is why bitter foods are critical to a preconception diet – without them, we wouldn’t be able to absorb the nutrients from our food. And this goes back to why we eat any foods in the first place – it’s not just because we’re hungry, or the food tastes good, it’s because our bodies need those vitamins and minerals at a cellular level – they are required for every chemical process our bodies undertake.
Because these foods improve digestion, they may also help with some digestive symptoms like bloating, flatulence and indigestion.
Bitter foods don’t have to taste bad. Some great examples of them are:
- Grapefruit
- Rocket
- Brussels sprouts
- Artichoke
- Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc)
- Dark chocolate
- Apple cider vinegar
Bitter foods can be incorporated into your meals so that the bitter taste isn’t so intense. For instance, using rocket in a salad or using Brussels sprouts or leafy green with a roast dinner.
But if you really struggle with these foods, you can also get the same effect from herbal teas such as:
- Green tea
- Chamomile
- Fennel
- Peppermint
- Dandelion
- Milk thistle
- Nettle
Important note: Bitters are not recommended in pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding, in cases of GERD, kidney stones, inflammatory bowel disease or gastrointestinal ulcers. Please consult a nutritionist before you attempt to incorporate these foods and drinks into your diet on a regular basis.
